The Southwest Regional Council Of Carpenters Forms Partnership With The Navajo Nation To Build Housing On Reservation
Council to Train Navajo to Build Much Needed Housing on Reservation; Navajo Veterans Will Be First to Receive New Houses
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters (SWRCC) has announced a partnership with The Navajo Nation to build housing on the Nation's reservation. The United Brotherhood of Carpenters General President, Douglas J. McCarron, Carpenters International Training Fund Executive Director, Bill Irwin, and Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer agreed to move forward to construct the first traditional Navajo Hogan prototype as a first step and to begin discussions to create a training center within the Navajo Nation.
The partnership was announced during a tour of the Carpenter International Training Center in Las Vegas, NV. This 1.2 million square foot campus sits on 23 acres, contains 70 classrooms, 600 guest rooms, and full dining facilities, and a complete fitness center. More than 15,000 UBC members train annually at the International Training Center.
"Members of the Navajo Nation have culture and traditions that I have always admired. They have a reputation of a strong work ethic, craftsmanship and a professional attitude. Ideally, Navajo Carpenters will be an integral part of not only building quality projects within the Navajo Nation; but working close to home and spending less time on the road," says Frank Hawk, Vice President, Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters.
"We had a good discussion about partnering with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters to further explore opportunities to bring exceptional carpentry training to the Navajo Nation, which would lead to greater construction productivity and home building," said Navajo Nation President Nez. "Thousands of our tribal members move off the Nation for training, education, and jobs, and they contribute to the success of non-Navajo companies and communities. We are trying to reverse that trend by creating training opportunities on the Navajo Nation and harnessing that potential for our own peoples' benefit."
The first phase of the housing would be focused on Navajo veterans and their families. This partnership with the SWRCC will allow the Nation to address the issue of inadequate numbers of housing for veterans on the reservation. The longer-term goal is to build training centers (inspired by the ITC) on the reservation in order to build housing by the Navajo for the Navajo.
Members of the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters will visit the Navajo Nation in September to discuss the initiative further.
About the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters (SWRCC)
The SWRCC represents over 54,000 union carpenters in six states. The Union is dedicated to raising the safety and standards for all skilled carpenters and advocating for the rights of workers, their families, and their communities. The SWRCC is proud to be affiliated with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. For more, visit www.swcarpenters.org.
SOURCE Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters
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