Danny Hyde

The mission of the Carpenters Union is to organize workers; encourage apprenticeship and a higher standard of skill; to develop good public relations in the community; to promote fringe benefit programs for our members; to elevate the moral, intellectual and social conditions of all our members; and to improve our trade in every way possible.

How does Local 978 support that mission?

Our local union supports this mission through collective bargaining with our contractor partners and working with various community organizations such as Salute to Construction, as well as nonprofit wellness organizations like the United Way of the Ozarks.

Why did the local chapter get involved with Salute to Construction?

We see another opportunity to be visible in the community as it relates to our trade, and to be in a position to share with other organizations the opportunity to promote our organization and the construction industry.

What are some of the biggest challenges in your industry?

As I see it, the so-called “global marketplace” has shown up on our doorstep. We thought that our jobs in the construction industry were secure because our jobs could not be outsourced; we had to build the buildings here. Well, now there are those who cannot export our jobs, so are instead importing workers. And that is, indeed, a challenge.

How many members do you have, and who is eligible?

We currently have about 440 members. Any person who works at the carpentry trade, or wants to, is eligible for membership in the Carpenters Union.

What goals does the organization have for the next year?

Our goal is to continually grow our organization. We encourage growth in membership as well as growth in the number of contractor partnerships we have.