Painters & Allied Trades

Bricklayers prepare, lay brick and other masonry units to construct and repair structures such as walls, partitions, fireplaces and chimneys. They also lay or install fire brick or castable materials on commercial or industrial projects.

Carpenters construct, maintain and repair structures made of wood and wood substitutes, steel, concrete and other materials. Their duties vary according to job type, including residential, commercial, industrial or maintenance, and some specialize in one type of work. Carpenters can work with construction companies, carpentry contractors and maintenance departments, or can be self-employed.

Cement masons/finishers construct, place and finish freshly poured concrete. They install, maintain and restore concrete structures. In this career, they can work with construction companies, cement and concrete contractors and manufacturers, or can be self-employed.

Electricians install, test, repair, maintain and upgrade new and existing electrical systems designed to provide heat, light, power, control, signal or fire alarms for all types of buildings, structures and premises. There is growing demand for specialization in controls, fiber optics and communication & computer networks.

Glaziers cut and install glass and aluminum systems for commercial, residential and automotive applications. They are employed by construction glass installation contractors, repair and glass fabrication shops, and interior design and architectural firms. Because glass is everywhere, there is always a need for glaziers.

Camp workers plan, prepare and serve meals and clean facilities in remote construction camps. These hospitality workers play a critical role on site! UNITE HERE Local 47 supplies workers through the hiring hall to work in remote camps in Northern Alberta. It takes dedication, responsibility and relevant experience to be a camp worker!

Instrumentation technicians install, maintain & repair the measuring and control instruments used in industrial and commercial processing. Instrumentation technicians work with a wide variety of electronic and microcomputer instruments used to measure and control variables such as pressure, flow, temperature, level, motion, force and chemical composition.

Heat and frost insulators work with more than just heating and cooling, they also help reduce the passage of sound, air, smoke and fire. They are essential to every large institutional, commercial and industrial construction project in the country, as well as residential construction.

Ironworker – Reinforcing tradespeople place and tie reinforcing material. They place and tie reinforcing steel, and post-tension tendons and related components to reinforce concrete structures.

Ironworker – Structural/Ornamental tradespeople fabricate and construct structural steel buildings, bridges, pre-cast structures, ornamental ironwork and join scaffolding. They erect structural steel and pre-cast components, install conveyors, secondary steel, curtain wall and sometimes perform reconstructive work on existing structures.

Construction craft labourers use diverse skills in a variety of construction activities, including preparing and cleaning up construction sites, moving equipment and materials, operating hand tools and performing demolition and excavation activities. They are essential in assisting many other trades on site. Their duties and responsibilities vary from job to job.

Millwrights install, maintain, troubleshoot and repair stationary industrial machinery and mechanical equipment used in many industries. They work on a range of equipment in factories, production plants and recreational facilities.

Plasterers select, mix and apply gypsum, cement and acrylic mixtures to exterior and interior walls and ceilings to produce clean finishes or decorative surfaces that are fire, weather or sound resistant. Plasterers can work on industrial, residential and commercial projects, and their duties vary according to the type of job.

Plumbers install, remodel and maintain systems that carry water, steam, air and other liquids or gases necessary for sanitation, industrial production, heating, air conditioning and many other systems. Because they work in all kinds of industries, there are nearly endless work opportunities. On a typical construction job, they do the “roughing in” after the frame and roof of a new building are in place.

Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanics work with primary or secondary refrigeration and air conditioning systems. They install, troubleshoot and repair systems such as residential central air conditioning and commercial & industrial refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

Sheet metal workers design, create, assemble, install and repair sheet metal products, including heating, venting and air conditioning systems, pollution control systems and other metal structures. They work indoors and outdoors, on construction sites and in shops.

Sprinkler System Installers build, install, adjust, maintain and repair sprinkler systems on industrial, commercial and residential sites. They can be self-employed or work with construction firms, plumbing contractors, heating & air conditioning companies, building developers or sprinkler system contractors. They work primarily indoors but may also install outdoor systems above and below ground.

Steamfitters/Pipefitters build, assemble, maintain & repair piping systems that carry water, steam, chemicals or fuel in heating, cooling, lubricating and other processes. Because of this, much of their work is industrial or commercial. Pipefitters also remove and replace worn components, do general maintenance work and may work on plant shutdowns.

Teamsters are involved in the transportation of materials in a variety of industries, including agricultural, forestry, health, manufacturing, mining, oil & gas, transportation and wholesale/retail industries. They are employed by organizations that produce, process and use products such as office supplies, tools and equipment, food goods, textile products, farm equipment or industrial supplies.

Welders apply heat to metal pieces to melt and fuse them together. They join or sever metals in beams, girders, vessels, piping and other metal components. They weld parts, tools, machines and equipment, and make metal parts used in construction and manufacturing. Welders work indoors and outdoors, depending on the industry or welding project. This career involves a variety of job duties.