Stronger Together
While some would seek to exploit cultural issues to distract us from our fundamental goal of lifting up workers across our industry, our shared experience as craftworkers and members of BAC is far greater than any perceived political or personal differences. This unity has always been our union’s greatest strength.
BAC is defined by a commitment to trade excellence and mutual support, upholding the belief that every worker deserves dignity and a seat at the table. This dedication is evident in our daily work on major projects like the impressive Buffalo Bills Stadium featured in this issue, and through the ongoing professional development of BAC members in our training and education programs. We see that solidarity and support reflected in our scholarship programs that help BAC families meet their dreams of higher education for their children and our Membership Assistance Program that supports BAC members in times of need.
Unfortunately, our right to band together to improve the standing of workers in our industry and our communities is under constant attack. A textbook example of this assault on workers is that of those elected leaders that promote legislation to exploit workers by misclassifying them as independent contractors who receive neither the protection nor the benefits of lawful employment.
We are also witnessing an attack on workers by politicians who seek to increase our healthcare costs by shifting the burden for uncompensated care onto the backs of workers while at the same time cancelling billions of dollars’ worth of projects that sustain tens of thousands of construction jobs. And adding insult to injury are those elected politicians that challenge the use of project labor agreements (PLA) that ensure workers receive the wages, benefits, and conditions they deserve for building projects in their local communities. However, BAC will not be deterred from pursuing our goal of justice on the job and in our hometowns.
Where anti-union forces rise up to challenge our goal of uplifting workers across our industry we will respond. BAC delegates to the 25th LCLAA Convention (Labor Council for Latin American Advancement) in Atlanta provided a powerful example of workers speaking truth to power. Likewise, the 2025 Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference offered compelling testimony to the power and agency that workers banding together represent. And in the Bluegrass State AFL-CIO President Dustin Reinstedler of BAC Local 4-IN/KY reminds us that his path to a “better life in a union” started with his journey as a BAC craftworker and leader.
The challenges we face are significant, but never insurmountable. We must reject those voices that seek to pit worker against worker by invoking cultural differences. Because when we stand together, united in purpose to advance the economic interests of all workers in our crafts, we are able change lives for the better.
Stay safe brothers and sisters.