Overview

On May 17, NABTU made the second stop of its national tour in Boston, Massachusetts at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 17 training center. This event focused on how the Greater Boston Building Trades Unions and Massachusetts State Building Trades Unions are leading the way with their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts – particularly through the Building Pathways Apprenticeship Readiness Program.  Guest speakers included Massachusetts Secretary of Labor Lauren Jones, Building Pathways Deputy Director Nancy Luc, and representatives from Suffolk Downs Encore Boston Harbor. Encore employed more than 450 tradeswomen on their project over the past three years, making it the largest number of women workers on any construction project in U.S. history.

In The News

Boston Real Estate Times – “The Greater Boston building trades are a national leader in offering life-changing union apprenticeship opportunities, particularly for women and people of color. These programs offer students on-the-job training, paid classroom instruction, industry-leading wages, and good benefits — without the burden of student debt many college students incur.”

Dorchester Reporter – “In the history of the U.S., there has only been one other era that presented the opportunities we’re presented with today and that’s at the conclusion of World War II. That’s the opportunity we’re talking about. I can tell you the building trades is going to do its part.”

Bay State Banner – “Having good union jobs and benefits and family-sustaining wages helps not only bridge the racial wealth gap – especially when you’re hiring equitably – but it helps people to be able to contribute to their communities in more ways than just paying taxes.”

Sharable Resources

Check out the video recording from our event, as well as our official highlight video.