The study focuses on the issue of entry into building trades unions, detailing union procedures and standards, journeyman's background, and comparing training routes. Various basic construction trades were investigated: bricklayers, carpenters, electrical workers, ironworkers, plumbers and steamfitters, and sheet metal workers. Data were collected through interviews and surveys. About 49% of the journeymen interviewed (from a total of 1,234) had served apprenticeships and were younger, better educated, more likely to have friends and relatives in the trade, and learned the trade faster than those trained informally. Craftsmen obtain work in the jurisdiction of most building trades local unions in four ways: graduation from an apprenticeship program, admission to the union as a journeyman or by being upgraded into the union's construction branch, transfer from other locals, and working under temporary permits. A large majority of informally trained journeymen learned their trade either by working as laborers or helpers or by working on the job in open shops. The study provides strong evidence that apprenticeship training gives construction craftsmen considerable advantage over the informally trained. Sixty-six tables illustrate minority representation union entry requirements (by trade) and other comparative data. A bibliography, list of persons interviewed, and survey instruments are appended. (Author/EC)