[ En Español ]

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

Much of the last twelve months was devoted to planning for the International Apprentice Contest and the surrounding events. This work culminated on October 18th at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C. with the Contest Finals, the unveiling of the Masonry Variations Exhibit, and the Masonry Mania Festival.

Thousands of architects, builders, engineers, designers, and people from all age groups and walks of life lined up that day to watch our apprentices compete, to see how masonry could be used in ways that no one had ever imagined, and to try their hand at pointing a wall, creating a mosaic, laying tile, creating a plaster cast, and carving a stone. Throughout the day we watched as people gained a new appreciation for the apprenticeship system, and what being a skilled craftworker really means. We had an opportunity to show a face of labor that the media too often forgets – or neglects – to show the public. And we proved that when labor and management work together, great things happen.

It was a day filled with pride – pride in the skill and craftsmanship of our finalists, pride in the incredible Masonry Variations Exhibit built by BAC members in collaboration with some of the world’s leading architects, pride in the hands-on craft demonstrations and activities conducted by Local officers and training staff from all parts of our Union, and pride in the families who visited and participated in the day’s events. I can tell you first hand that I witnessed more than one future masonry craftworker being dragged away from the children’s hands-on displays kicking and screaming because they wanted to try “just one more thing.” And I had the pleasure of meeting several former winners and contestants who joined us to help this generation of apprentices celebrate their achievements. I can say without a doubt that all of our Finalists were winners in every sense.

The Contest also served as an important reminder that the union apprenticeship and training system produces the skilled craftworkers who build structures that endure. A national study based on roughly 40 states that participate in the Department of Labor’s apprenticeship database found that between 1989 and 1995, union apprenticeship programs accounted for 73 percent of all apprentices and 82 percent of apprenticeship graduates. In other words, union apprenticeship programs, including our apprenticeship programs, don’t just talk about training – they do it.

By restoring the International Apprentice Contest tradition, we were able to showcase the quality training and skills that distinguish BAC apprentices from other masonry workers. And we were all reminded that a strong union apprenticeship system creates a strong union and industry that is worth protecting and defending from those who would try to weaken it.

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