UA Local 160 represents plumbers & pipefitters in Carbondale, IL. Below: wage scale context, jurisdiction, apprenticeship routes, and the signatory contractors that hire from this hall.
UA Local 160 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list — call the hall to confirm hours, books and what to bring. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
UA Local 160 has not published a current journeyman wage sheet we can source, so no contract rate is shown for this local. For reference only, the reporting-wide average for plumbers & pipefitters locals is $47.51/hr ($69.19 total package) — a benchmark, not this local's rate. Confirm the current rate with the hall's business office. We publish the local's own rate, package and effective date as soon as it is available.
UA Local 160 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 618-684-4521 to confirm dispatch hours, required documents (union card, certifications, ID) and current list standing before traveling in. Contact details are imported from the UA, SMART and IBEW public directories. Gulfstream is a private recruiting firm, is not affiliated with the local, and does not control hall dispatch.
United Association Local 160, headquartered in Carbondale, Illinois, represents the skilled plumbers and pipefitters across the southern region of the state. As a chartered member of the UA, this local is responsible for providing high-level mechanical installations and maintenance for a wide array of infrastructure, ranging from residential plumbing to heavy a mechanical contractor. The region is home to Southern Illinois University and various medical centers, which creates a consistent demand for highly regulated mechanical work that adheres to the Illinois Plumbing Code. Local 160 ensures that its members are equipped with the specialized certifications necessary to meet the rigorous safety and efficiency standards required for these complex institutional and commercial environments.
The Southern Illinois market relies on Local 160 to supply a workforce capable of handling diverse piping systems, including medical gas, steam, and high-pressure process piping. Because the jurisdiction covers a mix of rural and developed areas, the local serves as a central hub for training and labor dispatch, bridging the gap between skilled craftsmen and signatory mechanical contractors. This role is vital for maintaining regional infrastructure and supporting new construction projects in energy and healthcare sectors. By maintaining a structured apprenticeship and continuing education programs, Local 160 ensures that the labor pool remains competitive and technically proficient, directly impacting the quality and longevity of mechanical systems throughout the southern tip of the state.
Wage rates for UA Local 160 are determined through collective bargaining agreements between the union and signatory contractor associations. While specific hourly figures are not publicly disclosed, the compensation structure follows the standard UA model where a journeyman receives a base hourly rate plus a comprehensive fringe benefit package. Apprentices start at a set percentage of the journeyman rate, typically increasing annually as they reach specific milestones in their five-year training program. These raises are contingent upon both successful classroom completion and the accumulation of required on-the-job training hours. For current journeyman scales, travel pay provisions, or specific apprentice starting percentages, interested parties should contact the Local 160 business office in Carbondale directly to ensure they are referencing the most recent wage and benefit schedule.
UA Local 160 maintains jurisdiction over a significant portion of Southern Illinois, covering the southernmost counties where the Ohio and Mississippi rivers meet. The territory includes major hubs like Carbondale, Marion, and Murphysboro, extending through the rural coal and agricultural corridors of the region. Work within this jurisdiction typically follows the Master Labor Agreement, covering everything from commercial plumbing in educational facilities to industrial pipefitting in manufacturing plants and energy facilities. Members are dispatched from the Carbondale hall to job sites across this geographic footprint, with specific rules governing travel distance and subsistence pay depending on the project's location relative to the union hall or the contractor's shop.
The signatory contractor landscape for UA Local 160 is comprised of regional mechanical primes and specialized plumbing firms that serve the Southern Illinois market. These contractors range from small, service-oriented plumbing shops to large-scale mechanical firms capable of managing multi-million dollar institutional builds. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this region, noting that the contractor base is heavily involved in maintenance and capital improvements for the region's university systems and healthcare networks. These signatory partners provide the stable man-hours required for the apprenticeship program while ensuring that all mechanical work in the jurisdiction meets the strict standards of the United Association.
While both trades fall under the Local 160 umbrella, plumbers focus primarily on potable water, drainage, and gas systems in residential and commercial buildings. Pipefitters generally work on high-pressure systems, steam, and industrial process piping found in power plants and factories. The apprenticeship provides foundational training in both, but members often specialize as they advance.
Application windows vary based on the projected demand for labor in Southern Illinois. The Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) typically announces intake periods a few times a year. It is recommended to check with the Carbondale office regularly, as windows may be brief and require all documentation to be submitted in person.
Yes, as a UA local, members from other jurisdictions can typically work in Local 160's territory through a travel card system, provided there is a need for additional labor. Travelers must check in with the Business Manager and adhere to the local collective bargaining agreement regarding wages and working conditions while in the Southern Illinois jurisdiction.
Members can earn a wide range of industry-standard certifications, including Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) plumbing licenses, UA Welding Certifications, Medical Gas Installer certification, and OSHA safety cards. These credentials are vital for maintaining eligibility for high-specialty projects and ensuring compliance with state regulations.
UA Local 160 is seated in Carbondale, Illinois (IL). We hold published wage sheets for 26 locals across Illinois — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Carbondale and the rest of Illinois, including contractors signatory to UA Local 160. Our office is in South Corona, California and we place union-scale tradespeople and field leadership nationwide.
Gulfstream Strategic Placements, 4160 Temescal Canyon Road, Suite 401, Corona, CA 92883. Phone (951) 208-7780. Email hello@gulfstreamsp.com. Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–5:00 PM Pacific.View our verified Google Business Profile
Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
UA Local 160 is headquartered in Carbondale, IL and dispatches plumbers & pipefitters manpower throughout its chartered jurisdiction. Work performed inside that territory falls under the local's collective bargaining agreement and wage schedule, even when the contractor is based elsewhere and travels in.
Most locals require applicants to be at least 18, legally able to work in the U.S., hold a high school diploma or GED, pass a basic math/aptitude assessment and a drug screen, and be physically able to perform plumbers & pipefitters work. Some Local 160 programs give preference to applicants inside the jurisdiction or to veterans. Eligibility rules are set by the local's Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), so confirm the current criteria with the hall before applying.
Apprenticeship applications go through the UA Local 160 JATC, not through a contractor or a recruiter. Applications typically open in defined intake windows each year: you submit the application with proof of age, education, and residency, sit for an aptitude test, and then interview. Ranked applicants are placed on an eligibility list and indentured as signatory contractors call for apprentices. Gulfstream Strategic Placements does not process apprenticeship applications — contact the Local 160 training center directly.
Plumbers & Pipefitters apprenticeships generally run four to five years — roughly 8,000–10,000 hours of on-the-job training plus several hundred classroom hours per year. Apprentices earn a paycheck the entire time, stepping up through the wage periods until they turn out as journeymen at 100% of scale.
Signatory contractors hire through the local's hiring hall, so working under the UA Local 160 agreement generally means being a member or being organized in through the local's process. Journeymen from other locals can travel in by signing the out-of-work book, subject to the local's referral rules and manpower needs. Non-union plumbers & pipefitters professionals are usually placed with open-shop contractors instead — we recruit for both.
Wage rates vary widely by local and market. Use the Union Pay Scale Explorer to sort every UA and SMART local by hourly wage, total package, and annualized pay so you can benchmark Local 160 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 160 hall is at Po Box 187 Murphysboro, IL 62966, serving Carbondale, IL and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 618-684-4521.
UA Local 160 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 618-684-4521 to confirm dispatch hours, required documents (union card, certifications, ID) and current list standing before traveling in — Gulfstream does not control hall dispatch.
UA Local 160 can be reached at 618-684-4521. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.