NABTU Legislative Conference held in Washington DC

The annual North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) Legislative Conference was held in Washington, DC over 4 days in early April.   

The conference was attended by all of the Building Trades Unions and delegates, including international administration from the Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers.

Before the conference began, the DC Friends of Irelandheld their benefit dinner and General President Emeritus James A. Grogan was in attendance. President Grogan was recognized for his continued support and dedication to this charity and received a standing ovation from everyone in attendance.

The convention began with welcome remarks from Brent Booker, NABTU Secretary-Treasurer and a message of unity.

After introducing the attending Unions and their representative General Presidents, Sean McGarvey, NABTU President, gave the keynote address.

McGarvey spoke to the attendees about their position and their duty to represent their members. He quoted Abraham Lincoln, “I will prepare and some day my chance will come.” His speech ended with an energetic message encouraging the building trades unions to be ready and prepared for anything that is coming our way.

Speakers for the day continued with Nicholas Akins, Chief Executive Officer of American Electric Power; The Honorable Tim Murphy, United states House of Representatives from Pennsylvania; The Honorable Charles E. Schumer, United States Senate from New York; Maria G. Korsnick, President and CEO of Nuclear Energy Institute; The Honorable Ryan Zinke, Secretary of the United States Department of Interior.

After the speakers concluded, attendees had sessions to attend in the afternoon with topics ranging from safety and union liability to forecasting paths and priorities for the next year.

The second day’s speakers included The Honorable Tim Ryan, United States House of Representatives from Ohio; The Honorable Linda Sanchez, United States House of Representatives from California; The Honorable Cedric Richmond, United States House of Representatives from Louisiana; The Honorable Dan Donovan, United States House of Representatives from New York; The Honorable Larry Hogan, Jr., Governor of the State of Maryland; The Honorable Pete King, United States House of Representatives from New York; The Honorable Joe Donnelly, United States Senator from Indiana; Colonel David W. Sutherland, retired from the United States Army; and Donald J. Trump, President of the United States.

President Trump addressed the crowd acknowledging that the skilled men and women in the room are “not only builders but artisans.”

He has held meetings at the White House with NABTU members. In his first week in office, President Trump met with building trades leaders and workers, including Local 24 Insulator Telma Mata.

In his closing remarks, President Trump stated “I am calling all Americans, Republican or Democrat, to come together to rebuild our county.”

The speakers concluded with McGarvey thanking everyone for attending and encouraging all of the delegates to participate in the lobbying efforts that were being held with United States Senators and Representatives on Capitol Hill the following day.