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October 6, 2025
KAUKAUNA – Plumbers & Steamfitters Union Local 400 officially welcomed nearly 100 new apprentices into the skilled trades during its 2025 Apprentice Signing Day ceremony, held recently at its training center in Kaukauna.
Doug Dokey, business manager of Local 400, said the event underscored Wisconsin’s growing demand for trades professionals in plumbing, steamfitting, HVAC/R service and pipe fabrication.
“These men and women represent the future of our industry and the backbone of our communities,” he said.
Dokey said the 99-member group of first-year apprentices includes 15 plumbers, 42 steamfitters, 21 HVAC/R technicians and 14 pipe fabricators.
After completing 900-plus hours of classroom instruction, 8,000-plus hours of on-the-job training and passing required exams, Dokey said each apprentice will transition into journeyman status, earning more than $60 per hour free from student debt.
Signing day participating contractors included August Winter & Sons, Bassett Mechanical, CR Meyer, EGI, Hurckman Mechanical Industries, Illingsworth-Kilgust Mechanical, J.F. Ahern Co., Kuhlman, Inc., MTI, Piping Service Inc., Straightline Refrigeration, Team Industries and Tweet/Garot Mechanical.
