Many of you have asked the important question: WHY DO WE GET INVOLVED IN POLITICS? The simple answer is this: We must protect our industry as we move forward, and for better or for worse, one way we can do this is by electing people who understand our issues.

The construction industry has been devastated by the recession and without the support we received from the current Governor and certain members of the Legislature it would have been significantly worse in our region. As Governor, David Paterson insisted that GlobalFoundries negotiate with us on the Chip Fab plant in Malta, NY, resulting in safe, family-sustaining jobs for more than 1,000 construction workers in the capital district over the course of several years.

The Executive Board would like to thank the membership for your overwhelming support at this Saturday's election. The results show clearly that you trust the direction that we are headed in, and we thank you for the opportunity to serve another three years as your elected leadership.

We would also like to thank the many volunteers who helped on Saturday as clerks and registrars and the various polling places. Your involvement makes our Union stronger.

The results are below reflect the percentage of the vote that was cast for each candidate. The names in bold are the winners of the election, and will be your representatives for the coming years.

Representative Mike Suprenant and Political Director/Organizer Prairie Wells attended Friday's groundbreaking ceremony in Crown Point. We are still hopeful that we will be able to successfully negotiate a PLA for this porject, ensuring many thousands of work hours for our members in the North Country. Click here to watch an interview we did with WCAX.

On April 28 each year and around the country, we honor those workers who have died or been injured on the job. This year President Mantello was asked to speak on behalf of the Building Trades Council.

We thank the Capital District Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO for organizing the event, and Brother Jon Flanders for his photography.

The IUBAC has taken a strong position in favor of legislation that would require employers to correctly classify their workers. Click here to read more on this important issue.

Click here for the newly negotiated rates for the following areas:

Local #2 NY/VT has taken a strong position on the proposed Project Labor Agreement for the Champlain Bridge reconstruction. The State of New York commissioned a cost savings analysis through an independent consultant which shows a potential cost savings of close to two million dollars, and the NY DOL estimates an additional $1 million if the states enter into the PLA.

President Bob Mantello & Secretary-Treasurer Pat Tirino testified today before the NYS Senate Standing Committee on Labor. They gave testimony on the worker misclassification crisis here in NY. President Mantello's testimony begins at 2 hours, 18 minutes, Brother Tirino's follows shortly after that. Interestingly, the president of the Empire State Chapter of the ABC was there to listen, but not to testify...

Governor Paterson is scheduled to hold his first State of the State address as Governor this afternoon at 1 PM. Here is an excerpt of his speech:

"My fellow New Yorkers: Let me come straight to the point – the state of our state is perilous. 

New York faces an historic economic challenge, the gravest in nearly a century.  For several months, events have shaken us to the core.  Bank closures, job losses and stock market meltdowns have destabilized the foundations of our economy..."

President Mantello will be in attendance at the State of the State. We will be reporting live from the event.

Think everyone needs to pay their fair share of healthcare costs (including employers who have an unfair advantage over our contractors because they pay substandard wages and often offer NO health insurance)?

Worried that Congress is looking to tax your health benefits?

Want to make sure that if you or your spouse loses your coverage, there are healthcare options other than bankruptcy?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, click here!!!