KANSAS CITY, Mo. — 15 competitors gathered on Saturday morning, Nov. 21 at BAC (International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers) Local 15’s Training Center Headquarters (105 W. 12th St.) in North Kansas City for its annual Bricklayer Apprenticeship and Training Fund competition.
BAC Local 15 — a union, which represents members in the “trowel trades” including bricklayers, stone and marble masons, cement masons, pointers, cleaners and caulkers, among others, according to its website — was founded in 1999 as a chapter of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. BAC Local 15 serves members across three states — Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska, respectively.
Out of the program’s 140 apprentices across its three-state jurisdiction, 15 qualified over the past month for its Bricklayer Apprenticeship and Training Fund contest — a competition, which the program considers “the best of its local” bricklayer and PCC (pointers, cleaners and caulkers) apprentices, BAC Local 15 President Dustin Himes shared with The Labor Beacon, Saturday.
Program apprentices competed in contests throughout the months of October and November within their respective cities — including Springfield, Mo., Omaha, Neb., Kansas City, Mo. and Jefferson City, Mo. — with each winning contests within their area to qualify for Saturday’s “best of local” competition. Of these 15 apprentices, five competed within the second-year bricklayer category, five in the third-year bricklayer, two in the second-year PCC and three in the third-year PCC category.
Working on projects from around 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., on-site judges inspected each individual’s work and selected first, second and third place finishes for nearly every category.
The first and second place finishers from the bricklayers, BAC Local 15 Interim Director Don Hunt shared, will go on to compete in a competition in Las Vegas, Nev., in January 2026. While some years, finalists from this local competition will move forward to compete in the IU BAC National Apprenticeship Contest, Himes said BAC Local 15 will not participate this year, as this competition is traditionally held every three years and the union organization participated last year.
In addition to prizes, which were awarded to those who placed in Saturday’s competition — including anywhere from levels with names engraved for bricklayers to bulk caulking guns and caulking tools for PCC apprentices — all competitors received a $25 gift card, donated from Pullman General Contractors.
“I want to emphasize how important this event is; We really appreciate the support for the apprenticeship program from everyone,” Himes said.
Julia Williams — a Kansas City native — is a reporter and digital producer for The Labor Beacon. A University of Missouri School of Journalism alumna, she previously served as the editor-in-chief of The Northeast News before joining The Labor Beacon staff.
Williams’s grandfather was a Claycomo Ford Motor Company retiree and avid UAW Local 249 supporter, allowing her to understand the union difference from a young age.
In her free time, Williams enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to see her friends and hanging out at home with her cat, Greta. She loves a good cup of coffee, seeing local, live music and shopping secondhand. With a passion for storytelling, she hopes to bring her knowledge of journalistic integrity to the Kansas City union community — giving union and labor workers a voice, while holding people in powerful positions accountable.
