On January 5th, 2009, leaders from many of the GBLC's member unions met with 3 Congressmen from the Boston area. The meeting and breakfast was held at Plumbers' Local 12 in Dorchester.  Congressmen Barney Frank, Mike Capuano, and Stephen Lynch all took turns giving their view of the current conditions in Washington that relate to the labor movement. Though the meeting was arranged mainly to discuss the Employee Free Choice Act, the Congressmen also took questions from labor leaders on issues ranging from Free Trade Agreement exemptions to the coming stimulus package that could top $1 trillion dollars. On that issue, Congressman Frank mentioned that it was supposed to be called a "recovery" package, rather than "stimulus." "I don't know why," he said, "I'd rather be stimulated than recovered."  Congressman Capuano noted that while it was important the bill be passed quickly, unions had to make sure that any rules that were 'waived' didn't negatively affect workers. In addition to the Congressmen, union organizers from SEIU 615 and IBEW 103 also told stories highlighting the importance of the Employee Free Choice Act. The meeting was arranged after a lengthy discussion at the GBLC December meeting, when it was decided that a breakfast would be more effective than a demonstration. "We're thrilled that we got three Congressmen," said GBLC President Lou Mandarini, "we're glad that we gave our affiliates the opportunity to voice their concerns."

The Massachusetts Building Trades Council has filed an ethics complaint against the aptly-named John Rich, who is now the director of workforce development, standards and compliance at the Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts.  Prior to his current lobbying position at ABC, Mr. Rich was the Massachusetts director of apprenticeship and training programs, but is now lobbying against the very programs he once oversaw. 

"It is discouraging that an individual once charged with promoting high standards for apprenticeship training is using his
experience to water down those same standards and eliminate the agency
he once ran," said Frank Callahan, President of the Massachusetts Building Trades Council. "It is a disservice to young workers who want to learn a trade so they can earn a decent living in an already difficult economy."

Next Meeting

The next GBLC delegates' meeting has been scheduled for January 6th, 2008 at IBEW 103 in Dorchester at 7PM.

Breakfast meeting scheduled with Congressmen Capuano, Frank, and others on January 5th.

At the most recent GBLC delegates' meeting on December 2nd, Secretary Treasurer Rogers was asked to arrange a meeting with the Boston Congressional delegation to discuss the status of the Employee Free Choice Act, the most crucial piece of labor legislation in 2009.  ST Rogers has already gotten Congressmen Michael Capuano and Barney Frank to agree to sit down with GBLC leaders, and is currently awaiting a response from the two other congressmen in our jurisdiction.