Legislative and Political

Our Movement, Our Moment:

2022 NABTU Legislative Conference Highlights Victories and Objectives

North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) convened its annual Legislative Conference with a theme of “Our Movement, Our Moment” in Washington, D.C., on April 3. BAC delegates joined thousands of national, state, and local building trades leaders at the three-day event.

The speaker list showed the power of labor right now in American politics, including President Joe Biden, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, GA gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, and numerous other members of Congress, labor leaders and champions for working people.

President Biden’s keynote speech drew a close connection between good-paying jobs and infrastructure investment. The United States “can’t compete for the jobs of the 21st century if we don’t fix our infrastructure,” he explained. “Now not only has ‘Infrastructure Week’ finally arrived, it’s an infrastructure decade… It’s about rebuilding our middle class.”

President Biden underscored the significance of mandating project labor agreements on federal construction projects greater than $35 million. He also highlighted his support of unions, and their ability to grow the middle-class. When speaking about the need to pass the PRO Act he said, “the choice to join a union belongs to workers alone,” before directly calling out Amazon, “by the way Amazon, here we come.”

Recognizing the importance of organizing proactively to bring all workers into the fold, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said, “it’s up to us to train the workforce and supply a steady stream of workers, especially women, people of color, veterans and the formerly incarcerated – folks who may not realize the power of a union apprenticeship… We are building a modern, dynamic and inclusive movement to meet the moment.”

President Biden addressing the delegation at the NABTU Legislative Conference on April 5.

BAC HOSTS LEGISLATIVE LUNCHEON

BAC local and ADC officers and representatives from across the country who attended the conference were joined by US Representatives Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) and Joe Morelle (D-NY) at a working luncheon hosted by BAC.

Congresswoman Scanlon said though unionized labor has made progress and achieved success in recent years, we need to continue holding our legislators accountable. “We need to do more to address housing, schools, the VA hospitals and facilities,” Rep. Scanlon said. “In the meantime, we are going to focus on making sure that the Infrastructure Bill is properly implemented, these new jobs are paid with prevailing wages, and workers are safe and healthy on the job.”

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) addressing the BAC Local and ADC officers and representatives at the 2022 NABTU Legislative conference. From left, Tony DiPerna, BAC National Director of Apprenticeship and Training; Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY), BAC President Tim Driscoll, Local 3 New York President Rick Williamson and Secretary-Treasurer Jason ReQua.

Speaking of challenges that we are facing, Rep. Morelle emphasized the importance of workforce development. “We know how important apprenticeship programs are. We know how much they add to individuals’ career life earnings. And we know that when things are union made, they are made right, and they are made well,” he said. “Our Infrastructure Bill is also about investing in our families and people, making sure everybody has the right to join a union and to be involved in collective bargaining.” //

Department of Labor Proposes Rule to Strengthen Prevailing Wage

On March 11, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced stronger rules to enforce Davis-Bacon protections for construction workers across the US. The rule change “represents the most comprehensive review of the Davis-Bacon Act regulations in 40 years,” said the DOL press release. “The proposal seeks to speed up prevailing wage updates, creating several efficiencies in the current system and ensuring prevailing wage rates keep up with actual wages.”

“The Davis-Bacon Act has played an important role making certain that federal government projects are done by skilled craftworkers,” said BAC President Tim Driscoll after the announcement. “The rule will restore and strengthen Davis-Bacon protections for federally assisted projects and make certain that the federal government does not depress local wage standards.”

“Many of the proposed regulatory changes will improve the departments’ ability to administer and enforce DBRA labor standards more effectively and efficiently,” said the DOL. To read a list of the changes go to https://bit.ly/3NjQpQW

“Federal dollars should be used to create good jobs in local communities all across our country,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “These proposed regulations are good for workers, good for building high-quality infrastructure and for ensuring we have a strong construction industry, as we rebuild America.”

“I applaud Secretary Walsh and the Biden Administration for taking strong action to protect local wage standards from low road employers, and ensure that construction workers are paid fair wages for their work,” President Driscoll continued. “This is what support of American workers looks like.” //

White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment

In April 2021, the Biden Administration announced the creation of a Task Force on Organizing and Worker Empowerment.

The White House statement on the Task Force declared, “as the President has said: America was built by the middle class, and unions built the middle class. Throughout our country’s history, unions have been the driving forces for advancement in workers’ rights and improved living standards for union and nonunion workers.”

The stated purpose of the Task Force was to promote unions and collective bargaining. It is another example of President Biden acting to fulfill his promise to be the most pro-union President in generations.

On Feb. 7, 2022, the task force issued a report containing 70 recommendations. The recommendations generally fit under three categories: 1. Position the federal government as a model actor;

2. Use the federal government’s authority to improve transparency and effectively enforce existing workers’ rights; and 3. Use the governments leverage as purchaser of goods and services to support pro-worker employers and workers interested in organizing.

The recommendations include strategies to: + Empower workers and remove obstacles to organizing + Ensure union access to employees + Facilitate first contracts

+ Improve transparency of antiunion campaigns by employers + Increase awareness of worker rights + Prevent and address worker misclassification

+ Apply strong labor standards on federally funded projects + Strengthen Davis-Bacon prevailing wage protections + Improve enforcement of existing labor standards

+ Require union participation on federal advisory panels

The report demonstrates the Biden Administration's continued support of workers and organized labor. To read this report, go to https://bit.ly/3aftSpZ //

First row from left, Local 5 PA President Les Kauffman, PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro, Local 9 PA President Norm Ringer, Local 9 PA Field Representative Timothy Wachter, and Local 5 PA Field Representative Tom Smith; Second row from left, Local 5 PA Field Representative Randy Eberly, Local 9 PA Field Representative Bill Greer, Local 1 PA/DE Field Representatives Rich Newcomb and Steve Mokychic; Third row from left, Local 5 PA Field Representative Bill Becker, Local 5 PA Safety, Training and Apprentice Coordinator Dwayne Borowski, Local 5 PA Field Representative Jeremiah Hutson, Local 5 PA Field Representative Allen Pennypacker, IU Field Representative Matt Stafford, and Local 9 PA Field Representative John Mains. //

BAC PA LOCALS SUPPORT ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH SHAPIRO FOR GOVERNOR

BAC representatives from all three PA locals met Attorney General Josh Shapiro at the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Convention held in Pittsburgh on March 29-31.

Director of BAC District Council of Wisconsin Jim Vick, left, and US Senator candidate Alex Lasry.

BAC District Council of Wisconsin Endorses Alex Lasry for US Senate

BAC District Council of Wisconsin announced their endorsement of Alex Lasry for United States Senate on April 4, 2022.

Jim Vick, Director of BAC District Council of Wisconsin said, “We know that Alex will be a champion for working families and their issues in Congress. Unlike too many politicians who just talk, we have seen firsthand Alex’s commitment through his work on the Fiserv Forum and the Deer District where he partnered directly with organized labor to build a world-class facility… Alex doesn’t just talk about supporting organized labor, he delivers.” //

BAC Applauds Historic Confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the US Supreme Court

By a vote of 53–47, on April 7 the US Senate confirmed Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the 116th justice of the US Supreme Court. BAC commends the Senate for voting to confirm Judge Jackson and applauds President Biden for nominating the first Black woman to serve on the highest court of the nation.

Judge Jackson is product of a public high school, a Harvard Law graduate, a former Supreme Court clerk, a federal public defender, and a Court of Appeals judge. Her work experience and professionalism prove that she is more than qualified for her seat on the bench. Throughout her career, Judge Jackson continues to demonstrate a steadfast commitment to equal justice under the law and impeccable leadership and ethics.

Judge Jackson has a strong legal track record of fighting for workers’ rights. A champion for working families, she will continue to defend and protect our rights, including the right to organize in the workplace.

The confirmation of Judge Jackson to the US Supreme Court is also a historic and long overdue milestone in the nation, paving the way for better equity, diversity, and inclusion in our justice system. Judge Jackson sets a fearless example for every person in North America and will continue to inspire our future generations. //