Worker Power Drives Our Economy and Community
Putting workers' interests front and center is the cornerstone of a resilient economy and thriving communities. When public policy and corporate practices align to support rather than oppose workers and their unions, the resulting benefits ripple across every sector of society. Fair wages and benefits put money directly into the hands of working families who spend most of their income on local goods and services. In turn, this drives retail businesses and creates sustainable local jobs far more effectively than top-down economics ever could. And working families need more help than ever in meeting rising costs all across North America.
Fair pay, dignity, and a voice on the job are core principles for BAC in our interactions with all industry and political leaders. While we prefer collaboration, we will vigorously fight anti-union forces — just as BAC local union leaders from across the upper Midwest did when they banded together to defeat an abusive, low-road contractor. Conversely, we support any politician – regardless of party – who protects prevailing wages, workplace safety, and the collective bargaining rights stripped from over one million federal workers by the current Administration.
The fundamental belief that workers deserve dignity and a voice on the job is rooted in BAC's deep commitment to trade excellence and solidarity. This dedication is proven daily on construction sites across North America, including the featured Pittsburgh Airport project that highlights the talents of the terrazzo workers, tile-setters, and bricklayers, who successfully navigated the complex site logistics and the design challenges the project presented.
It is difficult to turn on the television, pick up a newspaper, or scroll on your phone these days and not hear or see something about data centers, AI (artificial intelligence), and what that means for the workplace of the future. It would be foolish to dismiss the potential impact that AI may have on the construction industry, though it will likely hit the back-office and design community first. It is also clear that technology alone does not guarantee progress.
Rather, the future of work is ours to shape. We’ll remain actively engaged in how any technology is developed and used, keeping BAC members at the center of our evolving industry. Whether it’s critical infrastructure projects such as the Pittsburgh Airport, or the schools, hospitals, public safety buildings, and housing that every community across North America desperately needs, the skills of BAC members will remain in demand.
While BAC possesses the robust training infrastructure, skilled instructors, and capacity to meet future demands, our industry partners – including contractors, developers, and owners – must equally commit to investing in the next generation of craftworkers. Attracting and retaining top talent requires industry-leading compensation. It’s not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do. Prioritizing worker investment directly elevates jobsite safety and productivity, and in turn allows us to invest time, energy, and resources back into our neighborhoods.
Ultimately, our economy is only as strong as the people working in it, and putting workers first is the only way to build a fair and successful society.