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News in Brief

News in Brief

Secretary of Labor Walsh and Congressman Hoyer Visit IMI/IMTEF Training Center

Participated in a roundtable on apprenticeships with international BAC/IMI officers, local leaders, and apprentices

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BAC apprentices with US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, US Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and BAC Executive Board members.

On August 4, BAC and IMTEF hosted a visit from Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) to the International Training Center in Bowie, MD. After a tour of the state-of-the-art facility, Congressman Hoyer and Secretary Walsh participated in a roundtable to discuss registered apprenticeships with BAC Secretary-Treasurer Bob Arnold, IMI/ IMTEF President Caryn Halifax, local leaders and apprentices along with other invited guests.

“Registered Apprenticeship is a proven model to connect workers to good jobs — a key priority for the Biden-Harris administration and for Congressman Hoyer,” said Secretary Walsh. “IMTEF offers critical workforce development and training that ensures workers can support their families and create a rewarding career.”

“Skilled labor is important. Not everyone can be a doctor or a lawyer,” said BAC Local 1 Maryland/ Virginia/DC Secretary-Treasurer Pedro Clavijo, who participated in the roundtable. “You can make good money being a union mason. This career allows us to provide for our families and contribute to our communities, which strengthens the economy.”

“Being an apprentice with BAC is all about developing tangible skills that cannot be taken away from you, no matter what,” said Peter Thuronyi, an apprentice with BAC Local 1 Maryland/Virginia/ DC, who also participated in the roundtable. “I like being able to see and point to the work that I’ve done. I admire how this program is all about people coming together and creating a standard of living that’s increasingly rare.”

“Making registered apprenticeship opportunities more accessible to American workers not only ensures they receive the training and skills they need to build meaningful careers, but also allows the U.S. to maintain our competitive edge in this twenty-first century global economy,” said Congressman Hoyer.

“We appreciate Secretary Walsh, Congressman Hoyer, and others for taking the time to tour our facility and speak with our members,” said BAC President Tim Driscoll. “Apprenticeships change lives every day. BAC apprentices receive the best training, benefits and job opportunities in the construction industry… Through this process they master a craft that is in demand across the country.” //

From left, US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, US Congressman Stenny Hoyer (D-MD), BAC Secretary-Treasurer Bob Arnold, and BAC Local 1 MD/VA/DC apprentice Dana Relue.

BAC Pensions Protected

President Biden Keeps Promise to Workers

One major component of the pivotal 2021 American Rescue Plan not regularly discussed in the mainstream media is its provisions that protect the retirement funds of tens of millions of American workers and restore benefits to more than 80,000 retirees.

Named for heroic Ohio union leader and pension advocate Butch Lewis, the legislation’s Special Financial Assistance Program will ensure that all multiemployer pension plans pay full benefits through at least 2051.

“We turned a promise broken [by President Trump] into a promise kept,” President Biden told union brothers and sisters, including many BAC members, at the Iron Workers Local 17 Training Center in Cleveland, Ohio, during the historic pension relief’s unveiling on July 6. “A lot of politicians like to talk about how they’re going to do something about it. I’m here today to say we’ve done something about it.”

The legislation provisions will:

+ Position multiemployer plans that receive assistance to remain solvent for almost 30 years. + Protect benefits for millions of workers who faced cuts. + Reverse harsh pension cuts for over 80,000 workers and retirees in 18 multiemployer plans.

BAC President Tim Driscoll praised the Administration’s efforts to benefit all hard-working workers and their families. “These provisions are the most significant effort to protect the solvency of the multiemployer pension system in almost 50 years,” said President Driscoll.

“With the support of this Administration, millions of retirees, including many BAC members and beneficiaries, can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that they will still receive their full pensions and be able to retire in dignity after a lifetime of hard work,” President Driscoll concluded.

“For years and years union workers have been driving trucks from factories to stores, bagging your groceries, constructing the buildings, bridges, roads we need, and so much more. The ironworkers, bricklayers, carpenters, laborers, plumbers, truck drivers, musicians, food workers, and so much more,” President Biden continued in Cleveland. “These workers work hard today to secure a retirement tomorrow. That is what this is all about.” //

BAC Local 5 Ohio retiree Paul Moore thanked President Joe Biden for protecting pension plans for retirees like himself.

Labor Stands United Against Attack on Women’s Rights

On June 24, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that affirmed the constitutional right of women to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions.

BAC President Tim Driscoll condemned the ruling as “a direct assault” on reproductive and economic rights. “Labor unions are dedicated to the proposition that workers have a voice in promoting the physical,

economic, and social welfare of their members and all other workers. And the right of workers to control their own bodies cannot be separated from the right of workers to control their own labor.”

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler called the ruling “a devastating blow to working women and families across this country. We strongly believe that everyone should have control over their own bodies, including decisions over their personal reproductive health care. This is just the latest in a harmful string of attacks on our fundamental rights, including the right to vote and to collectively bargain in the workplace.”

Other labor unions across the country strongly condemned the Court’s ruling.

IUPAT President Jimmy Williams, Jr. decried the ruling noting that, “This decision, made by unelected and unaccountable people, will hurt millions of people, particularly women, the poor, and disadvantaged. The extremists on the Supreme Court who don’t believe in reproductive rights also don’t believe in the most basic labor rights.”

Similarly, AFSCME President Lee Saunders attacked the decision. “The court said today that the most deeply personal choices about your bodies, your health care and your future are not yours to make. We trust people to make the right decisions for themselves and their families – guided by their own moral and religious beliefs and not the political views of six judges.”

“BAC will remain engaged to support the right of women, and all workers, to make their own decisions about their health and bodies,” President Driscoll concluded. //

Inflation Reduction Act Big Win for Workers

In August, Congress passed, and President Biden signed, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), transformative legislation representing a significant step toward addressing climate change, and bettering health care coverage/costs. “The Inflation Reduction Act shows that addressing climate change does not have to come at the expense of good jobs,” said BAC President Tim Driscoll. “In addition, every working family will greatly benefit from allowing Medicare to finally negotiate prices, curtailing the drastic increases in the cost of life-saving medications.” //

YOUR VOTE, YOUR VOICE

The last few years clearly show that elections have consequences. It is imperative that every person who is able vote.

The BAC implores all our members to exercise this fundamental right to our democracy on Election Day, November 8. To find out if you are registered and where your polling place is, go to vote411.org. You can information about voting early or by mail. ISSUE 3, 2022 // also find out more 23

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