Representatives from MCAA and its Women in the Mechanical Industry (WiMI) initiative joined the UA at the 2019 Tradeswomen Build Nations conference (formerly Women Build Nations) for the second year. The event, which took place in Minneapolis from Oct. 4-6, 2019, was sponsored by North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU).

More than 2,600 union tradeswomen came together to network and learn from each other, including more than 400 UA journeywomen and apprentices, business managers and agents supporting their locals.

UA General President Mark McManus addressed the UA group on Saturday, saying, “the diversity in our work and local unions is going to continue to grow in our United Association.” He was joined by Laura Ceja, national recruitment and outreach coordinator; Cheryl Ambrose, health, safety and environmental administrator; and Jill Timushka, national manager of youth, diversity and indigenous relations at UA Canada.

The conference included a banner parade celebrating the skilled trades in attendance in addition to workshops addressing diversity and leadership. McManus and Ceja spoke to all of the attendees at Sunday’s final plenary session.

MCAA and the UA sponsored Saturday night’s event for the UA attendees at Gameworks in the Mall of America. Members of MCAA’s WiMI Steering Committee attended the event, which included Milwaukee Tool’s tool raffle and a photo booth sponsored by LAARS, a Bradford White Company.

MCAA and the WiMI Steering Committee look forward to continuing their partnership with the UA to support this trailblazing event next year in Washington, D.C.