History

The Mainland Nova Scotia Building and Construction Trades Council was formed in 1952. Today, the volunteer organization includes members from the following trade unions:

• Sheet Metal Workers' International Association, Local 409
• United Association of Journeymen Plumbers and Pipefitters, Local 56
• United Association of Journeymen Plumbers and Pipefitters, Local 244
• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Local 73
• International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 721
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Local 1439
• Millwrights and Machine Erectors, Local 1178
• International Union of Bricklayers, Local 1
• International Union of Elevator Constructors, Local 125
• International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators, Local 116
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - Local 625
• Labours International Union of North America, Local 615

A volunteer representative from each of the above forms the Council, which represents not only the unions but their total of 12,000 tradespeople from across mainland Nova Scotia.

The Council's mandate today, as it was in 1952, is to:

• secure jobs for its members
• promote members' skills to developers and business owners
• ensure quality of work in the trades
• give a united, powerful voice to issues affecting the trades
• ensure fair wages, benefits, training and support for tradespeople

The Council does this by:

• meeting with government, developers and trainers to address issues affecting the trades industry
• networking with members to identify concerns and then act upon them
• being proactive in its efforts to recruit apprentices and prepare members for opportunities in oil and gas, manufacturing, power generation, construction and other emerging industries
• being members in good standing of related organizations like the Onshore/Offshore Technologies Association of Nova Scotia and the Metropolitan Halifax Chamber of Commerce

Council members are real people, whose wages, dedication and skills are driving the Nova Scotia economy and making our province and its communities better places to live. Council volunteers not only give their time to trades issues; they are active supporters of charitable causes. The Council has made donations to:

• Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
• Shrine Circus
• Foster Parents Plan
• IWK Grace Health Centre Foundation
• Adsum House
• Nova Scotia Police Curling Association
• Aladdin Children's Charity
• Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Foster Parents Plan of Canada
• The United Way
• Tsunami Releif fund