The Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council held its 75th Annual Convention from July 21st-23rd in Brainerd, Minnesota where delegates elected Council leadership and passed several resolutions which help give direction to the Building and Construction Trades Council on what to work towards during the coming year. At the convention, delegates took significant action regarding efforts to increase diversity and inclusion and in supporting our returning Veterans by helping them access gainful employment within the Building and Construction Trades.
The delegates to the Building and Construction Trades Convention held elections for a four-year term for President, Secretary/Treasurer, and three trustees. Delegates unanimously voted to re-elect Joe Fowler as President, Craig Olson as Secretary/Treasurer and Shane Meier, Sam Schultz, and Mike Syversrud as trustees of the Council. Fowler had been previously elected President by the Executive Board of the Building Trades at a meeting on May 24, 2021 to succeed long-time President Harry Melander who officially retired on June 4th of this year.
The Building and Construction Trades delegates unanimously passed a resolution that would make the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council home to a successful apprenticeship readiness program, Building Strong Communities. Delegates passed the resolution to make the successful metro-wide program a statewide program with the intention that it will be run and funded by the Building Trades. The Trades have gone on record stating that diversity and inclusion is a state-wide concern and is a top priority.
Delegates to the convention also unanimously approved a resolution to have the Minnesota State Building Trades Council work towards becoming a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon organization. Beyond the Yellow Ribbon organizations connect service members and military families with training, services, and resources to promote self-sufficiency, resiliency, and stability. The Council specifically wants to serve as an employment resource to help Veterans gain employment within the Building and Construction trades.
At the closing of the Convention, President Fowler announced that the 76th Annual Building Trades Convention will be held in Mankato in 2022.