America is in the midst of a terrible economic slump. Every day brings more grim news about tens of thousands of American workers losing their jobs. Indeed, we are facing a crisis of epic proportions.
However, history has shown that through chaos and crisis, forward-looking nations and organizations are often presented with opportunities to shape a new world. That is the test we find ourselves in today.
For America’s Building Trades Unions, we are painstakingly devoting our time, energy and resources towards transforming both our nation and our unions so that each is better positioned to re-create an America in this 21st century that offers the opportunity for sustained economic growth, prosperity and security for all Americans who work hard and play by the rules.
In the first instance, the Building Trades Department and its affiliated unions have been outspoken in our desire to see the American economic model revised. Heretofore over the past decade, our economy has been dramatically tilted in favor of a short-term, consumption-based view that was fueled by tax rebates and tax cuts. What we seek is a longer-term vision that focuses on sustained investments in America and American technological superiority.
The consumption-based model may have been appropriate for previous instances of a standard cyclical downturn, but what our nation is experiencing today is not anything close to a normal business recession. We are in the midst of a de-leveraging of America’s housing and financial sectors. As a result, we can expect that consumers and the housing and credit markets will be struggling for some time. Therefore, in the midst of this crisis, new sources of economic growth, along with a new, long-term vision are required.
The most promising new sources of sustained growth are America’s massive public infrastructure needs, and the increased global demand for American technologies and components associated with renewable energy and commercial and residential energy efficiencies.
It is our contention that such a path will lead to the creation of millions of well-paying, stable careers, as well as the resurrection of the American manufacturing base.
And just as our nation must transform itself and its worldview in order to achieve long-term, sustained growth, America’s Building Trades Unions must do the same.
Perhaps at no other time in the 100 year history of our movement has a confluence of critical events occurred that has resulted in our unions being advantageously positioned to achieve transformative and sustained success.
Our current economic despair is accompanied by an underlying promise of hope and opportunity for America’s Building Trades Unions. We are hopeful for the occasion to put our skills and expertise to work in re-building America’s crumbling infrastructure and, by extension, the American middle class. And we anticipate the opportunity to show America and the world the inherent value of a highly trained, highly skilled and productive unionized workforce…a workforce that has no equal in this great nation of ours.
These objectives are well within our reach. However, they can only be achieved through the immediate and consistent embrace of a new way of doing business, and the acceptance of a new culture for the union construction “brand.”
For far too long, our actions and our deeds have not been fully in tune with our stated purpose. As a result, we have seen far too many instances where construction users and contractors have become so disillusioned with our inconsistent performance that they have simply walked away from us. Over the last few years, however, our affiliated unions have taken great strides in putting in place local accountability, performance and conduct measures that are explicitly designed to foster a new culture among our ranks.
Now, more than ever, America’s Building Trades Unions are providing the necessary solutions to meet the challenge of an ever-changing, energy-conscious world. With pride, performance and professionalism, our highly skilled workforce delivers unmatched value for contractors and owners alike.
Our comprehensive formal craft training programs set the standard for the construction industry. And it will continue to be a major part of our mission to provide lifelong training and career opportunities for ALL Americans – regardless of race, ethnicity or gender – who possess the discipline and determination to become a unionized skilled craft worker who has a driving desire to impact the future of our nation.
And if you are a contractor or a construction user, we intend to demonstrate to you that a partnership with America’s Building Trades Unions is the best investment you will ever make.
Brands are about products and services. Everyone knows that. Successful brands occupy a space in people’s minds that helps them choose where to shop; what to buy; what cola to drink; what shoes to wear; and where to contract for the necessary skilled labor for a multi-million dollar construction project.
A brand – even the union construction industry brand – is not separate from the business. And make no mistake about it, America’s Building Trades Unions are in a business. It’s time we started acting like it.
Because at the end of the day, we must realize that we have a product to sell – and that product just happens to be the safest, most highly trained and productive skilled craft workforce known to man!
And the pride that we exhibit about our brand is based on knowing that we train and provide skilled construction manpower services that meet important national, industry, and community needs.
The mission of America’s Building Trades Unions is to contribute, whether directly or indirectly, to our collective society. Our unions play a vital role in supplying the skilled manpower that will construct a new, 21st century America, and by providing the structures and opportunities for Americans of all races, colors and creeds to once again realize the American Middle Class Dream.
Both our nation and our unions must have bold and optimistic recovery plans that go beyond conventional approaches and harness our resources and energies to achieve sustained and prosperous growth.
In many ways, this economic crisis is like a forest fire. If left unchecked, such a fire can devastate tens of thousands of acres. But if it is controlled and managed with an eye to the future, it can work to clear out old brush and decaying trees and lay the foundation for a new era of robust growth. With luck and gritty determination, that is where both our nation and America’s Building Trades Unions will end up.