Our guest today is a member of Local 1503 and the Community Relations and Outreach Liaison for the NW Carpenters Union, Michael Burch. Michael is a passionate advocate for social justice and equality who works tirelessly to effect positive change on our jobsites, and in our communities. 

We’ll open today’s conversation by looking into what created the need for an outreach liaison position over10 years ago and what effect Michaels efforts have had in creating opportunities for women, people of color, and underrepresented groups within the construction industry in the SW Washington and the Portland metropolitan area. 

Next, we’ll dive into what CBA’s are, and how they are used to push back against decades of systemic racism in the trades in an effort to provide economic opportunities as well as better reflect the people who live in the neighborhoods where much of the work is taking place. 

We’ll then unpack some of the common challenges that apprentices experience on the job and why today’s younger workforce looks beyond just a paycheck when determining whether or not to invest in a career as a professional carpenter. 

Later we discuss what Positive Jobsite Culture Training is and how our council leadership is fostering a program to encourage greater respect and civility on worksites across our region.  

And we’ll wrap up our conversation by introducing you to the numerous auxiliary groups that you can join today to continue building upon the foundation of unity and brotherhood that the UBC was built upon nearly a century and a half ago.

 The Show Notes

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