BAC in Motion

JOURNAL: ISSUE 1 - 2014

We must never take for granted the skills, experience and standards that enable us to earn a living and that are the basis of the fraternal bond that unites us as members of this great International Union. Nor should we underestimate the power of those bonds, made stronger by the many ways BAC members stay interconnected – on the job, at the Union hall, in the community – when we're working with the tools and in retirement.

The articles that follow bear this out. Members at Work, (page 3) showcases Local 7 Canada bricklayers and stonemasons, who have been entrusted to restore one of Parliament's most iconic structures. Examples of how Union and community service coalesce to benefit the greater good abound in Giving BACk (page 15). Local 3 NY retiree Joe McGovern (page 21) adds service to his country to his impressive portfolio, a connection shared by many BAC members. On page 14 we see the BAC apprentices from across the U.S. who most definitely "brought it" to a high profile national apprentice competition in January, a rewarding validation of the high standards and quality of this Union's lifeblood, the BAC/IMI apprenticeship and training system.

Speaking of apprentices, no matter what shape the economy is in, the very survival of our Union and all of our programs depend on a continuing supply of interested, motivated and well-trained craftworker replacements for our retiring members. In the coming months, an IU-led task force will take an in-depth look at all aspects of our apprenticeship and training system, the first such examination in more than a decade. This is not to say we aren't proud of our training accomplishments; we are. But in the face of continuing challenges in recruiting, training, retaining and deploying a skilled BAC workforce in today's economy, this is an area that demands our ongoing focus. Not only that but the accessibility of online feedback and research available to building owners and users reinforces today's reigning marketing or "branding" axiom that's as much in force in construction as it is, for example, in a clothing line namely, you can never coast on past performance. For us that means we have to be best hands in the business all of the time, not just most of the time.

This requires securing the work, which is another reason why BAC and IMI are zealously working to usher in Building Information Modeling for Masonry (BIM-M). The endless variety of BAC-installed materials offers countless choices to owners and designers, sometimes too many. Among the many benefits of BIM-M is that it will give key decision makers the capacity to efficiently identify and integrate the masonry information they need into a design. And that's just the beginning. Find out more about its direct advantages to contractors and members by reading "Building Jobs with BIM for Masonry" on page 10. 

Adapting to change and harnessing technology while cultivating the BAC bonds that are steeped in history and tradition allows us to keep connections strong while moving forward as a Union and as an industry.