The craftwork of the thousands of men and women in the construction trade unions has been woven into our lives throughout the Central Iowa region – at our capitol, in our schools, in our workplaces, and in our homes – for more than 100 years. Building trades unions help these professionals develop the skills that enable them to secure their American Dream.
We are dedicated to growing infrastructure and construction investment; safeguarding workplace, wage, and benefits standards; promoting responsible contracting and common-sense labor protections; investing in apprenticeship and training; and creating pathways to the middle class for women, communities of color, and military veterans in the construction industry.
We are proud to partner with community-based organizations like United Way of Central Iowa and Forest Avenue Outreach to provide training center visits, hands-on experiences with tools and materials, and quality pre-apprenticeship programmining to create pathways to building trades registered apprenticeship programs.
We work closely with dozens of schools to provide or supplement qualified training and curricula in the skilled trades. We proudly endorse and promote the North America's Building Trades Unions' industry-recognized and DOL-approved Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3), which is a 120-hour proven program to help individuals become "apprenticeship ready" by equipping them with the hard skills and soft skills needed to succeed.
Women in the skilled trades are essential to our workforce, and we’re proud to support women breaking new ground in construction careers. From apprenticeships to leadership roles, Central Iowa Building & Construction Trades offers resources, training, and a strong community to help women excel and thrive. Whether you're interested in carpentry, electrical work, welding, or another trade, we’re here to ensure your career is built to last. Learn more about Women in the Trades here.
Owners want a competitive price. They want quality construction from a skilled workforce. They want the project to be done on-time and on-budget. Finally, they want to be happy with the work product when the project is finished. Only one group can consistently meet these goals: union-built Iowa master builders. Building Union means getting the project done safely and efficiently, creating good local jobs, promoting family stability, and making a difference in the community and local economy.
Becoming signatory with the building trades is one of the smartest decisions a business can make. Union members who work for signatory contractors are a highly skilled labor force committed to a superior quality work, top notch training, safety and increased productivity.
Build your next project with a a signatory contractor in our directory. Union built means a committment to quality. Union construction has upheld its commitment to its members and the industry it serves for well over 100 years, with the belief that all working people have a right to:
In return, union members take pride in being productive, efficient, and safe workers; producing work of the highest quality; improving their communities; helping fellow workers achieve safety and security in the workplace; and being active citizens and informed voters.