A Carpenters Best Friend

There’s an opportunity for carpenters to have access to better healthcare, make more money, and receive nationally-recognized job training. And that’s by becoming a member of the St. Louis - Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council (CARPDC).

St. Louis is home to the headquarters of CARPDC, a part of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) and Joiners of America. The Carpenters Regional Council is one of the oldest and most storied labor unions in the U.S. -  founded in 1882, the labor force is more than 20,000 members strong. With organizational values based on serving their members, the Regional Council knows what it means to put the interests of union carpenters first, and it starts with their health.

Opening in Summer ‘19, the Carpenters Wellness Center will be located on the St. Louis Hampton Campus of CARPDC. The state-of-the-art facility provides an opportunity for members to receive exceptional care at an affordable price. Studies show that onsite wellness centers benefit members by building the patient - physician relationship. Instead of spending time in a waiting room, patients spend more time in front of their physician. Union carpenters will receive more personalized healthcare and build a relationship with the physicians and staff, resulting in more effective care. The best part? Eligible members have no copay or deductibles.

The Carpenters Regional Council isn’t just trying to help members keep more money in their pockets, they’re making sure members are earning more money too. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction workers in St. Louis are the second highest paid in the country with a median salary of $65,936. This can be attributed, in part, to the work the Regional Council has done in negotiating fair wages for workers. Additionally, the union has invested more than $250 million in redevelopment projects to create man hours for carpenters.

Giving the leaders of tomorrow the tools they need to be successful is also an important part of the Regional Council’s mission. Every year, qualified applicants from CARPDC are selected to attend nationally-recognized leadership training at the UBC International Training Center in Las Vegas. Here, aspiring foreman, superintendents, and journey-level carpenters are given the training and skills they need to achieve their career goals. While enrolled in the program, carpenters attend classes focused on communication skills, responding to conflict, and many other important skills that jobsite leaders need.

What are you waiting for? Apply for a carpentry job in St. Louis right now, and start benefiting from being a member of the Carpenters Regional Council.