WASHINGTON, DC—Registration for the annual NABTU Tradeswomen Build Nations (TWBN) conference is now open.
This is the largest gathering of unionized Tradeswomen in the world. Its roots are in California, where Tradeswomen started gathering more than 15 years ago. Now it is a national powerhouse with more than 4,000 attending.
TWBN 2024 will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, from Friday, Sept. 27 to Sunday, Sept. 29, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside/New Orleans Convention Center.
The NOLA-inspired theme is “Let the Good Jobs Roll.”
The goal of the conference is to uplift Tradeswomen in unions, promote recruitment and retention, strengthen leadership skills and union identity, and foster mentoring and support networks.
“This conference is the largest of its type in North America and offers Tradeswomen the skills, resources and support to thrive throughout their careers in the Building Trades,” says a spokesperson for NABTU, North America’s Building Trades Unions. “This fantastic conference books fast, so please visit nabtu.org/twbn to register and book hotel rooms.”
Registration will close on Aug. 30, 2024, or once it hits 5,000 registrations. There will be no on-site registration, and paid registration is mandatory for all attendees over the age of 12.
TWBN brings together tradeswomen union apprentices, journey-level workers, leaders and retirees to network, share experiences, mentor and learn. Government, industry and labor leaders, apprenticeship and training coordinators, and Tradeswomen from across the country attend.
To help cover the costs of attending, many local unions and councils can supply sponsorship money. Every Building Trades International union supports TWBN, and so NABTU encourages any member who needs funds to approach their local union. Union executive boards and delegates usually meet once a month to approve requests, so members should ask as soon as possible.
NABTU offers an easy template for members to use for a letter to their unions:
https://nabtu.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sample-TWBN-2024-Request-Letter44.pdf
In addition, anyone who has gone through or is in a registered Apprenticeship Readiness program may be able to apply to get funds from their program. For LA and Orange Counties, please check at https://laocmc3.org/
For more registration questions, please contact registration@nabtu.org.
The event also seeks union or companies wishing to help sponsor the conference. For union and corporate sponsorship, please email Carlos Morrobel: carlos@nabtu.org.