BOSTON, MA – An industry that rarely takes a day off announced a sweeping agreement between unions and major general contractors to work jointly and officially to formally elevate the status of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in upcoming labor contracts and accords, ensuring workers will have the day off or will have access to overtime pay on the holiday, setting a standard that goes above and beyond federal and state law.
Continue readingSave the Date: Women Build Boston Conference
BOSTON, MA – An industry that rarely takes a day off announced a sweeping agreement between unions and major general contractors to work jointly and officially to formally elevate the status of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in upcoming labor contracts and accords, ensuring workers will have the day off or will have access to overtime pay on the holiday, setting a standard that goes above and beyond federal and state law.
Continue readingUnions and industry partners to formally elevate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day through contracts and project labor agreements
BOSTON, MA – An industry that rarely takes a day off announced a sweeping agreement between unions and major general contractors to work jointly and officially to formally elevate the status of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in upcoming labor contracts and accords, ensuring workers will have the day off or will have access to overtime pay on the holiday, setting a standard that goes above and beyond federal and state law.
Continue readingGREATER BOSTON BUILDING TRADES UNIONS APPLAUD THE APPOINTMENT OF MAYOR MARTIN J. WALSH TO U.S. SECRETARY OF LABOR
BOSTON – The Greater Boston Building Trades Unions released the following statement today following the announcement and confirmation issued by the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden that Boston Mayor and union member Martin J. Walsh will be appointed to the position of U.S. Secretary of Labor.
Continue readingUnion construction sites across Greater Boston paused to affirm Black Lives Matter
Building Trades Unions coordinate drive to collect respirators and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to aid frontline health workforce
Construction workers and companies with personal protective equipment encouraged to donate NEW, unopened N-95 respirators and other PPE
BOSTON, MA — Under the leadership of City of Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh and in coordination with theBoston Public Health Commission, members of the Building Trades Unions along with their union contractor partners have been collecting new, unopened respirators and other vital personal protective equipment (PPE) to aid the city’s frontline health care workforce. Thousands of respirators have already been collected by the Building Trades Unions and distributed to frontline health care workers, but thousands more are needed.
The Building Trade Unions are issuing a broad public appeal to any and all construction workers and companies who may have new, unopened respirators (N95) or other vital PPE equipment, to donate those resources to the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC). They are calling on individuals and companies across the industry to donate their PPE to the cause of helping health workers win the fight against COVID-19. They are also phone banking construction industry stakeholders and reaching out through email and social media to identify stockpiles of PPE that can be donated.
“Mayor Walsh’s administration has taken this head-on and we are proud to partner with them to support their efforts. In partnership with the administration, the Building Trades Unions are collecting these critical supplies in order to aid our city’s frontline health workforce,” said Brian Doherty, General Agent of the Building Trades Unions. “We must ensure all first responders and frontline health workers, including those providing EMS/EMT services, senior care, home health care, care for the homeless, along with acute care in our hospitals have what they need to stay safe and to continue their critical work. Please contact emailems@bostonems.org to coordinate the time and location of your donation.”
“Every new, unopened mask N95 or above can make a difference,” continued Doherty. “You may have some in your garage or your company’s warehouse that are unopened and that could help save lives. Please help us get these resources to the Boston Public Health Commission, so they can ensure a centralized and rapid distribution to those on the frontlines.”
“We want to thank the Building Trades Union for stepping up to help during this time and for recognizing that we are all in this together,” said BPHC Executive Director Rita Nieves. “This generous donation will help protect our first responders and health care providers as they continue to provide life-saving care to the residents of Boston.”
To raise awareness of the PPE collection program and to increase industry participation, delivery of hundreds of N95 respirator masks to the Boston Public Health Commission is scheduled to be open to press for 5:30 PM EST today at 785 Albany Street, Boston, MA, 02118.
WHO: Members of the Building Trades Unions
WHAT: Delivery of N95 respirators collected through the construction industry to the Boston Public Health Commission to raise awareness of need for donations
WHEN: Wednesday, March 18, 5:30 PM EST
WHERE: Boston Emergency Medical Services (BPHC), 785 Albany Street, Boston, MA, 02118
To help promote the PPE collection effort, media are allowed to film outside the Commission during the delivery, but are asked to **maintain social distancing** while doing so.
If you or your company has the equipment to donate, please email emailems@bostonems.org and you will be assigned a drop-off time and location.
Construction unions take appeal for PPE donations to the airwaves
Boston area Building Trades Unions launch PSA for radio and web in effort to collect more personal protective equipment for front-line health workers
BOSTON, MA — In recent weeks, the Building Trades Unions along with their union contractor partners have led a drive within the construction industry to collect new, unopened personal protective equipment (PPE), such as N95 respirators, to donate those resources to front-line health workers.
Now, they are expanding that appeal with a new public service announcement to be aired on radio and web. Thousands of respirators and other PPE were collected and distributed to front-line health care workers through the drive, but thousands more are needed.
“Mayor Walsh’s administration has taken this head-on, and we are proud to support the administration’s efforts. In partnership with the administration, the Building Trades Unions are collecting these critical supplies in order to aid our city’s frontline health workforce,” said Brian Doherty, General Agent of the Building Trades Unions. “We must ensure all first responders and front-line health workers, including those providing EMS/EMT services, senior care, home health care, care for the homeless, along with acute care in our hospitals have what they need to stay safe and to continue their critical work. Please visit bostonppedonation.org to coordinate the time and location of your donation. Every new, unopened mask N95 or above can make a difference.”
The public service announcement reads:
“Do you work in the construction industry? Do you have access to new or unopened respirators, masks, or other personal protective equipment — or “PPE”? If so, please join us in collecting and donating that PPE to the health care workers on the frontlines of the current COVID-19 crisis. In coordination with the administration of Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Public Health Commission, Building Trades Unions and their contractor partners across the region are collecting unopened respirators and other vital protective gear to aid the frontline health care workforce. Together, thanks to help from so many, we’ve already donated thousands of respirators and other PPE to support healthcare workers on the frontlines of this crisis. For more information on how to donate your new, unopened PPE, visit bostonPPEdonation.org. That’s bostonppedonation.org.”.
You can listen to and download the PSA here:
If you or your company has equipment to donate, please visit bostonPPEedonation.org and you will be assigned a drop-off time and location.