History of Pipefitters Local Union 725

Welcome to the official website of United Association Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Pipefitters Local Union 725.  Local Union 725 represents more than 1200 members in the South Florida area working in the air conditioning, refrigeration, and mechanical systems industry.  Our work covers installation, retrofit, service maintenance, repair of water, and sewer treatment plants, fuel piping installations for airports, ink piping installations for newspaper plants, ammonia, and glycol systems for cold storage and ice rinks, pharmaceutical plants, plus many others.

On June 22, 1950, the United Association of Journeyman and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada, issued a Charter to Local Union 725.  Our jurisdiction encompasses Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties as well as, jurisdiction in four (4) coastal counties on Florida’s west coast, Collier, Lee Charlotte, and Sarasota for all HVAC Mechanical Service.

Our training center, ARPEC (Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Pipefitting Education Center), has deep educational roots in the State of Florida. The first ARPEC education center was registered with the state as an Apprenticeship Program on October 11, 1949. Since then, we have continued to lead as one of the most highly regarded Apprenticeship Programs in the United States and Canada.

We welcome applications to our Local Union and Training Facility year-round.  We have the best trained craftspeople in the air conditioning, refrigeration, and mechanical industry in South Florida and we strive to “Do it right the first time”.

Our Local is involved in charity organizations and fundraisers for underprivileged children to disabled adults. No other labor organization can match what Unions do for charities.

Our history to date has given us the opportunity to recognize and thank the many loyal contractors whose participation in the joint committees are responsible for framing the mechanism for the many benefits we enjoy.  For the growth and accomplishments of our Local over the past 75 years for which we can be so proud, we thank the many officers and members who have provided quality leadership and dedication to the labor movement.