Halifax Local Union #56 was granted its UA charter in August 1908, as a Plumbers & Steamfitters combination local in the building, construction and metal trades divisions.

In August 1941 the charter was revised so as to include marine pipefitters and helpers because our members often branched out into the Dockyards as a means of sustaining steady employment.  In early 1954, the Dockyard Trades and Labour Council became a bargaining agent for all trades in the Dockyard.  The pipe shop members could not have Local 56 as their bargaining agent.  As they wanted to remain UA members, they applied for and received a charter and formed UA Local 282.

It is of interest to note that Local 56 kept pace with the rise and fall of the fortunes of Halifax in the 20th century. Halifax being a military city prospered in war times and suffered economically in peacetime, resulting in good and bad times in the work force. Historian John G. Reid suggests that the Great Depression that swept the country in the thirties began as early as 1920 in Nova Scotia and lasted through the thirties until the start of World War II.

The second half of the century proved to be much better as navy ship building and an industrial base seemed to inspire Halifax to become the financial centre of Atlantic Canada.  The expansion of the Esso Refinery (Imperial Oil), the construction of the Halifax International Airport, high rise office buildings in in downtown Halifax, at least two major shopping centres and major university expansions all contributed to the rise of union membership.  Local 56, with its strong leadership was able to rise to the challenge of supplying top trades people for these projects.

The first cash sheets for August 9, 1908 stated that Local 56 had 21 members and stayed that way until 1910 when they had 100 members.  Membership rose and fell with the economy – 58 members in 1929, 100 members in 1931, and then down to a low of 51 members in 1935.  Local 56 did not have over 100 members again until 1944.  In the 1950’s things started to look up for the Union movement as a whole because the economy began to improve somewhat, by 1960 Local 56 had grown to 334 members.

During the first fifty years of Local 56 all officers volunteered their time and even in good times it was difficult to collect union dues and organize new members, everything was done during off hours, the workdays and workweeks were much longer in the first part of the century.  Members were on the honour system to make sure their dues were paid.

Two important events which greatly contributed to the great success of Local 56 in the second fifty years of its history were the creation of the so-called “Rand Formula”, whereby an employer is required to deduct union dues from all members of the bargaining unit, those dues go to the union “check off” as it is referred to.  The second event was the decision to elect a full time business agent, Jim Burke, who took office in 1958.  Local 56 had really entered the modern era.

Local 56 has been truly blessed over the past 100 years to have had officers who, through their perseverance, have made Local 56 one of the most respected locals in Canada and throughout the UA.  Former officers William Hamm, W. B. Murphy, Jack Fults, Larry Ward, Maurice McCarthy and Jim Henley all deserve a great amount of credit for bringing the Local to this level.  One person that deserves a special mention for his outstanding dedication and contributions to Local 56 is George W. Betts.  Brother Betts served as Financial Secretary from 1929 until 1961, when ill health forced him to step down.  It was then that Maurice McCarthy assumed the duties of financial secretary as well as Business Agent, becoming the first Business Manager of Local 56.

From its humble beginnings in 1908, Local 56 has grown to become a modern, progressive organization, dedicated to training and organizing the finest trades people, to meet the needs of our clients and partners in the growing construction and industrial fields of the modern day piping industry.  Our modern training facility consists of the most up-to-date shops for welding, rigging, plumbing, steamfitting/pipefitting, sprinkler fitting, gas, refrigeration and HVAC.  The Training Centre also provides a wide range of safety courses including WHMIS, first aid, fall arrest, confined space, pipeline safety as well as CSTS.  Again our members have been our best assets for our continuing success.

Written by:  John Thomas, Past-President, UA Local 56