United Association (UA) General Convention - San Diego 2026
United Association (UA) General Convention
41st edition (most recent confirmed edition)
- Dates: August 17-21, 2026 (delegates welcome party on August 16)
- Venue: San Diego Convention Center, 111 W Harbor Drive, San Diego, California, United States
- Organizer: United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA)
- Official website: https://ua.org/
- Format: Members-only union convention; delegates plus spouses, partners and guests, with advance registration required for all attendees
About the United Association
Founded in 1889, the United Association is the standard of excellence in the pipe trades. It represents more than 410,000 plumbers, pipefitters, pipeliners, sprinkler fitters, steamfitters, welders and HVACR service technicians working in local unions across the United States and Canada, through roughly 260 local unions. The organisation invests roughly $250 million a year in training and reports nearly 70,000 apprentices in the pipe trades.
2026 convention highlights (41st General Convention, San Diego)
- 4,034 delegates attended the general sessions
- General President Mark McManus was re-elected to a third term; Assistant General President Mike Pleasant and General Secretary-Treasurer Derrick Kualapai were sworn in
- Guest speakers included NABTU President Sean McGarvey, Connect Trade Union (Ireland) General Secretary Paddy Kavanagh, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, PPTEU (Australia) General President Earle Setches and SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin
- A dedicated session covered UA mental health initiatives and the UA Pipe PALS Committee
- Business sessions, officer nominations and elections ran from August 17 to the closing remarks on August 21
Next edition
The UA General Convention is held roughly every five years. As of the latest check of the official UA website, the 42nd edition has not been announced: no dates, host city or venue have been published. The most recent confirmed edition is therefore the 41st General Convention in San Diego, August 17-21, 2026.
Notes
- Attendance at the 2026 convention was more limited than in previous years; all participants, including spouses, partners and guests, had to complete advance registration, and enhanced security measures were in place.
- The daily session schedule was published by UA Local 488 in its Pipeline newsletter, and convention results were reported by the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA).
- Members-only event: registration is handled through the United Association and its affiliated local unions.
Register for entry or booths
Venue Map and Hotels Around
San Diego - San Diego Convention Center, California, United States