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White House Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth
Posted
On: Dec 07, 2009 (10:09:53)
December 4, 2009 Dear Brothers and Sisters: Yesterday, I had the distinct honor of attending the White House Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth. I was joined by the General Presidents of four of our affiliated unions: Terry O'Sullivan of LIUNA; Bill Hite of the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters; James Hoffa of the Teamsters; and Ed Hill of the IBEW. The forum was designed specifically to bring together leaders from all sectors of our economy to offer ideas and solutions that will construct a solid foundation on which sustained economic and job growth can occur. I was especially heartened to hear President Obama point to the specific role that unions can play when he said, "I want to hear about what the unions and universities can do to better support and prepare our workers - not just for the jobs today, but for the jobs five years from now and ten years from now and fifty years from now." Overall, I was pleased that President Obama is contemplating a thorough and optimistic approach to economic recovery. And it is an approach, from the indications we received yesterday, that will fundamentally re-evaluate and re-align our national core values away from a consumption-based economic ideal and towards a more sound, investment-oriented, philosophy. America's Building Trades Unions have always argued for such an approach and it is quite uplifting to hear President Obama echo that view. By taking a longer-term view of our economic recovery, President Obama has rightfully concluded that we need to re-consider our national economic priorities and policies in a manner that places our nation on a path toward fundamentally sound economic growth that is less and less dependent on artificial "bubble" economics; which was the source of our current economic collapse. For my part, I was asked to serve on a breakout panel entitled, Creating Jobs Through the Re-Building of America's Infrastructure which was chaired by Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood and Peter Orszag; Director of the Office of Management and Budget. We were joined by President Obama for approximately 30 minutes of our discussion. The President interacted with the group and listened intently. From the outset of this breakout session, a clear and consistent message wasdelivered by most in the group. And that message related to the immediate and long-term job creation potential associated with investments in our nation's physical infrastructure. I took the opportunity to make the case for jobs creation that leads to life-long careers with strong labor standards that will lift those traditionally left behind, as well as reinvigorate the American middle class - which has all but disappeared. In response to the President's concerns about worker training, I addressed him directly during our session and reminded him of the unequalled, world-class training infrastructure that has been built by the Building Trades and its signatory contractors through a $900 million annual investment that is all derived entirely from private money. I made it clear to the President and to all the others on that panel that America's Building Trades Unions were able, ready and willing to take the lead on creating the skilled workforce of the future. The only thing missing are the job opportunities on the demand side of the equation that could be immediately addressed through substantive infrastructure investments. As all of us in the Building Trades know full well, America's physical infrastructure - which includes roads, bridges, water systems, sewage treatment plants, airports, subways, our public school buildings, internet and other telecommunications systems, and our energy infrastructure, among others - is a proven and effective platform upon which sustained economic growth can occur. As is always the case with these types of government forums, the true measure of their effectiveness rests within the confines of the follow-up plan. The President made clear his intention to re-convene this Jobs and Economic Growth forum at periodic intervals in the future in order to assess our progress, and to solicit additional ideas. Based upon his remarks and his active involvement in yesterday's discussion, I can tell you that this is a leader who understands what needs to be done; and has a plan and a focus for how to move us in the right direction. I can also assure you that the Building and Construction Trades Department, in close coordination with its 13 affiliated unions and state and local councils, will repeatedly make the case that investments tied to re-building America's infrastructure is paramount for creating jobs right now, and for re-building the American economy for the realities of the 21st century. We have the means to do it.and it now appears that the political will may be there as well. Our job will be to help sustain that political will. Sincerely, Mark Ayers President
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BAC Local 1 Apprentice Nick Pastuhovs takes 1st Place at competition in Washington D.C.
Updated
On: Nov 03, 2009 (08:03:00)
Local apprentice Nick Pastuhovs (Marble) did an outstanding job representing Local 1 Washington and won 1st Place in the Marble competition at the 2009 BAC/IMI Apprentice Competition in Washington DC on Sept 28-30. Sam Rivers (Tile) and Darrin Stone (Brick) also did a great job representing our local in their trades! Congratulations gentlemen on a job well done.
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BAC Local #1 Member Takes 1st Place at Western States - Congratulations Nick Pastuhovs!
Updated
On: Jun 24, 2009 (11:50:00)
BAC Local #1 Washington apprentices shine at the Western States Brick, Tile & Marble Apprenticeship Contest in Portland on May 30th. Special congratulations to Nick Pastuhovs who took 1s Place in Marble this year. We also want to congratulate Brick Apprentice Darrin Stone and Tile Apprentice Sam Rivers who both took 4th place in their trades. Josh Gunnersen and Mike Kesselring did a great job representing BAC Local #1 at the Pointer-Cleaner-Caulker competition for the Western States Contest that was held in Las Vegas, Nevada in April. A competition for our PCC members has been long overdue. With Local #1 WA hosting the Western States Contest here next year, the PCC will once again be competing and hopefully it will become a permanent addition to this competition. Nick Pastuhovs, Darrin Stone and Sam Rivers will all move on to compete in September in Washington, DC at the International Apprenticeship Contest. We wish them well! |
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2009 Continued Education - Sign up for a class today!
Updated
On: Apr 01, 2009 (10:54:00)
Attention All Brick, Marble, PCC Journey Level Members!! Classes are underway for our members to satisfy their continuing education requirements for 2009. Click on the link below to pull up the class schedule and information on how to sign up.
Download:
SCAN0304_000.pdf
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When It Comes to Making Sacrifices.....It All Depends on The Color of Your Collar
Posted
On: Mar 23, 2009 (14:51:07)
A Message from the AFL-CIO The recent debates over the U.S. auto industry bail out and the controversy surrounding the bonus compensation being paid to AIG executives illustrates a glaring, and potentially damaging, disconnect in American society today. Namely, that when it comes to making sacrifices for the good of the American economy, it's always the blue-collar American who is asked to do most of the sacrificing. In just about every example you can think of, America's workers have sacrificed for the good of their employers, their industry, and their country. The United Auto Workers has a pretty extensive history of negotiating contract concessions and give-backs in an effort to shore up the competitive position of Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors - irrespective of the disastrous strategic executive decisions that have worked to diminish their market share. Conservatives in Congress recently demanded further steep cuts in the wages and benefits paid to UAW members as a condition for a government-funded bailout for the Big Three U.S. automakers. This is consistent with the conservative playbook of never missing an opportunity to stoke the fires of populist political outrage over issues like guns and gay marriage in order to attract the votes of blue-collar working Americans, only to turn around and enact policies and laws that run directly counter to their economic interests. Over the years, union members in industries such as airlines, steel, communications, manufacturing and construction have all been asked and pressured into negotiating concessions and give-backs for the good of their employers and their industries. While we were certainly not happy about doing so, our unions and our members demonstrated a willingness to act as valued partners with their employers to secure a better competitive position that would allow those companies to weather a period of economic difficulty. To be sure, when the economic good times returned, we have had to fight like hell to share in that prosperity. Especially today in the construction industry, our unions are working with our signatory contractors to find ways to reduce costs that will enable projects to get off the ground in this time of tight credit and scarce financing. In New York City, for example, our metropolitan building trades council is working in conjunction with the Building Trades Employer Association to uncover ways in which they can reduce overall construction costs. Nobody enjoys those types of negotiations but often we accept them in a forthright manner because we have a demonstrated loyalty to our members, our contractors, our industry, and our country. As Samuel Gompers, the great American labor leader and founder of the American Federation of Labor once said, "The worst crime against working people is a company which fails to make a profit." Now contrast that scenario with what is taking place today with regard to the public furor over AIG and its bonus compensation system that requires the payment of hundreds of millions of dollars in executive "retention" bonuses - many to the same people who devised the credit default swap system that brought us to the brink of economic Armageddon in the first place. Everyone agrees - including both government and AIG - that it is unconscionable for these payments to be made in light of the economic havoc reaped by AIG upon the entire global financial system. And the hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars being used to prop that company up. And yet, we are told that these payments must go forward because of "contractual obligations." In other words, these AIG employees had a contract stipulating their compensation structure. Hmmm, that sounds awfully like the negotiated contracts that the United Auto Workers, the United Steelworkers of America, the Communications Workers, the International Association of Machinists, and many Building Trades Unions each had (as well as numerous others) when their employers and industry representatives told them that they could not afford to pay those compensation levels if those companies were to be in a position to compete in today's competitive global economy. In those instances, demands were made for unions to re-negotiate the "contractual obligations" governing their pay and benefit structures. I have yet to hear anyone offer credible evidence as to the difference between a contract that stipulates the compensation arrangement between General Motors and its employees, and a contract that stipulates the compensation arrangement between AIG and its executive employees. Why is it that one can be re-negotiated and the other seemingly cannot? Since I have yet to be made aware of any credible answer on that question, I can only conclude that our society - especially in the corporate world - believes that the lives and well-being, not to mention the rights and privileges, of those who toil for blue-collar wages are not viewed with equal regard as those "captains of industry and finance" who are somehow viewed as being more superior, and more valuable in our society. Isn't it enough that these folks actually have a job today? You would think that every AIG executive would be begging for the public's forgiveness each and every day and making every conceivable effort to demonstrate their thankfulness that, in horrid irony, the hard-earned tax money of American working families is keeping them employed and their families fed, even though their reckless and despicable actions have caused inexpressible economic, emotional and psychological hardship for millions of working American families. And yet, as I think about this, I find that I am not all that surprised that these AIG executives show little contrition.either for their behavior or their acceptance of these bonuses.or little inclination to sacrifice on behalf of America. When you think about it, it has always been American blue-collar middle class families, not the Wall Street bankers or the executive suite titans, that have always shouldered the burdens and sacrifices that have allowed our nation to prosper in both war and peace. It is always the sons and daughters of the American working class who constitute the majority of the troops that have fought for, and continue to fight for, the freedom and values that we hold so dear. And it is the American worker who is always asked to give back, and do with less, so that American business (and American businessmen!) can prosper. But American workers would have to be fools to continue to do so when other sectors of our society continually fail to demonstrate an equal commitment to the same cause. Our nation's motto is: E pluribus unum - which is Latin for "Out of Many, One." It succinctly describes the American ideal: that we are a nation of diversity and differences, but we are all united through the simple, yet powerful identity of being "an American." One for All and All for One! Our nation will once again enjoy sustainable economic growth when we return to an era of "trickle up" economics where work not wealth is valued, respected and rewarded. And where those at the top of the American income ladder show the same level of love and commitment and sacrifice to this great country as its blue collar heroes - rather than retreat behind their gated communities with their "contractually obligated" bonus checks in hand, and offer a middle finger salute to everyone else. Mark H. Ayers
Download:
aflcio.gif
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Remarks of President Barack Obama - As Prepared for Delivery Video to AFL-CIO Executive Council Miami, FL March 3, 2009
Posted
On: Mar 09, 2009 (10:58:56)
I'm sorry that I'm unable to join you this week, but it was a pleasure to see many of you at the White House recently, and I'm looking forward to having you all back often. I want to start by thanking President Sweeney, Secretary-Treasurer Trumka, and Vice President Holt Baker for their leadership. And I want to thank the Executive Council and all of you for your efforts as well as your advocacy these last several weeks. We have already started to change America on behalf of working people. With your help, we passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan - the most sweeping economic recovery package in our history. I've always said that the gauge of our economic progress is clear: are we creating good jobs? Are we creating the kinds of jobs on which you can raise a family, own a home, afford college, save for retirement? That's why this plan is so important. It will create or save three and a half million jobs over the next two years - and it will do so by putting Americans to work doing the work that America needs done. We'll modernize our health care system, rebuild crumbling roads, bridges, levees and transit systems, double our capacity to generate renewable energy, and build the classrooms that will help our children learn today - and compete tomorrow. And this plan includes the most progressive middle-class tax cuts in history; provides greater unemployment benefits for millions who have lost jobs; relieves overburdened cities and states struggling with budget shortfalls; and respects the work that Americans do right here at home while honoring our international obligations. I've signed legislation helping to guarantee equal pay for equal work and expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program to millions more children. We've reversed the ban on project labor agreements and we've overturned the previous administration's Executive Orders which were designed not only to undermine critical government work - but to undermine organized labor. I'm also pleased to have nominated Hilda Solis, a daughter of union members and a lifelong champion for working families, to be my Secretary of Labor - and that Vice President Joe Biden has agreed to lead my administration's Task Force on Middle Class Working Families. This Task Force will work hand in hand with my cabinet and White House agencies - as well as with all of you - to focus on growing and sustaining the middle class. I want to repeat something that those of you who joined us for the Task Force announcement heard me say: I do not view the labor movement as part of the problem. To me, and to my administration, labor unions are a big part of the solution. We need to level the playing field for workers and the unions that represent their interests - because we cannot have a strong middle class without a strong labor movement. The truth is, the road ahead will not be easy. The economic crisis we face is vast and the challenges we confront are many; you know this because your members have already had to make sacrifices. But I have every confidence that if we are willing to do the difficult work that must be done, we will emerge from these trials stronger and more prosperous than we were before. And as we confront this crisis and work to provide health care to every American, rebuild our nation's infrastructure, move toward a clean energy economy, and pass the Employee Free Choice Act, I want you to know that you will always have a seat at the table. Thank you for everything you do.
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2009 Retirees Luncheon
Updated
On: Feb 17, 2009 (09:06:00)
The Retirees Club helds its Annual Retirees Luncheon on Valentine's Day at the Emerald Queen Casino in Fife. We had approximately 70 retirees in attendance. Great turnout! President Becker addressed the retirees and gave an overview of the health and welfare plan, pension, and the success of our local market recovery program to reassure the retirees of the stability of the Union and its programs during this economic downturn. A special thank you to Bill Pistilli, Retiree Club Chairman for organizing such a nice event. Check out the photo gallery for more photos of the luncheon.
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