UA 516 Residential HVAC Program Update

Our Business Manager, Jason Amesbury, set a clear goal: build a Residential HVAC program to grow Local 516, but more importantly, to protect our Industrial and Commercial contractors and technicians. By gaining control of the non-union residential sector, we can help stop unqualified operators from undercutting and poaching work that rightfully falls within our hard-fought jurisdiction.

This is a brand-new initiative for our Local. With no existing roadmap, agreements, or guidelines, we are putting in the work, researching, networking, and building the foundation needed to launch a program of this scale successfully.

Our approach is direct. We are going straight to company owners with a top-down organizing strategy, asking questions, listening to their concerns, and making it clear that we are here to support the industry. The goal is simple: strengthen legitimate contractors and push out the unqualified operators flooding the market.

It comes down to trust. We’re building real relationships so owners feel confident working with us and sharing the insight we need to shape a strong, effective program.

The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Many owners tell us no one has ever approached them like this before, and they’re open to the conversation.

The concerns we hear most often are clear:

• Mandatory, standardized training and safety requirements
• Reliable access to skilled workers
• Defined working rules and jurisdiction backed by a Local 516 collective agreement

With support from Ian McComish and RTI, we’ve hosted several leading non-union residential contractors for tours of our training facility, gathering direct input on what training should look like moving forward.

Our next step is expanding outreach across British Columbia, connecting with reputable residential contractors as we push toward securing a 2-year Residential Red Seal designation through SkilledTradesBC and the provincial government. This program will be built and led by UA Local 516.

We’ve also engaged our existing signatory commercial contractors, and their feedback has been clear. Their concerns mirror what we’re hearing across the industry: unregulated, unsafe work from bad actors is a serious issue. Our plan to organize, regulate, and protect our jurisdiction has been met with strong support and optimism.

As Chris Stapleton put it:
“No one wins afraid of losing.”