Carpenters Union

What Carpenters Union does

Carpenters Local Union 106 is a chartered local chapter of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America, representing more than 1,200 union carpenters across central Iowa and headquartered in Altoona. The union's core offering is membership representation backed by collective bargaining, delivering healthcare, pension/retirement benefits, and access to a regional contractor dispatch system. It operates as a non-profit, member-funded labor organization rather than a commercial enterprise.

The union's primary product surface is a free 4-year earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship program, supplemented by ongoing Journey-Level upgrade courses (MEWPs, OSHA 10, ARC First Aid/CPR/AED, Rigging, Scaffold, Welding, Hardwood Floor finishing, Drywall, and other certifications) delivered at a 47,000-square-foot training facility in Altoona, Iowa completed in 2017 via a partnership with the Carpenters Training Institute. Apprentices earn at least 70% of journeyman wage scale with full healthcare and retirement benefits, and can also earn a Carpenters diploma through an educational partnership with Southwestern Iowa Community College. Supporting infrastructure includes a centralized online dues payment portal, an online dispatch system operated under the North Country Carpenter Regional Council, and calendar subscription integrations across iCalendar, Google Calendar, and Outlook platforms.

The revenue model is subscription-based, driven entirely by recurring monthly membership dues structured by tier: Journeyperson at $30/month, Apprentice at $22/month, Early Retired at $16.80/month, Retired at $6/month, and Honorary at $0/month. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, combining word-of-mouth referrals, partnerships with community organizations and educational institutions, open house events and apprenticeship tours at the training center, and in-person applications at the union hall at 1555 1st Ave N., Altoona, IA 50009. Customer segments span individual working carpenters, aspiring apprentices (18+ with high school diploma/GED), and commercial construction contractors throughout Central Iowa that hire union labor.

Name

Carpenters Union

Legal name

Carpenters Local Union 106

Website

https://carpenters106.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Carpenters Local Union 106 is a chartered UBC labor union representing 1,200+ carpenters in central Iowa, offering a free 4-year apprenticeship, journeyman benefits, and skill certifications funded by monthly membership dues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Union Services

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling (EDAAAOAE)

Keywords

• Union labor representation
• Apprenticeship training
• Construction trade skills
• Collective bargaining services
• Workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Altoona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Monthly dues collected from members based on status. Journeypersons pay $30/month, Apprentices pay $22/month, Early Retired (under 65/30 years service) pay $16.80/month, Retired (over 65/>30 years service) pay $6/month, Honorary (over 50 years service) pay $0.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Carpenters Union Local 106 is a labor union that represents more than 1,200 union carpenters in central Iowa. The union provides collective bargaining representation, a free 4-year earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship program, and ongoing journey-level upgrade skill training delivered at a 47,000-square-foot training facility in Altoona, Iowa. Members receive health insurance, retirement/pension benefits, top-area wages, and access to a network of local and national contractors for job placement.

Product overview

Carpenters Local Union 106 operates as a labor union representing over 1200 Union Carpenters in central Iowa. The organization offers a unified membership program combining union representation with comprehensive benefits including health insurance and retirement/pension plans. The core product portfolio includes a free 4-year Carpenter Apprenticeship Program providing earn-while-you-learn training at the 47,000-square-foot Carpenters Training Center in Altoona, IA. Supporting services include Skill Enhancement Training Classes (MEWPs, OSHA 10, welding, flooring, etc.), the Job Dispatch System for employment placement, and an online Dues Payment System. The union also provides access to Union Hall facilities for member meetings and maintains partnerships with contractors throughout Central Iowa for hiring opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Carpenters Training Institute: Training arm operating from 47,000-square-foot facility in Altoona, Iowa providing apprenticeship and journey-level upgrade courses
• Des Moines Carpenters Training Center
• Union Hall
• Union Labor Park

Products and services

• Carpenters Union Membership
• Carpenter Apprenticeship Program
• Skill Enhancement Training Classes
• Job Dispatch System
• Carpenters Training Center
• Union Hall Facilities

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $56/hour in wages and benefits within 4 years for apprentices
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America (UBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal 106 is affiliated with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America, a national labor union organization. UBC provides resources, training standards, and collective bargaining support to local unions across the country.
• North Country Carpenter Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal 106 operates under the North Country Carpenter Regional Council, providing shared services including the dispatch system for job placement across the region.
• Carpenters Training InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint operation with Carpenters Training Institute to deliver comprehensive apprenticeship training and ongoing journey-level upgrade courses at the 47,000-square-foot training center in Altoona, Iowa.
• Southwestern Iowa Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership allowing apprentices to earn a Carpenters diploma from Southwestern Iowa Community College while progressing through the apprenticeship program.
• Neumann Brothers Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConstruction contractor that employs Local 106 union carpenters. Example: Lance Howard, a Local 106 member, works as a Superintendent for Neumann Brothers Inc. running multi-million dollar jobs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Service Techs (UA): National building trades union with the same local-chapter structure, apprenticeship training, and dispatch service model. Comparable scale of training infrastructure and apprenticeship program design.
• Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC): Represents bricklayers, tile setters, and related craftworkers through local chapters with apprenticeship training. Highly comparable union structure with same training-center and dispatch approach.
• International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART): National union with local apprenticeship programs and training centers serving sheet metal workers in construction. Same union-based training and dispatch structure as Local 106.
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW): One of the largest U.S. building trade unions, structured around local chapters that deliver apprenticeship programs, member benefits, and dispatch for electrical workers. Closely analogous operating model to Local 106 across a different skilled trade.
• International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE): Represents heavy equipment operators and other construction workers through local chapters with apprenticeship training and dispatcher systems. Operating model and training-center strategy highly comparable.
• International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers: Building trades union with apprenticeship programs and training centers for ironworkers. Comparable local-chapter structure, training infrastructure, and member service delivery model.
• Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA): Building trades union with extensive apprenticeship and training programs (LIUNA Training Centers) delivering similar earn-while-you-learn pathways for construction laborers across local chapters.

Emerging players

• National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER): Non-union construction training and credentialing organization that competes with union apprenticeship programs for credentialing and welder training. Relevant as an alternative training provider serving overlapping trades.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): Non-union trade association offering apprenticeship and craft training programs that directly compete with building trades unions for contractor members and trainees. Comparable training-center footprint but on the open-shop side.

Broad incumbents

• United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America (UBC): National parent organization of Carpenters Local 106. Directly comparable as the umbrella body governing the same trade, training standards, and collective bargaining model across the U.S. and Canada.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ncsrccarpenters?lang=en
• Facebookfacebook.com/CarpentersLocal106
• Instagraminstagram.com/ncsrccarpenters
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carpenters-union

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carpenters Union