JOHN J. FLYNN President International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers .............................

Feedback
May - June 2001

On occasion, members write or call to express their support or dissatisfaction with a position BAC has taken about a particular issue or candidate. I appreciate this input–both the positive and negative–because openly expressing our opinions is an important part of being a member of this Union.

This feedback also gives me an opportunity to explain why BAC endorses one candidate over another. Every member, U.S. and Canadian, has the right to support a candidate for personal reasons. Elected Union officers, however, have an obligation to support candidates who we believe will act in the best interest of our members’ well-being on the job–specifically, candidates who:

• support the right to join a union and bargain over wages and working conditions;

• fight for strong safety laws; and

• protect government programs that help workers if they become disabled and when they retire.

One issue in particular that flies in the face of our members’ well-being on the job is Right-to-Work. That’s why this issue of the Journal launches a series on Right-to-Work legislation– its impact on our members and our industry.

BAC strongly opposes efforts to pass Right-to-Work legislation because in areas where it has passed, the only right that workers gained is the right to work for less! We want to put members on the alert about Right-to-Work because efforts are heating up in the U.S. and Canada to enact this type of legislation.

For those of you working in a state where a Right-to-Work law is already in effect, this may be old news. But for the rest, we hope articles in this and future Journals will help you make informed decisions when this type of legislation, or a candidate who supports Right-to-Work, comes up for a vote in your state, province, or at the national level. Our members in Oklahoma are currently battling to stop passage of Right-to-Work.

This issue of the Journal also introduces a new section, geared toward family members, called "BAC Families". Discussions with officers as part of our Millennium Morning Project revealed a growing concern that the next generation is not being taught about the labor movement in school. As a result, most young people don’t fully understand the connection between the standard of living they enjoy today, and the battles fought by generations of union members. "BAC Families" is our way of helping you and your family address this educational gap. I hope you’ll share it with your children and grandchildren, as well as friends and other family members.

Last, I’d like to close with some good news. Despite reports of a slowing economy and a growing energy crisis, BAC Locals are holding their own. So far this year, hours are up and bargaining results are comparable to last year’s strong increases. But, that’s not all. In June, our membership passed the 100,000 mark and reached its highest level since 1992. Clearly, your organizing efforts and your skilled craftsmanship are paying off.

If you have ideas for stories or issues of concern, let us know by emailing us at askbac@bacweb.org or writing to:

International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
Attention: Communications Department
1776 Eye Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006