The Chicago Carpenter Partnership is a voluntary workforce diversity pledge led by Chicago Women in Trades along with the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters Apprenticeship Training Center, Chicago Sisterhood of Carpenters, and signatory Union Contractors.

Chicago Women in Trades proudly began the announcement of the Chicago Carpenter Partnership in March 2020, but due to COVID-19, the official launch party was canceled. Since then, Chicago Women in Trades has been working with local Union Contractors to create a customized agreement promoting the recruitment and retention of the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenter Sisters.

Chicago Women in Trades is proud to announce our partnership with F.H. Paschen on their continued advocacy for Tradeswomen and workforce diversity and inclusion. In March 2020, F.H Paschen became the first Union Contractor to sign the Chicago Carpenter Partnership.

F.H. Paschen is leading a new path in how they hire and retain their workforce. We commend the work they are actively doing, as well as the work they are hoping to achieve. Chicago Women in Trades would like to highlight one F.H. Paschen jobsite in particular, the 294 Mile-Long Bridge Project, which had 10.19% Tradeswomen on total work hours. There were 11 Tradeswomen on the Project across three different Union trades.

We look forward to achieving more great strides with F.H. Paschen on the recruitment, retention, and advocacy of diverse workforces.

Quality First, a Contractor under the restate developer Related Midwest, signed onto the Chicago Carpenter Partnership in October 2020. 

Within six months of pledging to the Partnership, Quality First exceeded their Sister Carpenter workforce goal of 20% by achieving 30%. Not only did Quality First surpass their workforce goal by  10% more Women Carpenters, but 100% of those Sisters working are also Women of Color. 

We look forward to continuing to work with Quality First on retaining and recruiting a highly-skilled, diverse workforce. 

To read the full Partnership details, please click here for the Chicago Carpenter Partnership commitments of each entity under the agreement.

If you would like more information on how Chicago Women in Trade can create a customizable workforce diversity pledge for your signatory Carpenter’s Union Construction Company, please fill out this form.