Chicago’s Pipe Fitters Local 597 devoted to keeping members ready for the future

As technology manager at Chicago’s Pipe Fitters Local 597’s 200,000-square-foot training facility, Mike Zivanovic does his part to prepare Chicago pipe fitters for any and every job. Local Union 597 is one of the largest locals within the United Association (UA), a North American union representing the pipe fitting, sprinkler fitting and plumbing trades. With over 10,000 members in the Chicago area, 7,000 of whom go to work every day, the union is devoted to keeping their members ready for the future.

Zivanovic began as a pipe fitter in the field, but his background in computer programming and networking helped him see a startling deficit in technology usage in the industry. Three years ago, he started a technology initiative at the training facility, which quickly grew into him joining the staff there full-time. In just a few years, the program has grown into one of the UA’s strongest. “We’re really trying to make a footprint when it comes to technology,” said Zivanovic, adding that they teach everything from Revit to Trimble to drone certification classes.

Tradespeople must be able to use the software to access the most up-to-date digital prints out in the field. There’s also a growing need for talented people who understand the technology and the nitty-gritty of a job and can fill nontraditional roles such as virtual design director. Two of the more popular courses taught in their BIM labs focus on Bluebeam Revu. The Revu intro course has a waitlist, and there’s an advanced course in December that’s already full. That’s because “a lot of our contractors are using Bluebeam,” said Zivanovic, and some are demanding that their subcontractors use it, too. It’s no longer optional for many subs on the jobsite—it’s a requirement.

Mike Zivanovic, Technology Manager, Pipe Fitters Local Union 597.

“We have a second-year apprentice in one of our classes, along with a pipe fitter journeyman. We have a general foreman who has spent 35 years in the industry. We have project managers in our course as well. We have the entire spectrum of who we have in our trades in that class. We have people who say, ‘Listen, I’ve been doing it this way for 40 years and I understand that I have to keep up, so help me, show me how.’”

The ease of use of Revu is the cherry on top, Zivanovic added. “Our members can quickly learn that first 10% of Bluebeam [Revu] on their own,” he added, “but they come to us for the other 90%. They come to learn how to be more productive and efficient with Revu and really maximize its potential.”

The industry is always changing, and it’s bringing change at 100 miles per hour. Zivanovic and Local 597 help make sure that all their members are ready to embrace the future, no matter how fast it arrives.