Networking events cap off busy year in Ohio
With the year coming to an end, multiple regional building trades councils in Ohio held December networking events to cap off what has been a busy year.
Among those in attendance at the events were building trades council leaders, including affiliated business managers and agents, area politicians, contractors and vendors, who gathered to discuss a variety of topics like the results of the November election, the busy 2024 construction season, how interest rates will affect the industry and what is expected to be another busy year in 2025.
For many, it was also a chance to catch up on personal relationships and further educate supporters about upcoming projects or where the trades stand on issues important to the union construction industry.
The three largest events were held in Columbus and Cleveland.
On Dec. 4, the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council hosted its annual event at the Athletic Club of Columbus.
With state-level politicians in attendance, there was some political discussion, especially as a new term will begin in the State House that will have new leaders in both the House and Senate.
With building trades supermajorities in both legislative bodies, plus support from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, the OSBCTC, plus Affiliated Construction Trades (ACT) Ohio, are working to ensure the state’s political climate stays favorable to the union construction industry.
In Northeastern Ohio, the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council hosted a networking event at the A Loft Hotel in Cleveland on Dec. 12.
For Dave Wondolowski, Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary/Business Manager, this networking event helps strengthen relationships between industry leaders, politicians and supporters of organized labor.
With weeks left in the year, it has been a good year in terms of work hours for affiliated members. Wondolowski expects another busy year in 2025.
The hotbed of the Ohio construction boom is Central Ohio, and the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council held its Friends of Labor Christmas Luncheon on Dec. 11 at the Hollywood Casino in Columbus.
The casino was built under a Project Labor Agreement, and affiliated C/COBCTC members are back onsite, adding a hotel to the structure under a Community Benefits Agreement.
Conversations included updates on the status of major projects, including Intel and numerous datacenters being constructed in the area, and the ability to staff those projects. Besides the megaprojects, there are many large- and medium-sized projects in the region, with new projects expected to be announced in 2025.
As the region continues to grow, the need for construction workers also increases. Building trades leaders discussed the ongoing need to organize the non-union sector and the push to increase the number of apprentices in most trades.