Cleveland Building Trades Featured at NABTU Legislative Conference

Dave Wondolowski, Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary, made his monthly appearance on America’s Workforce Radio and spoke with host Ed “Flash” Ferenc about the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council being featured during the North America’s Building Trades Union Legislative Conference.The Cleveland Building Trades were recognized as one of a handful of building trades councils in North America who have helped union pension funds successfully invest in area projects such as the One University Circle project in Cleveland.Wondolowski, who annually attends the NABTU Legislative Conference, explained his role in bringing the pension funds and developers together. He said roughly 90 percent of potential projects are rejected by the funds. The 10 percent of projects that do get approved for either equity or debt funding will provide a steady source of income for the funds. In return for funding, the project owners agree to use union construction workers on the project. He estimates the One University Circle project, combined with two other potential projects, could have as much as $130 million of building trades pension funds invested in them.They also discussed the need for apprentices, as Wondolowski talked about the CBCTC working with Max Hayes Vocational High School in Cleveland and Cuyahoga Community College to help create a pipeline of young adults into the building trades. Wondolowski stressed the need for young men and women to join the Cleveland Building Trades.Click here to listen to the entire interview, including more talk about the Primary Election.To view the video, click here.