Capenters Local 978: Carpenters Union puts emphasis on education

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Danny Hyde is business manager for Carpenters Local 978 in Springfield.|ret||ret||tab|

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Carpenters Union Local 978 was chartered in Springfield in 1901. We have been a part of this community for over 100 years. A few times over the years people have surprised me by saying they didn't know we were here. |ret||ret||tab|

And it made me stop and wonder if we were doing enough to promote our organization and its purposes. Then I realized that we really were doing things as our charter intended. The local union exists not just for the 475 members in and around Springfield, but to better our industry and be a viable community partner.|ret||ret||tab|

Carpenters Union, Local 978 is affiliated with the Carpenters' District Council of Kansas City & Vicinity. Together we have maintained a working relationship with the Builders' Association of Missouri to assist our participating contractors in their efforts to be the best in the business. |ret||ret||tab|

The relationship between the Carpenters and the Builders' Association has allowed for the joint management of the many benefits for our members and the community, such as apprenticeship and training programs, health and pension benefits, and outreach to our education partners.|ret||ret||tab|

Local 978 has had a long relationship with Ozarks Technical Community College. We have a program designed for high school students through the Tech-Prep Consortium. This gives students a head start in entering the construction industry through apprenticeship because of the articulated curriculum we employ. |ret||ret||tab|

Students at OTC who are in our registered apprenticeship program can also earn college credit for being apprentices.|ret||ret||tab|

The Carpenters' District Council also provides six $2,500 scholarships each year to sons, daughters or grandchildren of our members who qualify. The scholarships are to be used for the first year of college.|ret||ret||tab|

Apprentice instructor Tony Blackstock, organizer Art Kessler and I are available to visit schools on an ongoing basis. We have made ourselves available for career days, technical student education and industry education. We are also currently getting involved with the Center for Construction Excellence program, which started at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and has grown to be an international endeavor. |ret||ret||tab|

This program is designed to increase awareness among middle school students of the importance of math, science and communication classes in pursuing a career in the construction industry. |ret||ret||tab|

Springfield will be home to a regional competition for those middle school students to show off their skills as future engineers, architects or craft workers. The program is anticipating as many as 500 students from the area will be involved in this year's competition.|ret||ret||tab|

The Carpenters Apprenticeship and Training program is our pride and joy. The new state-of-the-art training center we utilize is located at 4639 W. Pfeiffer Court. There we can teach all the many skills of carpentry, whether it be in framing, trim and finish, welding, millwright, cabinet making, layout and blueprints, scaffold erection, formwork or installing hardware.|ret||ret||tab|

Many in our industry have pointed to the shortage of skilled workers, both male and female, in the construction industry. Our training center and apprenticeship program is one of the answers to that shortage. |ret||ret||tab|

While learning the trade, apprentices are earning a good wage and providing health and pension benefits to their families. It is the only four-year education program I know where you "earn while you learn."|ret||ret||tab|

Among our many community partners are United Way, Salvation Army, the Faith-Labor Alliance of the Ozarksand Habitat for Humanity. Carpenters Union, Local 978 has been involved with the annual Day of Caring with United Way since its inception in 1993. We have assisted Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Club, Campfire Girls and Boys, Habitat for Humanity, the Family Violence Center and others over the years. |ret||ret||tab|

We partner annually with Salvation Army bell ringing campaign through the Central Labor Council. We work within the Faith-Labor Alliance of the Ozarks to create an environment that is conducive to working with dignity and becoming better citizens.|ret||ret||tab|

Carpenters are involved in the building of the community on many different levels. We build houses, commercial buildings, schools, hospitals and government buildings. We build the skills and enhance the future of our members. We assist in building the partnerships needed to grow our community. And 102 years later, we're still here.|ret||ret||tab|

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