Tired of being in a Constant State of Hiring Mode? Here's How HVAC Contractors Are Solving the Manpower Problem for Good!
Ask any non-union HVAC contractor what their biggest challenge is right now, and you'll probably hear the same answer: finding, and keeping qualified workers.
Guys walk in the door, you invest time getting them up to speed, and then, just when they’re finally useful they bounce for another company offering a buck or two more an hour. Sound familiar?
As someone who spent years in the field, in the classroom, and now working closely with contractors every day, I’ve seen this story play out again and again. And let me tell you: it’s not just frustrating, it’s expensive, it’s inefficient, and it keeps you stuck in a constant cycle of rebuilding.
Let’s break it down.
The Revolving Door of Non-Union Hiring
You spend weeks screening applicants, and you finally find a tech with potential. They’ve got some tools, they’re coachable, and they say all the right things. You start training them, maybe send them out on a couple smaller installs or service calls. But before you can get a return on your investment, they’re gone, off to the next opportunity.
Why? Because there’s always someone willing to pay a little more. And without a long-term incentive to stay, that employee sees your shop as a steppingstone, not a career.
The cycle starts over. And the projects don’t wait.
That’s where we come in.
The Union Difference: A Workforce Built for Stability
SMART Local 104 represents a pool of highly trained, job-ready HVAC, HVACR, and Sheet Metal Professionals across 49 counties in Northern California. Our members don’t just show up with tools, they show up with experience, certifications, safety training, and a long-term career mindset.
When you become a signatory contractor, you gain access to:
· A scalable workforce: Need 2 guys next week? 10 next month? We can scale with you.
· Skilled labor you don’t have to train from scratch: Every worker comes through a rigorous, multi-year training program.
· Lower turnover: Our members stay because they’re part of something bigger. Pension, healthcare, representation, it all adds up to loyalty.
· More time to run your business: Stop recruiting and start building.
HVAC Staffing Solutions That Work
Let’s be honest, posting job ads on Indeed, LinkedIn, or Criag’s List isn’t a strategy. Neither is hoping your guy’s cousin is looking for work.
Local 104 exists to connect non-union contractors like you with real HVAC staffing solutions. We work with business owners who are ready to:
Eliminate hiring chaos
Tap into a trained, reliable workforce
Take on more profitable work without worrying about manpower
We’ve seen what happens when a contractor finally gets out of the hiring hamster wheel, and it’s night and day.
My Take, From the Field to the Front Office
I’ve worked as an installer, a service tech, a foreman, an instructor, and now as a Business Development Director. I’ve seen the value our workforce brings from both sides of the table.
This isn’t about pushing union vs. non-union, it’s about solving the hiring headache that keeps your business from growing the way it should.
And if you're reading this, I’m guessing it’s already a problem you’re tired of solving over and over.
Let’s change that.
Ready to Talk?
If you’re an HVAC, HVACR, or sheet metal contractor looking for a real solution to your manpower issues, we should talk.
Schedule a meeting with the Business Development team today.
Or just visit www.trade-tradition.com to learn more about how we support California contractors with the workforce they’ve been missing.