The mission of the Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council is to improve the health, jobs, safety and economic conditions of the members of its affiliates, and all working men, women, and minors in the construction industry.

As the Iowa affiliate of North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), the Iowa Building Trades has dozens of affiliated unions from 16 different construction craft unions, nine local building trades councils, and numerous affiliated Joint Apprenticeship Training Committees (JATCs) that are responsible for training apprentices and providing journeyman upgrade training throughout the state. Working with our affiliates and local councils, we advance the PRIORITIES of the unionized construction industry and build a better quality of life for building trades workers and their families.

Iowa’s Building Trades Unions are dedicated to growing infrastructure investment and union construction jobs; 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 the Leaders in Registered Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship is a key pillar of the building trades. Our unions have embraced apprenticeship for hundreds of years.

• Our training programs equip local men and women with the skills needed for lifelong careers.
• Registered apprenticeship programs combine on-the-job training with related classroom instruction for a period of three to five years.
• The union construction industry has privately funded Registered Apprenticeship Programs across the state.
• These programs invest millions of dollars per year in training programs.
• Apprentices earn-while-they-learn receiving excellent wages along with healthcare and retirement benefits.

• Study: Iowa Construction Apprenticeships Far Surpass Non-Union Programs
• Study: Union Construction Apprenticeships Rival Bachelor’s Degree

We are the Master Union Builders of Iowa

When building a project, an owner wants it all. Our workforce can deliver.

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:

• A good job with benefits
• A living wage that can support a family
• Security and dignity in work and retirement
• A safe and secure workplace
• Education and training to reach their full potential

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.