Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1 President and Secretary-Treasurer Doug Schroeder joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed two pieces of legislation in Minnesota that could lower construction standards, if passed.
Local 1 represents 3,300 members in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.
One proposed bill would reduce the standards of construction on residential dwellings, while another would limit the amount of masonry used on city storefronts.
If enacted, both bills will lower the cost of construction, but will also lead to lower quality and would severely impact the work of bricklayers, Schroeder said.
He also talked about the challenges of organizing in the So-Called “Right to Work” states of North Dakota and South Dakota, and how his Local managed to protect its pension during the 2008 downturn.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.