With the 2017 construction season winding down, the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council held a successful December networking event on Dec. 12 at the Hollywood Casino.
Building Trades Council Executive Board members, affiliated Local Business Managers and District Council leaders, along with other building trades representatives, vendors, elected officials and other union representatives gathered to discuss the outgoing year’s busy construction season and what they expected to occur in 2018.
Most in attendance agreed 2017 was a good year for the region’s building trades and discussed what actions can make 2018 even more successful, such as attracting more apprentices and organizing non-union construction workers and contractors.
Dorsey Hager, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer, said his members should be prepared for a busy 2018, as the manpower hours worked by most trades are expected to exceed 2017 totals. One of the biggest proposed projects for the upcoming year is a $2 billion medical tower at the Wexner Medical Center.
Other conversation between attendees involved legislative issues such as House Bill 382, which is aimed at fixing Ohio’s broken Unemployment Compensation Fund and House Bill 98, which should help trade unions potentially recruit apprentices.
Two Ohio gubernatorial candidates were also in attendance. Former Ohio Attorney General and former Director of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Richard Cordray, stopped by, as did former Congresswoman Betty Sutton, who has received the endorsement of multiple Local Unions, one District Council and several Building Trade Councils.
The C/COBCTC has not endorsed any candidate for governor at this time.
Leave a Comment