The Power of Partnerships: Organizing Skilled Labour for Large Scale Infrastructure
Large-scale infrastructure projects don’t succeed by accident. They require early planning, trusted partnerships, and most importantly; a skilled, organized workforce that can respond when timelines tighten and complexity increases. According to Nathan Jaeb of UBC Millwright Local 1021 Saskatchewan, this is where collaboration between industry partners and the Millwright Regional Council (MRC) makes the difference.
“When contractors come to us early and bring us to the table, it changes everything,” Jaeb explains. Early conversations around scheduling and project timelines allow the union to forecast labour needs and ensure the right millwrights are available when the work begins. But even when notice is short, the strength of the MRC’s national structure ensures projects don’t stall.
“Whether we get two years of planning, 2 months’ notice or five days’ notice, we do the same thing,” says Jaeb. “We have access to the same skilled millwrights across Canada through the MRC and the UBC Millwrights. No matter what, we can help them.”
That ability to mobilize qualified workers from across jurisdictions is a core organizing advantage. It gives contractors confidence that labour shortages won’t derail critical work and allows owners to proceed knowing projects will be completed safely and efficiently.
“Readiness is everything – the right people, in the right place, at the right time,” said Mark Beardsworth, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Millwright Regional Council. “When industry partners choose UBC Millwrights, they’re not just hiring labour. They’re securing a reliable workforce system built to deliver skilled millwrights on demand.”
Organizing also creates opportunities for growth. While the union hall in Saskatchewan receives applications daily, Local 1021 is using project demand as a recruitment tool, identifying skilled individuals, bringing them into the union, and training them to meet industry standards. “The goal is to bring more people into the fold – more qualified millwrights – so we’re building capacity for future projects,” Jaeb says.
Perhaps most telling is how one successful partnership leads to another. After completing work with a new contractor from Quebec in northern Saskatchewan, Local 1021 was approached by additional contractors for work in the same area. By pointing to proven results, trust was established quickly. “It puts their minds at ease knowing they are not the first contractor with schedule demands and the need for skilled labour to complete complex work” Jaeb notes. “We’ve been doing this for years.”
For contractors and owners who haven’t worked with the union before, the message is simple: pick up the phone. “They’d be amazed at what we have to offer”, Jaeb says.
In an era of increasingly complex infrastructure, organizing isn’t just about filling jobs, it is about readiness, reliability, and results. By working in partnership with industry, the Millwright Regional Council ensures skilled millwrights are available when projects demand them, regardless of location or timeline. For contractors and owners facing tight schedules and high stakes – organizing through the MRC isn’t a risk—it’s a proven solution that keeps Canada’s most important projects moving forward.
About the Millwright Regional Council
The Millwright Regional Council (MRC) is composed of twelve affiliated Local Unions of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC) across Canada. The UBC Millwrights are vital partners in diverse industries such as energy, automotive, aerospace, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. ubcmillwrights.ca
For media inquiries, please contact:
Andrew Bredin
Director of Communications
Millwright Regional Council
416-757-5161
abredin@ubcmillwrights.ca
