From Philadelphia to Every Jobsite Nationwide, the Building Trades Are Ready for the Fights — and the Victories — That Lie Ahead
Labor leaders from the California building trades stand for a photo during this month’s annual NABTU convention in Philadelphia.
As I write this, we are wrapping up the 71st annual North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) convention in historic Philadelphia. This year’s event was a powerful convening of delegates from across the United States and Canada, all united in one common purpose: to build a better North America with the skilled hands of our affiliated union members — and the future members who will follow in our footsteps.
This year’s convention was much more than ceremony. It was democracy in action, solidarity in practice, and a reminder of why our movement exists. Delegates came together to elect our leaders, debate resolutions, and chart the course ahead for working people in the trades.
I’m proud to report that our NABTU president, Sean McGarvey, was re-elected without contest — an affirmation of his steady, effective leadership. Brother Brandon Bishop was officially installed as NABTU secretary–treasurer, a role he has been carrying since brother Brent Booker left to serve as general president of the Laborers International Union.
Together, McGarvey and Bishop form a team that’s ready to carry our movement into the future, united and determined.
The breadth of representation at this convention was inspiring. Every international union had its leaders in the room, and our California building trades councils, from the North Bay to San Diego, showed up strong. I was humbled to serve on the resolutions committee, chaired with skill and integrity by brother James A. Hadel, international president of the Roofers, Waterproofers, and Allied Workers Union and staffed by Tom Kriger and Esmeralda Aguilar of NABTU. We reviewed and discussed a slate of resolutions covering everything from support for apprenticeship readiness programs and strengthening equity in our trades to defending Davis–Bacon to expanding project labor agreements.
One debate, in particular, tested me. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters submitted a resolution that, while well-intentioned, raised serious concerns. Its spirit was embraced by all: We should protect workers’ rights and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other unions. But the resolution crossed a line in its wording, essentially attempting to dictate what other unions must include in their contracts.
“Our coalition works because it respects the autonomy and sovereignty of each union.”
That kind of overreach is not appropriate for NABTU. Our coalition works because it respects the autonomy and sovereignty of each union.
The proposed language also risked undermining the stability and certainty of our PLAs and the general presidents’ project maintenance agreement. These agreements are not abstract pieces of paper — they are the reason projects get built with union labor. The predictability they provide often makes or breaks whether an agency or developer will sign on. And, once signed, we honor those agreements.
That’s why the building trades have historically had fewer all-out strikes than many other unions. Pre-hire agreements and PLAs promote labor peace and keep our members working.
Now, let me be clear: I believe in honoring picket lines. I believe every union member should be educated and empowered to stand in solidarity when the call comes. We saw this play out in the glaziers strike of 2024. Strikers held the line at shops, not on PLA-covered construction sites. Work continued where PLAs were in place. And, in the end, not only was the strike successful, but two new agreements were secured that put even more trades to work.
That’s what it means to balance solidarity with strategy.
So, yes, the teamsters are right to push us to do more. We must redouble our efforts to educate members about their rights, to fight back when it’s called for, and to honor picket lines whenever possible. But we must do so in a way that keeps our coalition united, respects each union’s independence, and protects the stability that PLAs bring to our members’ livelihoods.
Brother Gary LaBarbera of the New York State Building Trades Council, himself a teamster, handled this debate with tremendous leadership and respect while serving as our resolution committee secretary. His example is one we should all follow.
In addition to these debates, the convention body approved a per-capita increase to ensure our team at NABTU has access to the resources needed to fight for work opportunities at the federal level.
This is not the time to fight with an empty toolbox. We require every resource available to defend workers’ rights and secure more work for our members.
Finally, I was deeply proud to see the entire convention rally around two priorities that I hold close to heart: recruiting more women into our trades and doubling down on our defense and expansion of PLAs. These commitments will strengthen our movement for generations to come.
I’ll be sharing the full text of the conference resolutions with delegates at our upcoming meeting so we can align ourselves and organize around the issues that matter most.
Brothers, sisters, and siblings: The work ahead is serious, but so are we. Onward, together.