NMAPC Labor Chairman Elected President of Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO

September 27 2007

NMAPC News

The Labor Co-Chairman of the National Maintenance Agreements Policy Committee (NMAPC), Mr. Mark Ayers, was recently elected to serve as President of the Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD), AFL-CIO.

Beginning Oct. 1, 2007, Mr. Ayers will take over for Edward C. Sullivan, who has served as president since 2000 and previously served as General President of the International Union of Elevator Constructors.

“I look forward to addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities that present themselves to the union construction industry,” Ayers said. “I will do all that I can to enhance our stature as the world’s No. 1 choice for quality, skilled labor in the construction industry.” Mr. Ayers was confirmed during a September 6 meeting of the BCTD Governing Board of Presidents.

Leaders in the union construction industry from around the country are applauding the selection of Mr. Ayers to the top post.

“He’s given me a great deal of support,” TAUC President and NMAPC Management Co-Chair Robert Hoover said Thursday. “He’s a hard worker and demonstrated great administrative and leadership skills.”

“He’s the right man at the right time,” Hoover added. “I have a great deal of confidence that Mark will lead the BCTD in the right direction. I look forward to working with Mark in his new role.”

Mr. Ayers has enjoyed a long career as a labor leader. He currently serves as the Director of the Construction and Maintenance Division of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). He served as: business manager and financial secretary for IBEW Local 34 in Peoria, Ill.; co-founder and co-chairman of the Central Illinois Chapter of NECA-IBEW Local 34 Quality Connection; and secretary-treasurer of the West Central Illinois Build and Construction Trades Council.

The BCTD, consists of 12 international unions representing 3 million construction craftspeople in the U.S. and Canada. The BCTD represents a multitude of organized labor groups, including ironworkers, electrical workers, roofers, bricklayers, boilermakers, pipe fitters, sheet metal workers, painters, elevator constructors, insulators, teamsters and cement masons. It coordinates and supports the work of organized construction workers in order to achieve a powerful voice in government, bargaining and in their communities.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as president of the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO for the past seven years. I am proud of what has been accomplished,” outgoing President Edward Sullivan said. “The Building Trades have been in the forefront of the long political battle to stop a century of progress from being turned back.”