Get to Know MSCA: Your HVAC Trade Association

If you’re thinking about a career in HVAC and Refrigeration, or you have recently joined the industry, we want to introduce you to an HVAC trade association you should know about: the Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA).  

Why should you know about MSCA? If you choose to work for a contractor that’s a member of MSCA, you can be confident that your employer can properly support your training and career development, is committed to your safety, and is committed to productive labor negotiations and providing a fair work environment.

Your HVAC trade association: Mechanical Service Contractors Association (MSCA)

MSCA supports the HVAC & Refrigeration service industries by providing education, marketing, and labor/management services to assure its contractor members deliver quality performance, value and expertise for all building system needs. 

At the national level, MSCA has more than 1,400 member companies and is a subsidiary of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA). 

At the local level here in the New York City metro area, MSCA of New York is dedicated to advancing the safety, quality, and productivity of those working in the HVACR industry. Member contractors actively work together to embrace new ideas and technology, support education and training, and advocate for smart and sustainable solutions for all New Yorkers.

Through an effective labor partnership with Steamfitters Local 638 (our local union for HVACR service workers), MSCA helps contractors develop a qualified, trained workforce. In the ever-changing world of HVACR, MSCA continues to provide service contractors with the necessary support to adapt and advance their companies and this industry.

How MSCA supports the HVAC industry, both nationally and locally

A resource for problem solving

MSCA brings union HVACR service contractors together, both at the national and local levels, and serves as a resource that provides more benefits for everyone through collaboration.

Through membership in MSCA, HVACR service business owners, project managers and even technicians have the opportunity to meet peers from across the industry and build a network that they can turn to if they need help. When faced with a difficult question or problem, there’s always someone who has been through it and can offer advice and share solutions.

Supporting the labor/management partnership

One of MSCA of New York’s key responsibilities is to serve as labor representatives for member contractors in negotiations with Local 638 and UA (our national HVACR industry union) and to support labor/management cooperation.

At the national level, MSCA meets regularly with UA representatives to address higher level issues and develop the National Service and Maintenance Agreement, which serves as a template for local agreements. Local unions and MSCA chapters can use it as a guide for local agreements, adopting some best practices or all of the content.

MSCA of New York works with Local 638 here in the NYC metro area to ensure productive labor/management discussions and develop reasonable standards that work for everyone.

Training and education

MSCA provides training and educational resources for contractors and their employees on a variety of subjects, including business management, operations, sales and marketing, and new products and technologies. The organization hosts national conferences, offers online resources, and offers additional training programs throughout the year as part of MSCA University. 

Here are just a few examples:

MSCA Sales Institute, a comprehensive and multi-level training program focused on service sales in the HVACR industry. With ongoing pre- and post-assessments and feedback, participants get ongoing support as they progress in their careers.

Pandemic support. When COVID-19 hit in the spring of 2020, MSCA provided a series of webinars to guide members through the challenges of operation, and shared best practices to support workers and keep them safe. 

Introductory industry education. MSCA has resources (such as on-demand webinars and slide presentations) that service companies can use to train new hires.

Safety training. MSCA provides online resources and in-person seminars on a variety of safety topics to meet the needs of different types of contractors and their employees. 

If you work for a service contractor that’s an MSCA member, be sure to ask about resources and opportunities from MSCA. We are here to support you!

Promoting the industry and attracting new talent 

The HVACR industry is facing a labor shortage, and MSCA is working on both the national and local levels to attract new talent. Here are two examples:

Women in the Mechanical Industry (WIMI). This initiative is working at both the national and local levels to serve as a networking and educational resource for women in the industry, and also to collaborate with UA’s efforts to attract more women to jobs in HVACR. WIMI hosts a national conference that has attracted more than 200 attendees this year from around the country. The majority of women in the field right now are in management positions, but the organization is expanding to include technicians and field workers. 

HVACR Career Connect NY.  Here in the NYC metro area, MSCA of New York has developed a local resource for promoting the industry, attracting talent by posting local job openings, and sharing educational articles and videos for both employers and field professionals. Check it out!

HVACR Career Connect NY was created to promote the exceptional quality-of-life benefits of a career in HVAC and Refrigeration service, and also to provide a clear path for getting started in the profession. In doing so, we serve as a resource for employers in the New York City metro area to find and hire smart and capable new technicians. We also serve as an educational resource to support business growth and to help service technicians succeed in their chosen profession.