NABTU’s Sean McGarvey shares vision of boosting middle class with new jobs created by the Infrastructure Act

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Sheri Gassaway
July 10, 2023

North American Building Trades Unions (NABTU) President Sean McGarvey stopped in St. Louis last week to share how the organization is working with local and state building trades leaders, community groups and government officials to help boost the middle-class and create good-paying jobs after passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The event, hosted by the Missouri Works Initiative, Missouri AFL-CIO and St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council, was a part of NABTU’s national multi-city road tour to demonstrate how union-trained workers are prepared to meet the moment. The event was held at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 union hall in St. Louis and included a tour of the union’s state-of-the-art training center.

“There’s over 250,000 people in our training programs and we can ramp that up to one million,” Garvey said. “With the investments made by the Biden-Harris Administration and members of Congress, we’re going to start filling those numbers up and growing these training programs through our apprentice-ready programs like BUD and creating pathways to the middle-class for everyone who wants an opportunity.”

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NABTU Workforce Development Programs are Increasing Diversity in the Construction Industry

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NABTU | Washington, D.C. — January 17, 2023 — Today, at its first Opportunity Pipeline Forum, North America’s Building Trades Unions released a new report from the Institute for Construction Economics Research (ICERES) entitled, “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives in the Construction Trades” which examines workforce development and diversity, equity and inclusion in the construction industry, including the unique programmatic success of building trade programs and their results.

The study evaluates initiatives in the construction industry to promote greater workforce diversity, including recruitment, pre-apprenticeship, mentoring, retention, and apprenticeship training programs and looks at the success rates between union and non-union programs. The report finds that union programs are far more effective than non-union programs at recruiting and training more women and racially diverse groups into the construction industry.

“Improving diversity and making the skilled trades a more equitable and inclusive work environment is a challenge that requires conscious efforts and initiatives that track outcomes, which improve access to these jobs and provide support for workers from historically underrepresented groups,” said Dr. Amy Tracy Wells, one of the ICERES study authors and Lecturer at Rutgers University. “This study attempts to facilitate the strengthening of the DEI initiatives in all parts of the construction sector by providing perspectives on the current state of these programs in the construction industry—highlighting some of the best and most innovative practices—and offering insight on recent trends in the traditional pipeline to the skilled trades: registered apprenticeship training programs.”

“This is the first study of its kind and gives our entire industry a benchmark in which we are all held to the same standard on DEI and workforce development programs,” said NABTU President McGarvey. “The ICERES study demonstrates building trades unions’ programs are successful because of deliberate, intentional work and critical partnerships with community-based organizations, industry leaders, and government agencies. The findings underscore that investing programmatically throughout the workforce development pipeline and utilizing true workforce development tools like PLAs and collective bargaining work. With massive federal investments from the IRA, CHIPS, and Infrastructure Bill needing more on-ramps to Registered Apprenticeships, we look forward to organizations like TradesFutures helping us advance these successful DEI programs, maximize investments and meet the moment to provide more meaningful middle-class career pathways for diverse communities across America.”

Read the ICERES Study: “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives in the Construction Trades” by Cihan Bilginsoy, University of Utah; David Bullock, University of Michigan; Amy Tracy Wells, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Roland Zullo, University of Michigan; and editors: Julie Brockman, Michigan State University and Russell Ormiston, Allegheny College.

For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Betsy Barrett at bbarrett@nabtu.org or 202-997-3266.

North America’s Building Trades Unions and Ørsted Agree To Build an American Offshore Wind Energy Industry With American Labor

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Wed, June 29, 2022 | Yahoo Finance

A first in the U.S., the National Offshore Wind Agreement sets industry on a course to build an equitable offshore workforce with family-sustaining careers

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2022 /3BL Media/– Today, North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) and Ørsted, the U.S. leader in offshore wind energy, announced a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) to construct the company’s U.S. offshore wind farms with an American union workforce. A first-of-its-kind in the United States, the National Offshore Wind Agreement (NOWA) sets the bar for working conditions and equity, injects hundreds of millions of dollars in middle-class wages into the American economy, creates apprenticeship and career opportunities for communities most impacted by environmental injustice, and ensures projects will be built with the safest and best-trained workers in America. Authorized by 15 International Union Presidents and their local affiliates, the NOWA covers all of Ørsted’s contractors and subcontractors that will perform offshore windfarm construction from Maine down to Florida.

“The signing of this unprecedented agreement is historic for America’s workers and our energy future. NABTU’s highly trained men and women professionals have the best craft skills in the world. This partnership will not only expand tens of thousands of career opportunities for them to flourish in the energy transition but also lift up even more people into the middle-class,” said Sean McGarvey, President of NABTU. “The constant drumbeat of public support for unions being important to maintain and build the middle class helped secure this momentous achievement. We commend Ørsted, AFL-CIO President Shuler, the Biden Administration and many Congressional leaders for their help and support to make today’s signing a reality and for setting forth a new framework for middle-class job creation in all energy sectors.”

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Labor Department apprenticeship rule exempts construction programs

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AUTHOR: Jenn Goodman
PUBLISHED: March 11, 2020

Dive Brief:

  • A Department of Labor rule issued yesterday that will help expand apprenticeships in the U.S. leaves out programs that seek to train apprentices to perform construction work. Those groups instead can continue to participate in a separate Registered Apprenticeship Program
  • The rule establishes a system for advancing the development of Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs), a centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s workplace policy agenda. It will take effect May 11.
  • The idea of exempting the construction industry from IRAPs has drawn fire from major contractor groups like the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). On the other hand, building trade unions like North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) have praised the plan.

Dive Insight:

IRAPS are recognized by a third-party entity under standards established by the department in the new rule. Through these programs, individuals will be able to obtain workplace-relevant training and progressively advancing skills that result in an industry-recognized credential while getting paid for their work.

An IRAP is developed or operated by entities such as trade and industry groups, corporations, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, unions and joint labor-management organizations. They are seen as a way to help alleviate the labor shortage in new industry sectors and occupations that don’t traditionally have apprenticeships.

“Apprenticeships are widely recognized to be a highly effective job-training approach for American workers and for employers seeking the skilled workforce needed in today’s changing workplace,” Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia said in a statement. “This new rule offers employers, community colleges, and others a flexible, innovative way to quickly expand apprenticeship in telecommunications, health care, cybersecurity, and other sectors where apprenticeships currently are not widely available.” …

In the end, the department concluded that registered apprenticeship programs are more widespread in the construction sector than in other sectors and therefore don’t need to be included in the plan. The decision could spur at least one legal challenge according to Bloomberg Law, and includes a clause to limit a potential lawsuit from the construction industry. …

… NABTU President Sean McGarvey said the union is pleased with the outcome and that the industry’s current apprenticeship programs won’t be “watered down” by having to participate in IRAPs.

“Given the widespread and effective nature of our privately financed and jointly managed registered programs for the construction industry, the final rule recognizes our rightful place as the standard bearer in the workforce development space,” he said.

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Punching In: Slowing Down the DOL Apprenticeship Train

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Bloomberg Law
Nov. 12, 2019

Ben Penn: With National Apprenticeship Week upon us, Team Trump surely would like the public to believe the Labor Department has cleared up an appropriations error surrounding the administration’s principal job training initiative.

The DOL recently admitted to misusing about $1.1 million on the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program that still hasn’t been finalized, dipping into a pot of money designated for a separate apprenticeship program that’s been around for decades. The snafu took place under former Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, based on orders from an ex-policy adviser. The department says it already has taken multiple steps to correct the issue. Besides, the $1.1 million in question is a drop in the bucket relative to the DOL’s overall budget.

Nothing left to see here, right?

Were it only that simple.

Not everyone’s certain the DOL has resolved the spending mistake. Lingering questions could slow the White House’s effort to put together a final rule to establish the new, industry-led job training model.

We already know the department’s inspector general looking into the potential budget violation and the Democrat-controlled House Education and Labor Committee is continuing its oversight requests.

Now we can add North America’s Building Trades Unions to the list of groups demanding answers. The construction union umbrella organization is one of the few labor groups that have found a way to work on certain issues with the Trump White House. Lately, however, it’s using the IRAP proposal to ramp up attacks on this administration.

Mike Monroe, chief of staff of the building trades group, called news of the misspent money “frustrating.” The department’s Employment and Training Administration vowed during the Acosta regime that it wouldn’t use the new IRAP system to undermine the longstanding registered apprenticeship system, a crucial job training source for the building unions. Monroe wants to be sure the department is weighing all of the public feedback it received on a proposed rule to establish the IRAP system.

The union led a public comment blitz slamming the industry-friendly IRAP proposed rule, with thousands of blue-collar union members opposing the rule.

“If there are ethical lapses in the misuse of funds then we’re rightfully concerned there may well be ethical lapses in the review and consideration of all the public comments-which is to say they’ve already made their minds up here,” Monroe said. “Our membership is watching this issue really closely” and “we are highly concerned that this undefined process that is now being funded inappropriately, it seems, may undermine their ability to safely earn a living in the construction crafts.”

Even if only $1.1 million was misspent, the ongoing scrutiny offers a convenient vehicle for NABTU, Democratic lawmakers, and others on a mission to stop the White House apprenticeship push in its tracks.

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Sean McGarvey column: Don’t leave construction workers in regulatory limbo

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Bloomberg Law
Nov. 12, 2019

The union construction industry plays a critical role in the American economy, representing not only viable middle-class career opportunities with labor protections, benefits and economic security for American workers and their families. It also provides debt-free registered apprenticeship education for the highest-skilled trade workforce to build and maintain the country’s infrastructure.

North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) bring these pieces together and are thriving. In 2018 alone, our unions gained more than 70,000 active new members, with a net gain of 375,000 active members since the last recession.

Today, large energy infrastructure projects are vital to sustainable job growth for our members and, by extension, our industry partners. These relationships help promote economic development and public safety in communities across the United States. But what happens when these opportunities are threatened by politics and outside special interests? That’s exactly the situation our nation’s critical energy infrastructure, and particularly pipelines, are in.

A prime example is the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) – a 600-mile natural gas pipeline that was bringing jobs, local tax income and, above all, economic opportunity for rural communities surrounding the project that otherwise have few job creation options.

Earlier this year, NABTU and other unions involved in the project swiftly lost around 4,500 jobs after construction on the ACP came to a halt due to a decision by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals questioning the pipeline’s crossing of the Appalachian Trail. The court vacated a decision from the U.S. Forest Service that would allow the pipeline to safely cross hundreds of feet beneath the Appalachian Trail. This decision came after the project already passed through an extensive, four-year environmental review dating back to the Obama Administration. In fact, the ACP already granted necessary rights-of-way by the Department of Interior and the Department of Agriculture. Additionally, more than 50 pipelines are built and operating across the Appalachian Trail for decades now.

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McGarvey of North American Building Trades Unions addresses MBTC convention (MA)

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April 19, 2019 – Construction Design & Engineering

Plymouth, MA The Massachusetts Building Trades Council (MBTC) unveiled its 2019 agenda to elevate the interests of construction workers and union contractors across the Commonwealth. The three-day convention was held at HOTEL 1620.

Sean McGarvey, president of North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTC), served as keynote. McGarvey represents millions of workers from 14 national and international unions in the U.S. and Canada. He addressed hundreds of local labor leaders and delegates who made the trip to the town for the convention. The delegates at the convention came from 74 member locals, who together represent 75,000 men and women from across the Commonwealth.

The 2019 agenda discussion included policies around Apprenticeship & Training, providing career paths for more women & people of color, workplace safety, building more affordable housing, state and federal legislative priorities, and veteran employment.

Cracking down on the state’s wage theft epidemic remained a top concern, with MassBTC president Frank Callahan calling on the state legislature to provide additional funding for investigators within the Attorney General’s office. “Funds spent on wage enforcement more than pay for themselves in the form of taxes from recovered wages, and fines and penalties paid by the violators,” said Callahan. “Expanding wage enforcement personnel isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s an economically wise investment for taxpayers too.

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Veterans can trade helmets for hardhats [Opinion]

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Helmets to Hardhats is a national nonprofit that empowers our nation’s service members to succeed once they choose to return to civilian life by connecting them to sustainable apprenticeship training programs and career opportunities in the building and construction industry.

By Leonard Aguilar | Nov. 11, 2018

Our veterans are tough – they can do anything they put their minds to. They are our nation’s bravest men and women – individuals who have dedicated their lives to service.

With that said, transitioning from military to civilian life is an understandably challenging time for many veterans. There are many unknowns: How will this work? What comes next?

In my role as executive director and secretary-treasurer of the Texas State Building and Construction Trades Council, I know what it takes to thrive in the construction industry. I have also seen firsthand how the skills and qualities developed in the military can prove invaluable on a jobsite – from diligence and resilience, to drive and integrity.

As Veterans Day is upon us, I would like to highlight one organization that gets it right: Helmets to Hardhats.

Helmets to Hardhats is a national nonprofit that empowers our nation’s service members to succeed once they choose to return to civilian life by connecting them to sustainable apprenticeship training programs and career opportunities in the building and construction industry.

Yes, returning home can be difficult. However, our focus should shift to making veterans’ homecomings less burdensome – both on themselves and on their families. If veterans are made aware of the opportunities that await them, returning home can become less stressful and more exciting.

The apprenticeship training of North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) is a natural fit for transitioning service members.

When Helmets to Hardhats connects the armed forces community with this training, it can be a perfect match – evidenced by the fact that most individuals who experience successful transitions begin with little to no experience in their chosen field.

Even better, the apprenticeship programs are privately-funded – provided by the trade organizations and their contractors at no cost to American taxpayers.

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NABTU STATEMENT ON ADMINISTRATION’S EFFORTS TO EXPAND APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING

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NABTU Statement on Administration’s Efforts to Expand Apprenticeship Training

Published: Monday, 21 May 2018 15:32
May 10, 2018

WASHINGTON, DC – North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) today issued the following statement in response to the Administration’s efforts to expand apprenticeship into new industries:

“NABTU supports the Administration’s efforts to expand apprenticeship into industries that currently lack this important form of workforce training. As an industry with over 100 years of experience in establishing a world-class apprenticeship and training infrastructure, we know first-hand that high quality, registered apprenticeship programs provide reliable pathways to middle class careers and long-term economic security. The hundreds of thousands of hardworking American men and women in the building and construction industry can attest to this.

“NABTU appreciates and welcomes the continued opportunity to impart our experience and expertise on successful apprenticeship models. We will remain fully engaged in the establishment of “Industry Regulated Apprenticeship Programs” to ensure rigor and quality while mitigating any potential negative impacts to the apprenticeship brand – especially to NABTU and our contractor partners’ $1 billion collectively bargained investment in construction apprenticeship training.

“In 2017, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that there were 190,000 new apprentices nationwide – across all sectors of the economy. Of that total, NABTU is proud that one-third of these new apprentices began their training in our joint labor-management training programs in the construction industry – a longstanding partnership between our unions and our contractor partners.”

ABOUT NORTH AMERICA’S BUILDING TRADES UNIONS

North America’s Building Trades Unions is an alliance of 14 national and international unions in the building and construction industry that collectively represent over 3 million skilled craft professionals in the United States and Canada. Each year, our unions and our signatory contractor partners invest over $1 billion in private sector money to fund and operate over 1,900 apprenticeship training and education facilities across North America that produce the safest, most highly trained, and productive skilled craft workers found anywhere in the world.

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North America’s Building Trades Unions Succeeds in Beating Back 3 Anti-Prevailing Wage Amendments

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09/11/2017 – 3:47pm

As the U.S. House of Representatives was voting last week on appropriations bills to keep the federal government running, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) attempted to amend every piece of legislation to undo Davis-Bacon protections that ensure fair prevailing wages are paid on publicly funded construction projects.

Fortunately, King’s efforts to cut wages have been unsuccessful. Every Democratic member and 54 Republicans voted “no,” on all three of King’s amendments. Each vote on King’s three amendments failed 173-240, with 54 Republicans siding with all Democrats in voting “no.” Every member of the Massachusetts delegation voted “no” in support of fair wages for America’s building trades workers.

Prevailing wage standards are a minimum wage for skilled construction work on publicly funded projects – including bridges, roads, water projects, tunnels, pipelines, municipal buildings, courthouses, schools and libraries. It is a market determination based on government surveys of the average pay rate (wages, fringe benefits, training contributions) for each construction craft in a geographic area. These standards are intended not only promote a level playing field for local businesses, but to support the training programs needed to prepare local workers for careers in the skilled crafts.

Research consistently shows that prevailing wage standards lead to better economic and industry outcomes – including more local jobs, less poverty, and safer, more efficient and productive worksites – with no significant impact on total project costs.

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