More opportunities across western Canada for members of the local carpenters' union could mean more opportunities for those same workers in the Yukon.

At a local press conference held this morning, Tytus Hardy, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners (UBC) Local 2499 president, was joined by the union's Canadian vice-president, Jim Smith.

They outlined a number of initiatives of the local union, which represents carpenters, joiners, lathers, millwrights, scaffolders, pile drivers/divers and similar trades.

Among them will be opportunities for the approximately 300 members of the union to work on large-scale projects outside the territory, in order to gain experience that would enable them to work on major projects in the Yukon, Hardy said.

In the past, he said, Yukoners haven't been hired on certain projects like the Mayo B hydro project because they just haven't had the experience employers were seeking.

"Yukon workers have not in the past been as involved as we could be with the big industrial projects simply because a lot of our workforce does not have that experience,” Hardy said.

"We can provide that experience in the meantime, and when large projects return, Yukon's carpenters will be ready.”

This will permit union members to get the hours needed on major projects, then return to the territory with that experience and apply it to work underway here.

"The union is a win-win (for workers and employers),” Hardy said.

The announcement comes as the union local works on an action plan aimed at boosting its membership and adapting to changes.

As Smith said, a number of changes have been occurring for the union movement across the country in recent years.

UBC is not afraid to change and has adapted to many changes over the years, he pointed out.

In recent years, that has meant giving members more training in addition to their workplace skills.

As an example, he pointed to a session that's offered in a number of locations to third-year apprentices on workplace attitude.

The session provides the apprentices with information on their rights and responsibilities and sees contractors provide insight from their perspective.

Workers are often surprised at those sessions to learn of the narrow profit margins (often single-digit percentages) from the projects.

In the end, Smith said, the apprentices go back to their jobs with a better understanding of the overall business and a better frame of mind for the job.

"They get the big picture,” he said.

There have also been efforts made for the "sisterhood in the (union) brotherhood,” he commented, noting a number of women's committees within the union set up across the country.

Hardy acknowledged that's one area the territory's local needs to work on.

While there are a number of programs in the Yukon that are successful in promoting the trades to women, there are few programs or incentives in place to keep them in the trades.

That can mean women end up leaving the trades. Many often opt out of their trade after maternity leave, for example.

He noted other regions such as Quebec have instituted programs to help women stay in their field.

One such program, for example, offers extended maternity leaves for women who work at what are classified as hazardous jobs.

As the local union continues with its plan to make changes, it will be exploring options to encourage women to stay in the trades.

Where the Yukon is taking the lead, Hardy said, is partnerships with First Nations.

As he pointed out, the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre was built through a partnership with the First Nation, Dominion Construction and the union local.

While First Nations members being in the trades is not new, Hardy said he wants to continue working on developing partnerships and offering the training opportunities First Nations are looking for their members.

"We know the importance of First Nation relationships,” Smith said.

Partnerships with employers are also a key focus for the union.

"Today's UBC is focused on the fact our members succeed when our employers succeed,” he said.

"We believe that a construction project is only effective when workers and employers are truly partners. I'm here to support the Yukon local in its efforts to grow the UBC and equip our members in the Yukon to be the best workers in the Yukon.”

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the local, having been chartered on Sept. 21, 1948, making it the oldest operating union in the territory.