Minnesota Building & Construction Trades Council

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Minneapolis, Minnesota

Cecelia thought about her future often. She had always planned on going to college but needed to make ends meet, so she began working as a pizza delivery driver. While thinking about her next steps, she heard about Building Strong Communities, a multi-craft apprenticeship readiness program that introduces people to building and construction trades.   After applying and being accepted to the Building Strong Communities program, she found ... View Article

West St. Paul, Minnesota

Adrian is second from right. After turning thirty, Adrian was looking for a different quality of life and decided he wanted a career. After being a server for 4 years, he stared thinking about health care and retirement benefits, something his job as a server was not providing him. “When I was younger, I didn’t really think about how important health care and retirement benefits were,” Adrian said. He had heard about a program that ... View Article

Princeton, Minnesota

Nicole was working 2 jobs to make ends meet for her family. “No one wants to leave work to turn around and go back to work,” Nicole stated. She heard about the apprenticeship readiness program Building Strong Communities, a program that introduces people to the building and construction trades and prepares them for the industry. For Nicole, it sounded like a good way to get a foot in the door in the construction trades. After finishing her ... View Article

Duluth, Minnesota

Derek has worked as a server, restaurant manager and as a conveyor belt technician in mines and in boat yards. “When I was a conveyor belt technician, I saw building and construction trades working in the field and heard about the benefits and job security and I was interested in learning more,” Derek said. In learning about the construction trades through a program called Building Strong Communities, a multi-craft apprenticeship readiness ... View Article

Austin, Minnesota

Dustin, a carpenter based out of Austin, Minnesota has just finished his apprenticeship training and is a member of Carpenters Local 1382. “The best part about the apprenticeship program was getting to learn from all the different people in the trades. I was fortunate to be able to work with some great journeymen, some were close to retirement age. I learned a lot from them, and I look forward to teaching people who come up under me.” Dustin ... View Article

Statement from Tom Dicklich, Executive Director on the Biden Administration’s Action on Mineral Withdrawal Study

The Biden Administration's commitment to taking strong actions against the climate crisis is commendable, but the government’s actions today run counter to their commitment. Copper, nickel, cobalt, platinum group metals, which are critical to propel our country’s transition to a low-carbon future are essential tools to combat climate change. These minerals can be mined domestically, safely and create hundreds of much needed jobs in right here in ... View Article

Statement from President Joe Fowler on being appointed to the Governor’s Council on Economic Expansion

I am honored to have been chosen to serve on the Governor’s Council on Economic Expansion. The Council, created thru executive order 21-31, brings together business, labor, nonprofit, philanthropic and community organizations whose purpose is to propose ideas that will help re-build Minnesota’s economy in a way that advances equitable economic growth across the entire state. The Council will first work to identify immediate actions and ... View Article

Statement from Joe Fowler, President, Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council Regarding Representatives Omar and McCollum’s Letter to Joe Biden About Line 3

On Monday, August 30th, Minneapolis and St. Paul Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Betty McCollum, other Congressional members, and members of the Minnesota legislature submitted a letter to President Biden about the Line 3 replacement project. The letter reiterates many issues that have been reviewed and approved by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, along with other issues that have been ... View Article

75th Annual Building Trades Convention – Election of Leadership; focus on Diversity, Inclusion and Veterans

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 ... View Article

Legislature Wraps Up Session with Big Wins for Infrastructure Funding and Jobs, More Work Needed on Worker Safety

St. Paul, MN (July 2, 2021) The legislative session wrapped up yesterday securing some big wins for worker safety, infrastructure funding that will secure thousands of jobs for Building and Construction Trades affiliates and members, additional financial support to help combat the exploitation of workers and investigate wage theft, along with commitments that will advance clean energy.  Overall, the recent legislative ... View Article

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