2014 Local Leadership Conference Focuses on Economic Recovery, Professional Development
JOURNAL: ISSUE 1 - 2015
Economic recovery and a renewed focus on professional development were the central themes of the 34th BAC Local Leadership Conference. “Educating Local leaders gives us a better return on investment than almost anything else. Local leaders are on the frontlines of member recruitment, retention, organizing, trade jurisdiction and collective bargaining; they interact with members, contractors and community and labor partners each and every day. Education, meeting together, and sharing experiences increases their effectiveness in these essential areas,” said BAC President Boland during his keynote address.
More than 180 BAC Principal Officers, Financial Officers, Field Representatives, Organizers and Training Directors attended the four-day continuing education program held at the MITAGS training facility, just outside of Baltimore. This year’s conference was the first to be held since 2009, and for nearly half of the attendees, this Local Leadership Conference was their first.
Featured guests spoke on a variety of topics including new technologies for the jobsite such as BIM for Masonry, growth potential for the masonry storm shelter market, diversity in organizing and coalition building, standardized instructor training, and the future of defined benefit plans. Attendees were also treated to a political overview of the 2014 midterm elections from veteran political analyst, Amy Walter. More than twenty workshops in total were offered ranging from BAC history and craft organization to a refresher on salting strategies to a primer on social media as a platform for organizing.
Panelists address the importance of building coalition with progressive allies, making a powerful case that forging lasting progressive partnerships helps workers build economic power. From right, Derrick Johnson, President of the Mississippi NAACP, Jayne Vellinga, Executive Director of Chicago Women in the Trades, Gustavo Andrade, Organizing Director of CASA de Md., and Art Lujan, Special Assistant to the President of the Building Trades.
Sister Barbara Moore of Local 1 MD/VA/DC, was recognized for her 40-years of BAC service, the first woman member in the history of the International Union to receive this award. From left, BAC Executive Vice President Tim Driscoll, Sister Moore, Secretary-Treasurer Henry Kramer, and Executive Vice President Gerald Scarano.
BAC Executive Vice President Tim Driscoll led a workshop on national industrial agreements.
From left, BAC Executive Vice President Gerald Scarano, IU Director of Collective Bargaining service Michael Di Virgillio, IU Organizing Director Steve Nelms and Organizer Francis Jacobberger addressed compliance and enforcement issues related to the Davis-Bacon Act.
From left, BAC Secretary-Treasurer Henry Kramer with President of Multiemployer.com, Cliff Price, and IU Financial Management Director Jennifer Penoso present BAC’s latest technology initiatives, including the new Member Portal app.