UA Local 855 represents plumbers & pipefitters in Jersey City, NJ. Below: wage scale context, jurisdiction, apprenticeship routes, and the signatory contractors that hire from this hall.
UA Local 855 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 855 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 855 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call 908-450-7620 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 855 serves as the primary labor organization for plumbers and pipefitters across the Hudson County region and its surrounding New Jersey territories. Based in Jersey City, this local is integral to the state's dense urban infrastructure, supporting both high-rise residential development and complex commercial renovations. The organization focuses on the installation, maintenance, and repair of water systems, steam heating, and advanced mechanical piping. Because the North Jersey market is characterized by high-density transit hubs and industrial waterfronts, Local 855 provides a stable workforce for signatory contractors who must adhere to strict state codes and environmental regulations governing local piping systems.
The membership at Local 855 consists of highly skilled tradespeople who undergo rigorous training to maintain the efficiency of public and private utility systems. As a critical part of the broader United Association network, this local ensures that labor standards remain competitive within the high-cost New Jersey market. Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the labor trends in this jurisdiction since 2014, noting the consistent demand for certified welders and licensed master plumbers. The union maintains strong ties with regional building trades councils, ensuring that its members are at the forefront of major capital improvement projects, infrastructure upgrades, and new commercial developments throughout the Jersey City metro area.
Because specific wage figures are not publicly disclosed by the union office to third-party sources, members and applicants should contact the Local 855 business agent directly to obtain the current journeyman scale. Typically, UA locals in the New Jersey market utilize a total package model that includes a base hourly rate plus significant fringe benefits. Apprentices start at a percentage of the journeyman rate, often beginning around 40-50% and increasing annually as they complete their classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. These scheduled increases are governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which ensures that as a worker's technical proficiency grows, their compensation reflects their contribution to the job site. The total package often includes substantial employer contributions toward retirement and healthcare, elevating the effective hourly value.
The chartered jurisdiction for UA Local 855 is centered in Jersey City and extends throughout Hudson County, one of the most densely populated areas in the United States. This territory covers diverse work environments, from the high-a mechanical contractor rooms of waterfront office towers to the industrial facilities located along the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers. The jurisdiction includes specialized piping work for commercial HVAC systems, medical gas installations in healthcare facilities, and heavy-duty process piping in manufacturing sectors. Members are dispatched to various job sites within this geographic footprint, ensuring that contractors have access to locally based, qualified labor for both short-term service calls and multi-year construction ventures across the metropolitan area.
The contractor landscape for UA Local 855 is defined by a mix of long-standing mechanical primes and specialized service firms. Signatory mechanical contractors in this region handle significant volume in the commercial and industrial sectors, ranging from municipal infrastructure projects to private real estate developments. These firms rely on the union to provide a scalable workforce that can meet the demands of fast-track construction schedules common in the Jersey City market. The relationship between the local and its signatory partners is managed through a multi-year collective bargaining agreement, which stabilizes labor costs for contractors while ensuring members receive fair wages and benefits. This synergy allows for consistent project delivery across Hudson County's challenging urban landscape.
UA Local 855 provides highly trained plumbers and pipefitters for a wide array of projects, including commercial construction, industrial maintenance, and large-scale residential piping. Their members specialize in the installation of water lines, gas piping, and complex mechanical systems that keep the city's infrastructure functioning efficiently and safely.
To obtain the most accurate and up-to-date wage information for Local 855, you must contact their main office in Jersey City directly. Union wages are determined by the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and may vary based on your classification, such as apprentice, journeyman, or foreman.
The apprenticeship program typically lasts five years. It combines thousands of hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of experienced journeymen with several hundred hours of classroom instruction. This comprehensive approach ensures that all 855 union members are fully prepared for the complexities of modern mechanical systems.
Yes, the 855 union often allows for the transfer of experienced tradespeople through a process known as 'organized labor' or reciprocal transfers for current UA members. Applicants must typically demonstrate their years of experience and may be required to pass a competency exam to ensure they meet the local's high standards.
UA Local 855 is seated in Jersey City, New Jersey (NJ). We hold published wage sheets for 12 locals across New Jersey — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Jersey City and the rest of New Jersey, including contractors signatory to UA Local 855. 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 855 is headquartered in Jersey City, NJ 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 855 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 855 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 855 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 855 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 855 against neighboring jurisdictions and other plumbers & pipefitters markets.
The UA Local 855 hall is at 261 E Main St Somerville, Nj 8876, serving Jersey City, NJ and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: 908-450-7620.
UA Local 855 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at 908-450-7620 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 855 can be reached at 908-450-7620. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.