To help recruit and retain female members and make the union more welcoming to women, Carpenters locals have sponsored SIB committees since as far back as 1998. Through SIB, women members build community and get active in union political and charitable work. Then on May 15, another McCarron memo announced that the union is pulling out of an immensely popular national conference for tradeswomen. Carpenters members will still be attending, but they’ll be there without the support of their union. Some Carpenters members are planning on attending as individuals through fundraising and paying their own way.