Rita Neiderheiser is currently a Special Representative and Technical Advisor for Road Sprinkler Local 669, where she works on issues related to residential fire sprinklers, water safety and fire sprinkler systems, public awareness of fire protection systems, and certification and licensure of fire sprinkler installers. Rita was instrumental in helping bring about certification for fire sprinkler installers in both Denver and Colorado by working closely with policymakers, legislators, fire officials, contractors, and union members. She is a member of the advisory board for the Colorado Division of Fire Safety, the NFPA 14 Technical Committee, the NFPA 150 Technical Committee, and the ASSE Cross Connection Control Technical Committee.
Rita has worked on organizing campaigns where she took the lead on research and information gathering for collecting corporate intelligence on companies suspected of unfair labor practices. She has helped with ongoing organizing efforts in her local by gathering information about non-union workers and companies, talking to workers and company owners, and visiting job sites. Rita’s strengths include creating good working relationships with workers and company owners, conducting research, identifying unsafe work practices that could be reported to OSHA, and recognizing and reporting unfair labor practices. She took the Organizing in the Construction Industry class at the National Labor College in 2010 where she studied labor law and organizing strategies.
Rita has been working in the fire sprinkler trade since 1978. She worked in all phases of installation, maintenance, project management, and inspection and testing during her 30 years as a sprinkler fitter. From 2003 to 2009, while continuing to work as a journeyperson, Rita worked as the tutor proctor for her local, helping hundreds of apprentices get through the training program. She completed the UA Instructor Training program in 2007 and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Labor Education at the National Labor College in May 2010. Rita’s certifications include: IFC Fire Inspector II; NICET III – Design & Layout; NICET III – Inspection & Testing; ASSE Backflow Tester, Repairer, and Surveyor; OSHA-Certified Train-the-Trainer Instructor; and UA Star.
Rita Neiderheiser 