Fraternalism, the foundation upon which unique American and Canadian organizations known as fraternal benefit societies were founded, can be traced back to the 1860s.

Fraternal benefit societies were founded for different reasons. Some shared a common heritage, while others had the same bond of religion, occupation or other commonality of interest. UTUIA's predecessor organizations were established to protect their members who were employed in hazardous occupations.

In 1994, seventeen UTUIA Local Units were established throughout the United States for the purpose of engaging in fraternal activities which benefit both UTU/UTUIA members and the communities in which they live. In continuing the tradition upon which it was founded, UTUIA is committed to providing assistance to those who are less fortunate. UTUIA members are encouraged to participate in the activities of their Local Units.

UTUIA Units are involved in a variety of fraternal and charitable activities, including supporting Harvest for Hunger, supporting abused children's and battered women's shelters, assembling and delivering Easter baskets to a home for terminally ill cancer patients, raising funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the American Diabetes Association, March of Dimes, and Cancer research, supporting Wigs for Kids, a summer camp for handicapped children, conducting blood drives, and on and on. Additionally, UTUIA Units have supported not only the communities in which they live, but on a national level, have risen to the occasion to raise funds for such national tragedies as the Oklahoma Bombing, the destruction of the Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, DC on September 11, 2001, and natural disasters such as hurricane and flood relief.

Meeting sites and times are listed below:

UTUIA Unit	Meeting Place, Day, Time
0001	North Olmsted, OH, 2nd Tues., 4:30 PM, 24950 Country Club Blvd., Ste. 340
0002	Greenville, TX, 2nd Mon., 6:00 PM, 4224 King Street
0003	Louisville, KY, 2nd Thurs., 8:00 PM, Iroquois Post #229, 800 West Woodlawn
0004	Memphis, TN, 1st Mon., 7:00 PM, 2700 South Perkins
0005	Rowland Hts., CA, 2nd Tues., 10:30 AM, 18880 E. Gale Avenue
0006	Kansas City, MO, 1st Thurs., 8:00 AM, 1601 Universal Avenue
0007	Goshen, IN, 3rd Sun., 9:30 AM, 22684 County Rd. 118
0008	Roseville, CA, 1st Tues., 1:45 PM, 110 Park Avenue
0009	Mandan, ND, 3rd Tues., 11:00 AM, Seven Seas Motor Inn
0010	Smyrna, GA, 1st Mon., 11:00 AM, Howard's Restaurant, 652 Concord Rd. SE
0011	Battle Creek, MI, 2nd Mon., 1:00 PM, Eagles Lodge, 19757 Capital Ave. NE
0012	Baldwin, NY, 3rd Thurs., 11:00 AM, Coral House
0013	Seattle, WA, 2nd Tues., 9:00 AM, 9125 15th Place South
0014	Birmingham, AL, 4th Mon., 6:00 PM, Irondale Public Library, 105 20th St. S.
0015	Hamlet, NC, 2nd Tues., 7:30 PM, Sarge's Grill, Highway 177 N.
0016	Grand Junction, CO, 1st Thurs., 8:00 AM, Mesa Mall Conference Room
0017	New Castle, PA, 1st Tues., 6:30 PM, Shad Hanna's East Restaurant, 1506 Butler Rd.