Joining the Carpenters Union

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Carpenters Union, please follow the appropriate link below for information about the process:

If you have little or no experience in carpentry or the affiliated trades and would like to learn more about becoming an apprentice, click here. (Apprentice Program)

If you have been working at the trade for several years and a nonunion contractor currently employs you or you are currently unemployed, click here. (Journeyman Level Membership)

If you do not live in Central Pennsylvania but would like information about the Carpenters Union, please start with one of the following links:

If you are a carpenter (union or nonunion) and you are interested in moving to Central Pennsylvania, click here.

If you are interested in the Carpenters Union where you are, click here. (Outside Central Pennsylvania)

Coming into the Union as a Journeyman Level Carpenter

Carpenters working in the industry can come into the Union in a couple of different ways: they can work with their crew to organize their employer (bottom-up organizing); they can become a union member when their employer signs a union agreement (top-down organizing); or the union can take them into the union when there is work available. There is a necessary balance between carpenters in the union, union contractors and the amount of work being performed by union contractors. If there are too many carpenters and not enough contractors, taking in new members simply creates more competition for jobs. Likewise, the union won't be very successful if we only tried to organize contractors and helped them grow their business, without taking in carpenters.

So the best way to keep a balance that ensures increased uniformity of standards for carpenters throughout the industry is to organize both contractors and carpenters at the same time.

If you are working and would like to become a union member, talk to the other carpenters on the crew. You may find that a majority of them would also like to enjoy the benefits, training and working conditions received through union membership. Organizing offices are located throughout Central Pennsylvania with organizers who can work with your crew to organize the company. To contact an organizing office, click here.

Your employer may be willing to become a union contractor if several members of the crew show an interest. Our Regional Council Representatives can sit down with a contractor to discuss how becoming a union contractor will make good business sense for them. To contact a Regional Council Representative click here.

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Joining the Carpenters Union

Outside Central Pennsylvania

If you are interested in the Carpenters Union, but don't live in Central Pennsylvania, we can help you find the Regional Council and Local Unions in your area. Please send an e-mail to info@carpenterslocal214.org letting us know that you are interested in becoming a member and telling us where you reside. Please include the state, city, nearest metropolitan area and/or the area of the state where you live and/or work.

We will do our best to put you in touch with the right people.