News in Brief

BAC Members Come Together at Annual NABTU Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference

More than 3,100 tradeswomen representing all 15 building trades unions, 48 states, and 10 provinces gathered in Las Vegas from October 28–30 for North American’s Building Trades Unions’ (NATBU) 12th International Tradeswomen Build Nations conference. During the conference, participants shared experiences and best practices with fellow tradeswomen, learned about new programs and opportunities in the industry, and engaged with top leaders from government, industry, and the largest international building trades unions.

“The Tradeswomen Builds Nations Conference is a place where we all can come together to build union power and show our strength together,” said BAC Safety and Health Manager and NABTU Tradeswomen Committee member Liliana Calderon. “Whether you are a first-timer or have participated for many years, the energy that comes out of the conference inspires all of us to go back to our locals and get more involved. It is truly an experience like no other in the labor movement.”

The conference featured two formal plenary sessions, a banner parade on the Las Vegas strip, and over a dozen workshops on a range of topics addressing unique and critical issues of tradeswomen in the workforce.

The Tradeswomen Build Nations Committee invited President Driscoll to speak on the second day about BAC’s newly launched maternity and childcare benefits. “We know both anecdotally and from surveys that most women parents who consider leaving the trades cite difficultly finding childcare, lack of pregnancy accommodation, and lack of support for new mothers as significant factors,” President Driscoll explained. “BAC will remain engaged on this front, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s also the smart thing to do. The demand for skilled workers across the US and Canada is reaching record levels, and going forward, successful organizations will need to draw from every segment of our society.” //

BAC attendees to the 2022 Tradeswomen Build Nations conference

President Driscoll addressing TWBN plenary session BAC sisters and officers marching in the parade

BAC RISE FACEBOOK PAGE

BAC Sisters RISE (Resource for Inclusion, Success and Empowerment) launched a closed Facebook group earlier this year for sisters to come together in a safe space and speak about their experiences at the worksite and in life.

Group members are encouraged to share pictures, ask for advice or general questions, circulate useful information, or just share stories.

If you are a BAC sister who would like to join, please scan the QR code.

Scan here to go to the BAC Sisters RISE Facebook Group

IU Organizer Luciano Padilla Appointed Organizing Director

Luciano Padilla, a 25-year member of Local 21 Illinois, was appointed as the International Union’s Director of Organizing after the tragic passing of Steve Nelms earlier this year. As Organizing Director, he is responsible for implementing and overseeing the union’s organizing campaigns as well as developing strategies to support the coordinated organizing efforts of Locals and ADCs.

Brother Padilla joined BAC as an apprentice in 1997 and worked as a bricklayer for the next six years. He came to work for the union in 2003 as an organizer for Local 21. In 2016, he was appointed to the position of International Regional Organizer. In this role, he supported various Local Unions and ADCs in their

organizing efforts and demonstrated hands-on techDirector Luciano Padilla niques in their campaigns to benefit and increase their membership. “I am following great organizing leaders, including my predecessors Steve Nelms and Don Newton, who understood that the union’s most important charge is to organize new members and contractors,” said Brother Padilla. “This commitment to organizing has directly contributed to the union’s longevity and position as the oldest continuous union in North America.” “Lou has proven himself to be a strong organizer, with keen insight into today’s trowel trade workers,” said President Tim Driscoll. “His clear dedication to his union and all workers, combined with his past successes, make him the ideal person to fill the big shoes Brother Nelms left.” //

New Leaders Sharpen Their Skills

Twenty-seven new local officers, organizers, and field representatives from across the United States and Canada participated in the International Union’s fall New Leaders Program, held November 5-9 at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) in Linthicum Heights, Maryland. A key educational program since 1974, the training offers an extensive orientation to the IU’s programs, resources, and personnel for recently appointed or elected Local/ADC officers and staff.

The fall program consisted of a hybrid of online and in-person sessions. Attendees participated in online training sessions on the Action Builder organizing tool, Construct Connect construction project tracking database, and Microsoft Excel before the in-person session.

During the intensive five day in-person training, participants learned about the union’s core

New Leaders with the Executive Board at the International Union’s Headquarters.

functions and structure, organizing tactics, project tracking best practices, IMI and IMTEF, and IU departments and programs. The core of the training focused on organizing, covering topics such as organizing basics, strategies, and how to talk with general contractors, as well as a Construction Organizing Membership Education Training (COMET) train-the-trainer.

“These new leaders were very engaged and asked a lot of great questions. They came enthusiastic and ready to learn,” remarked Executive Vice President Jerry Sullivan.

Ramon Curet, Organizer at Administrative District Council 1 of Illinois, commented, “I’ve only been doing this for three months, so any information I can get is wonderful. You go from being an experienced journey worker for 27 years to this role, and it’s like being an apprentice again. Now I have a clear focus for when I go home.” “It’s been an incredible experience,” Local 7 New York / New Jersey Organizer Sal Correa agreed. “I’ve learned a lot, and it made me realize I need to keep learning. I’m inspired to get to the point where I’m proficient in my role.” //

BAC Sister Speaks About New Maternity Benefit

Jessica Weber, a member of Local 3 New York, will be one of the first BAC tradeswoman to take advantage of our new BAC/ IMI maternity benefit. “This is a life saver for me and my family,” she said when asked about what it means to her. “I had just found out I was pregnant, and at the next union meeting, our president came up and said we are starting maternity leave… I thought ‘Seriously?! That’s amazing!’”

Weber started her restoration/ PCC apprenticeship two years ago. She was in a dead-end job, and friend of hers, who is a BAC member, recommended she come and check out the local’s job fair. She immediately was intrigued by the work and excited about the ability to secure a good wage and benefits for her family.

Two years in, she loves the work and is grateful for the opportunity to earn the critical benefits that a BAC contract provides. “My husband and I both have good jobs, but the maternity benefit coupled with unemployment benefits when I can no longer work due to pregnancy means my family won’t experience undue hardship to keep the house paid for and the lights on” explained Sister Weber.

The fact that the maternity benefit is available to eligible expectant BAC members, including those who are certified by their physician as unable to work due to a pregnancy-related physical illness or condition (no sooner than the 4th month of pregnancy), has lessened Weber’s anxiety as her pregnancy continues.

“I think the maternity and childcare benefits are going to bring more people into the union, and, more importantly, help the women who are already members,” Sister Weber said. “Those women will bring more – they will want to show their friends and family what they have… Women who want to have children are looking at what the benefits are before they go to get a job. So, this will be a big help recruiting women. It is really important.” //

Jessica Weber (right) with her sisters from Local 3 NY at the 2022 Tradeswomen Build Nations conference.