BCTD President Ayers Dead at 63; Succeeded by Sean McGarvey

JOURNAL: ISSUE 1 - 2012

BAC President James Boland, left, with new BCTD President Sean McGarvey at an earlier meeting at IU headquarters.

On April 8th, Mark Ayers, President of the Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD), AFL-CIO, died suddenly at the age of 63. BAC President James Boland, who serves on BCTD Board of Governing Presidents, said, “Mark’s leadership during one of most challenging periods in the history of organized construction gave all the affiliates a clearer path forward. His vision, guidance and unparalleled dedication to the labor movement will be deeply missed.”

Brother Ayers, a 38-year member and former Local officer of IBEW Local 34 Illinois, was sworn in as President of the national Building Trades in 2007. He previously served as his International’s Director of Construction and Maintenance Department.

As this Journal goes to press, on April 16th the BCTD Governing Board of Presidents elected Sean McGarvey as BCTD President. McGarvey, who had served as BCTD Secretary-Treasurer since 2005, is a member of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Glazier’s Local 252 in Philadelphia and the former Director of IUPAT Government Affairs.