SISTERS IN THE BUILDING TRADES

North American manufacturing is in crisis, but Brotherhood successes in
organizing millworkers demonstrate that the UBC’s strategy can significantly
grow the union beyond its carpenter base, the convention’s Industrial Committee reported.

“Misguided trade policies,” the offshoring of manufacturing jobs, and
the introduction of automated systems are causes for the 21 percent
decline in U.S. manufacturing since the last convention, the committee reported.

It encouraged the UBC to use its political clout to seek ways to strengthen manufacturing.

Later, delegates gave a spontaneous standing ovation
to the UBC’s first Women’s Committee. Only 18 women
delegates attended the 2000 convention, the committee
reported, but some 82 had been elected to this year’s.

Thanking General President Doug McCarron for “the
courage to say the time has come,” the committee
reported that women’s presence in the union has
strengthened because of the women’s conferences
held by the International in 2002 and 2005.

The construction industry estimates it will need more
than 1.8 million new workers over the next 10 years, the committee
reported. “Sisters are critical.” The goal of the UBC Women’s Committee
is “strengthen, not divide,” it said.