Foundations of Freedom

The United States celebrated its 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. For over 160 of those years the members of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers have built America.

Since 1865, our hands have laid the physical foundations of this republic: its schools, houses of worship, civic institutions, skyscrapers, and homes. The craftspeople who came before us shaped the communities where we were raised, and today, BAC proudly represents and helps to train the next generation of workers who will build the physical landscape that will nurture generations to come.

Yet our contribution to the nation extends far beyond the brick, stone, and tile we lay. The history of the labor movement proves that true democracy cannot survive on political rights alone; it requires economic democracy to give those rights meaning. BAC members regularly exemplify why trade unionism is a vital pillar of self-government, serving as the frontline defense against consolidated economic power and ensuring that working people have a direct, democratic voice in their daily lives. Through our union, workers do not merely accept the terms set by corporate interests —we collectively determine our own destinies. 

Through solidarity, BAC members have built enduring institutional power for working families. We helped forge the protections of modern worker dignity, from securing the eight-hour workday and workplace safety standards, to defending prevailing wage laws that ensure honest labor commands fair pay. By organizing the workplace, trade unions empower individual workers with self-determination—granting craftspeople the agency to secure health security, retirement with dignity, and a fair share of the wealth their labor creates. 

We undertake this work not only as proud tradespeople, but as patriots who understand that civic liberty and economic freedom are inextricably linked. We cherish the “blessings of liberty” preserved by the Constitution, recognizing that a government of, by, and for the people is maintained when workers have the collective power to demand justice, equality, and opportunity. 

While BAC is an international union whose proud Canadian brothers and sisters cherish their own vibrant national heritage and vital role in our shared union history, the 250th anniversary of the United States founding offers a special moment to reflect on our legacy as North America’s oldest continuously operating trade union. We have not merely witnessed the growth of the world’s longest-serving constitutional republic—we helped construct it, brick by brick and vote by vote. 

As we prepare to celebrate Labor Day, it’s worth remembering that labor unions do not just participate in our democracy—they sustain it by bringing democratic power directly into the workplace. The story of the United States remains an unwritten draft, one constantly refined by the working people who labor to make its promise real. The story of BAC is similarly ongoing; through our union, we practice the very solidarity and collective voice that keeps democracy alive, and together, we are ready to build the future.