- Associations
The formal history of the South Jersey Mechanical Contractors Association (SJMCA) started in 1971 but its roots can be traced back much further. Camden and Atlantic City were the population centers in the South Jersey region before the turn of the 20th century. Atlantic City was a premier vacation resort, bustling with summer tourists. Hotels and restaurants soon were being built and needed a trained workforce and contractors. Camden was a bustling city with an industrial and manufacturing core that needed skilled craftsmen and employers to meet the demand. Local 121 was formed in Atlantic City and chartered in 1905. Local 322 was formed in Camden and chartered in 1915.
The two unions bargained with the local contractors for over 70 years. However in the late 1960’s economic times brought changes to the region and a new identity was being created. The two locals merged and the two separate contractor groups joined together to form the current SJMCA.
Today, the SJMCA provides a wide range of services on behalf of contractors in the pipe trades industry.