This is the next post in our series that will take a deeper look at each of our affiliates. The series will run weekly until we've covered all 63 of our affiliates. Next up are the Bricklayers (BAC).

Name of Union: International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers

Mission: To actively fight to improve the quality of life for all trowel trade workers—on and off the job—through access to fair wages, good benefits, safe working conditions and solidarity among members.

Current Leadership of Union: Timothy J. Driscoll has served as president of BAC since 2020. Prior to that he served as secretary-treasurer from 2017 to 2020, and as executive vice president from 2010 to 2017. A second-generation bricklayer, Driscoll joined BAC Local 3 in Massachusetts as an apprentice in 1985, where he worked on numerous commercial and institutional projects throughout the Boston area, earning his journeyman card in 1988. Traveling for work in the early 1990s, he eventually settled in the Washington, D.C., metro area and joined Local 1 in 1992. 

His service with the international union began in 1995 when he joined BAC’s Government Relations Department, later becoming assistant to the president. In 1999, he was called upon to lead BAC’s Department of Trade Jurisdiction. In addition, he has been a leader directing the international union’s efforts to address emerging new products and building systems, seeking to enhance work opportunities for signatory contractors and BAC members alike.

Jeremiah Sullivan Jr. serves as secretary-treasurer and Keith Hocevar serves as executive vice president. The executive council consists of the executive board, regional directors, regional vice presidents, the Canadian Congress co-chair, craft vice presidents and at-large members.

Members Work As: Bricklayers, stone and marble masons, cement masons, plasterers, tilesetters and finishers, terrazzo and mosaic workers, pointers, cleaners and caulkers, refractory construction and masonry restoration workers—in short, the trowel trades.

Industries Represented: The trowel construction trades. 

History: Watch this video about the history of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers.

Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: The BAC Craft Awards recognize distinguished service that BAC members provide to our unions and communities. BAC runs an International Pension Fund, a Member Assistance Program, IMI/IMTEF Maternity Benefit and Childcare Discount and an International Health Fund to improve the quality of life for members and their families. The BAC Disaster Relief Fund helps members who are survivors of natural or other disasters. Through its online tool sales store, BAC sells tools and branded clothing and other merchandise. BAC has several training and education resources. The BAC Journal provides information for working people in the masonry industry. The International Masonry Institute develops and conducts apprenticeship and training programs for BAC trowel trades craftworkers, as well as safety training. BAC also offers the Bates Scholarship for members’ children and stepchildren in the United States and Canada.

Learn More: Website, Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, BlueSky

Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Members of AFGE and the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council gave away 100 children’s Halloween costumes on Tuesday at an event hosted by the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 479 in Atlanta.

The Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council has been holding food drives, supporting striking workers and distributing Kroger gift cards.

“So those who can’t make it here, we’ll be headed to day care after that,” said Program Coordinator Marie Thompson. “We’ll meet them where they are. Even if that means going to their jobs. You know the others who are still working or maybe not getting paid, and things like that, we’ll still pull up and drop a costume.”

“I mean, costumes can be anywhere from $20 to $30,” said Aaron Barker, president of AFGE Local 554. “So if they’re able to save that money and maybe buy food or pay rent or whatever the case may be—whatever their necessities are, they don’t have to spend that and they can get these costumes.”