Local 47 History

Twenty-five years ago the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada consolidated six locals from northwestern Pennsylvania to create Local Union 47.

Our members come from Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 37 of Oil City PA, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 115 of Monaca PA, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 197 of Sharon PA, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 224 of Bradford PA, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 333 of Erie PA and Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 356 of Butler PA.

On June 1, 1982 at the request of General President Martin J Ward, our International Representative Francis J Coyne installed the new officers and presented Local Union 47 with our charter at our first monthly membership meeting held at Grove City College.

Instrumental in our consolidation were our new officers: President Dave Merriman, Vice President Ray Crolli, Recording Secretary Paul McKinnis, Executive Board members Leo Hines, Darrell Potter, Jon Ray and Joseph P Zadrozny, Inside Guard Dave Lindell. Our new Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer William F Giles and Business Agents William R Garton, Verdett (Sonny) Kiser, Ralph McAndrew, Robert S Mott, Benjamin Newkirk and Gordon (Bud) Williams worked hard to secure and protect all our work.

We have a geographic area consisting of eleven counties in northwestern PA. Our current membership totals 1,211 plumbers, steamfitters and apprentices.