Hi Redneck - not ALL Master Plumbers have been sitting on their arses.  I am a member of Master Plumbers and I can say that the local association has been a great support to me and my business.  The guys are helpful, supportive and have helped us build our business.  That said, I am also an active supporter of the Federation.  Each organisation has different agendas.  Master Plumbers is a collective group which can benefit some businesses with bulk purchasing (i.e. fuel cards, phones, stationery, uniforms etc - if you are inclined), with sharing of information, with collegial support, business best practice, marketing etc.  For me the flow of information at a local level has been great and I enjoy the Plumbers Journal and the opportunity to meet practitioners from around the country at conference and talk over issues such as employing apprentices, supplier problems etc, advances in the industry etc.

The Federation is an advocacy and lobbying group - and they are doing a great job.  Many Master Plumbers are also members of the Federation - each is not mutually exclusive and just because you belong to one group, it doesn't exclude you from belonging to the other. 

We are better served working with each other than against each other.   As a Master Plumber member I don't agree with MP stance on upskilling or their attitude to the disciplinary levy - and am much more in line with the PGDF's view.  As such I have put my effort into what ever I can do to assist.  I realise that everyone is entitled to their opinion and I am always interested in what other practitioners think and why.  It is fascinating to hear why some people are for something and others against.  No matter what I have yet to meet a plumber, gasfitter or drainlayer who doesn't have an opinion on what is happening in our industry at the moment!

No necessarily - these costs are not insignificant - and the question comes back to "are they matters necessary to" as per the Act.  None of us mind paying for upskilling if it is true upskilling - as opposed to paying for a supplier to teach us about their product.  This should be free - if it is a glorified sales pitch - it should be free - and none of it should attract points.  Upskilling as I understand the Act must be able to be proven to be necessary - such as mandatory courses for any new code or regulation that comes into force.  Something that a practitioner MUST know to serve the public and protect their health and safety.


It's been a tough two and a half years for most plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers that I know - whether a business owner or an employee.  Profits are down, and in some cases firms are going backwards, payrises are not generally forthcoming, and these imposed costs are just another concern. 

It's no different to any other sort of shopping we do - we need to consider - am I getting value for money, do I need this, how can I make this purchase work for me - and do I really have any choice in the matter?