The Plumbers and Steamfitters Local #136 has has been a staple in this region for over 119 years.
Originally chartered on April 14, 1900 by 12 plumbers, their mission was to bring higher sanitary standards to the area, along with better pay and working conditions for plumbers and gas-fitters in the area.
Today, the vision of those 12 plumbers at the beginning of the labor movement in 1900, has evolved into what the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local #136 has become today. Today the Plumbers And Steamfitters local #136 has over 1,100 hundred working members and over 1,500 members, including retirees.
The Plumbers and Steamfitters Local #136 is also active in the community, serving various organizations through monetary support and volunteerism. Some organizations include the Tri-State Food Bank,The Dream Center, Fantasy of Lights, State Hospital Holiday Party and Soldier Dogs for Independence.
The Plumbers and Steamfitters Local #136 covers 18 counties in Southwestern Indiana and 4 counties in Illinois. There is an office and training center in both Evansville and Bloomington. Their mission today is to provide highly skilled, highly trained drug free craftsmen in the Plumbing, Pipefitting, Welding, and HVAC fields to signatory contractors.
The Plumbers and Steamfitters is the most diverse of any of the building trades for anyone looking for a career in construction. They have members working in the residential sector to heavy industrial sites and everywhere in between.
The Plumbers and Steamfitters Local #136 members serve a five year apprenticeship. Apprentices work during the day and go to school at the training center two nights a week for five years. At the end of the five years, they receive an associate’s degree from Ivy Tech. This is a great avenue for someone who wants to further their education but not in a traditional college setting.Â
The Business Manager for Local 136 is John Bates. John runs the day-to-day operations of the local. John is 38 years old and is a native of Patoka Indiana. He graduated Princeton Community High School in 1999. John started his apprenticeship in 2002 and worked in the field as a combo welder until starting in the office as Business Agent in 2014. John was elected Manager and started his term on January 1, 2019. He now lives on the North Side of Evansville with his wife, four kids and two pugs.
For more information on Plumbers and Steamfitters, Local 136 you can visit their Website at UA local136.org or contact John at the office 812-423-8043
