Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus-Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, appeared on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about the push to change the percentage of votes required to pass a constitutional amendment in Ohio. He also gave an update on area projects, recruitment efforts, and the need for sustainable housing.
Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the push by the Federation to get Julie Su confirmed as the U.S. Department of Labor Secretary. He also addressed an organizing campaign at Blue Bird in Georgia.
Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus-Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the threat posed by changing the percentage of votes needed to pass constitutional amendments in Ohio from 50 percent to 60 percent. He also gave updates on area projects, including Intel, and spoke about recruitment and the need for sustainable housing.
Hager is concerned that changing the threshold to pass constitutional amendments in Ohio could lead to future attacks on organized labor. He also questioned this change and is concerned that it could derail the state’s construction momentum.
He then gave an update on the progress of constructing Phase I of the $20 billion Intel project in New Albany, Ohio. Ironworkers, cement masons, laborers and operating engineers are among the trades working onsite to bring the structure out of the ground. He did note that members of the United Association and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers are still working on underground utilities. At this point, tradesmen and tradeswomen are also busy building two onsite cement batch plants. The goal is to pour 460,000 square yards of concrete and cement.
With all the work in Central Ohio, his affiliated building trades are doing a lot of outreach, recruitment, and organizing. They are talking to a wide range of people - from 7th graders to those in their early 40s - to bring them into the trades. There is a need for both apprentices and non-union construction workers to join area building trades unions.
Hager also explained that he participated in a roundtable discussion about sustainable housing. The group looked at the region’s housing crisis and the lack of affordable homes in Central Ohio. Hager believes two solutions to the problem are to build more homes and speed up the permitting process.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.