The Boston Building and Construction Trades Council (also branded Greater Boston Building Trades Unions[1]) is an umbrella group of twenty construction unions across the Greater Boston area.[2] The purpose of the organization is to promote the unions’ interests [3] and increase union membership.[4]
Before his election as the 54th Mayor of Boston, Democratic politician and Biden administration nominee for Secretary of Labor Martin J. Walsh led the Boston Building and Construction Trades Council.[5]
Finances
In 2019 the Council reported $971,444 in contributions,[6] $971,745 in total revenue,[7] and possessed $654,079 in net assets after accounting for all liabilities.[8]
In 2019, the Council reported making a $75,000 contribution to the Chinese Progressive Association, a Chinese Communist Party-sympathetic[9] left-wing advocacy and political organizing group.[10]
Controversies
Critics have charged the Boston Building Trades Council with failing to meet mandated hiring targets for women and ethnic minority workers. The Boston Residents Jobs Policy requires that 51% of construction work be allocated to Boston residents, 40% to people of color, and 12% to women. The Boston Employment Commission, a city agency in charge of overseeing the policy, has documented the Council’s failure on all three accounts.[11] The Boston Employment Commission found that between January 2017 and May 2019, 86,285 hours of construction work was performed in Boston and only 19.6% of that work was done by Boston residents, 21.4% by people of color, and 5.5% by women.[12]
Membership
The council is comprised of 20 unions. They include:[13]
- International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 29
- International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 3
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 103
- International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 4
- International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators Local 6
- International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 7
- Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 22
- Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 88 (Tunnel Workers)
- Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 151
- Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 223
- Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 1421 (Wreckers)
- International Union of Operating Engineers Local 4
- International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 35
- United Association Pipefitters Local 537
- United Association Plumbers and Gasfitters Local 12
- United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers Local 33
- Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association Local 17
- United Association Sprinkler Fitters Local 550
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 25
Leadership
Brian Doherty is the secretary-treasurer of the Boston Building and Construction Trades Council. In 2019 Doherty received $167,130 in compensation for representing the union.[14] Before joining the Boston Building and Construction Trades Council in 2014, Doherty was a member of the Laborers Local 223 construction union for 16 years.[15]