For newcomers looking to start a career in construction, unions are like helpful guides. They make sure that workers get fair pay and good working conditions through negotiations. Unions also focus on keeping construction sites safe by setting rules and providing training. If there's ever a problem at work, unions offer support and legal help. Plus, being part of a union means you are not alone—you have other members to lean on and learn from. So, for anyone starting out in construction, joining a union is a smart move to get a fair deal and build a solid career. Unions do not offer jobs directly, but rather some unions may have training programs or partnerships with employers to facilitate job placement or apprenticeship opportunities for their members.
Some examples of unions include:
• Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) - Local 183
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) - Local 353
• United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC) - Local 27
• International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) - Local 793
• International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers (Ironworkers) - Local 721
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) - District Council 46
• Plumbers and Pipefitters Union (UA) - Local 46
• Sheet Metal Workers' International Association (SMWIA) - Local 30
• International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (Insulators) - Local 95
• Teamsters Union - Local 230 (representing some construction workers for material transportation and related services).
These are just a few examples, and there are several other construction-related unions operating in Ontario, each representing different trades and aspects of the construction industry.