Four Strong Local Unions United to Form Local 38 Above: A portion of the original Local 38 charter granted by the United Association in 1947. The growth and unity of the United Association is also reflected in the history of Local Union 38, which was born 50 years ago when four bay area pipe-trades unions merged: Journeymen Plumbers and Gas Fitters, Local 442, San Francisco Steamfitters Union, Local 509, San Francisco Marine Steamfitters & Helpers, Local 590, San Francisco Marin County Local 769, Journeymen Plumbers The merged 3,000-member local represented all the pipe-trades in San Francisco, Sonoma, Mendocino and Marin Counties. That jurisdiction now also includes Lake County. If you are interested in more details on the history of the four unions that merged to form Local 38, please follow the links listed below. Local 442 | Local 509 | Local 590 | Local 769 Return to History Page