The Building and Construction Trades Department's Mission

Now, more than ever, North America’s Building Trades Unions are providing solutions to meet the challenge of a changing, energy-conscious world. With pride, performance, and professionalism, our highly skilled work force delivers unmatched value for contractors and owners alike.

With comprehensive formal craft training programs that set the standard in the construction industry, we provide life-long career and advancement opportunities for those with the discipline and determination to have a direct impact on the future of our world.

We will prove to contractors and owners that a partnership with North America’s Building Trades Unions is the best investment they will ever make. And for those looking to do something financially satisfying and personally rewarding, it is the best career path they will ever take.

June 4, 2012

Dear State and Local Building Trades Leader:

Last week, we launched our "Know Your ABC" campaign that corresponded to the release of the report:  "Driving the Low-Road:  An Analysis of the Associated Builders and Contractors."  The report was written by Dr. Tom Kriger.

The campaign is specifically designed to factually refute the contention by the ABC that it speak as "the voice" of the U.S. construction industry.

As part of this campaign, we have launched a website, www.KnowYourABC.com, where Dr. Kriger's report and research are available for download.

The website also has sections devoted to "ABC Horror Stories" and "Testimonials."  With that in mind, I am once again making a broad appeal to all state and local building trades councils for specific information pertaining to:

1.  ABC contractors that have failed miserably on the job; and/or who have been cited for serious wage, safety or other violations of the law; and

2.  Testimonials from rank and file members who may have once had a miserable experience working for an ABC contractor, or had a terrible experience with an ABC "training" program.

I would also be interested in any information you may have about the ABC chapter in your state working in conjunction with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to advance anti-union legislation at the state or local level.  Here's one example:  http://becauseican-2old2care.blogspot.com/2012/06/alec-abc-tangled-web.html

For this campaign to continue gaining effective momentum, we will need to constantly push forth new content that supplements our contention that the ABC is nothing more than an ideological, anti-union, astro-turf organization that promotes a damaging and destructive "race to the bottom" business model.

Please do all you can to unearth and forward such content to me.

Thank you in advance for your prompt and continued attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Tom Owens

Director of Marketing and Communications

towens@bctd.org