The History and Legacy of UA Local 123

The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada (U.A.) formed and chartered new Tampa-based plumbers and pipefitters Local No. 111 on May 1, 1908, when it merged two other U.A. locals in progress. Together, these two locals, Local No. 111 of St. Petersburg and Local No. 624 of Tampa. At that time, Local 111 had been in existence for 98 years, having been chartered by the union on March 6, 1915.

But the lineage of Local 123 does not end there…

The U.A. merged marine pipefitters, helpers and apprentices Local No. 766 of Tampa into the former Local 624 on July 9, 1948. Local 766 had been chartered by the union on May 9, 1940 to represent the fast-growing number of pipefitters working in the burgeoning shipyards around Tampa as the country was preparing for World War II and already supplying its allies with war materiel.

The U.A. also merged plumbers Local No. 583 of Sarasota into the former Local 111 on April 3, 1972. Local 583 had been chartered by the union on November 1, 1924.

And the U.A. merged marine pipefitters Local No. 726 of Tampa into the former Local 624 on January 1, 1997. Local 726 had been chartered on March 26, 1983 to represent shipyard and other marine industry workers in the shipbuilding production and shipping activity surge under the jurisdiction of Local 624 while the separate shipyards were experiencing a surge.

Although jurisdictional disputes occasionally occurred while Local 111, Local 624, and Local 583 coexisted from November 1, 1924, to April 3, 1972, and then when just Local 111 and Local 624 cohabited West-Central Florida, they generally did so with a spirit of brotherhood and harmony.

For instance, during World War II, the three locals shared jurisdiction over a large U.S. Army base that was constructed and expanded in Venice, Florida, with a committee of two from each of the three locals providing supervision for the project.

At the 125th anniversary since the U.A. awarded Local 123’s oldest predecessor, Local 111, with its charter, Local 123 and its ancestors through 2025 have together helped build and maintain the Tampa Bay and West-Central Florida region. In doing so, a heritage of craftsmanship and quality sustained through highest-level training has been passed down onto Local 123 and its membership.