About Us

The Central Iowa Building & Construction Trades Council is made up of 16 unions representing more than 15,000 highly skilled workers who perform building and construction work across Central Iowa. 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 also 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.

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Our Leadership
Our Priorities
Apprenticeship Readiness Program (MC3 Pre-Apprenticeship)
Women in Trades

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.

About Registered Apprenticeship

Registered apprenticeship is a formal system of employee training that combines on-the-job training with related technical instruction.
Registered apprenticeship programs train and develop craftworkers over 2 – 5 years who are fully competent in all aspects of an occupation including knowledge, skills, and safety on the job.
Registered Apprenticeship programs include a written contract between the apprentice and the employer or apprenticeship program sponsor, approved by and registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. This agreement specifies the total length of training, number of school hours (related technical instruction) and an outline of the skills of the trade to be learned and the wages the apprentice will receive.

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

The Union Advantage

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.