Paula Resa, assistant director, Southwest Mountain States Carpenters, and Sandra Rodriguez, director, Sisters in the Brotherhood (SIB), have very different points of entry to the skilled trades, but their stories align in that they are women who have overcome hardships to find a career path within the trade unions they represent. Here, they talk more in depth on the many ways the Sisters in the Brotherhood program offers support to current and future tradeswomen.
The International Standards & Training Alliance (INSTALL) announced the addition of three new INSTALL Warranty Contractors (IWCs): Commercial Interior Resources, F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co., Inc., and 345 Construction & Flooring Co.
The United Brotherhood of Carpenters' Military Veterans Program, in collaboration with INSTALL, provides free, comprehensive training to service members transitioning to civilian life. With over 600 graduates since 2019 and expanding to multiple military bases, the program offers direct entry into construction trade apprenticeships while allowing veterans to utilize their GI Bill benefits.
The moisture parameters for hardwoods and subfloors that are required for successful hardwood floor installations depend on several factors. Executive Director David Gross shares INSTALL’s guidelines for moisture testing prior to hardwood installation.
INSTALL Executive Director David Gross, shares the step-by-step process, using ASTM F2170 guidelines, to help you get reliable RH measurements to ensure your final flooring results look great and last.
The International Standards & Training Alliance (INSTALL) announces the addition of three new Alliance Partners: Mondo Contract Flooring, Taylor Adhesives and Dewalt, who will join INSTALL’s A-list of over 130 floor covering mills and manufacturers that work with the organization to inform its training curriculum and technical instruction for flooring industry professionals.
David Gross, executive director, INSTALL, highlights the Sisters in the Brotherhood (SIB)—a women’s union organization within the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. He provides an update on how the unions have evolved over time and talks in depth about the support and resources the SIB offers.
Most installers know the steps involved in stretching in carpet, but it’s easy to get wrong, resulting in costly rework or damage to a flooring contractor’s reputation.
At the end of 2023, OSHA proposed a rule change that would allow union reps to accompany OSHA compliance officers on non-union workplace inspections. We asked three industry pros to weigh in.
Organizing the floor covering trade around the next generation of installers is going to take time and effort, but the good news is that organizations already have the knowledge and resources they need to get started.
