New Year, New Opportunities, Same Fight

Happy New Year, Brothers and Sisters. I hope you had a great holiday season, and to each and every one of our District Council 35 families, I’m wishing you a healthy and prosperous 2026. I want you to know though, that your team here at the District Council is doing more than just wishing for a successful 2026 – we are doing everything we can to make sure that the year ahead is indeed a prosperous one for our members.  

There is no doubt that we have our share of economic headwinds ahead of us. A slowing national economy, persistently high interest rates, and rising costs of goods including construction materials, have resulted in a reduction of work hours across the building trades. But I am confident that with all of our Departments working together, we will capture every hour of work that is within our grasp.  

Before looking towards the year ahead, I want to take this opportunity to take a look back at some of our accomplishments from the past year, which I believe will set us up for success in the months and years to come.  

New Four-Year Contract Ratified in June
First and foremost, I wish to thank the members of District Council 35 for your overwhelming ratification vote in June for a new four-year contract, which is now in effect. I am confident in saying that this contract not only rewards the hard work and skill of our members through significant wage increases, but also makes our union stronger through important new steward language. And by working constructively with our signatory contractors, we were able to craft a contract that not only enhances the quality of life for our members, but will also make our contractors more competitive in key areas that we believe will lead to more work hours.  

Some highlights of the new contract include a wage increase of $11.60 over four years in zones 1 & 2, the recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as an official holiday, apprentice ratios to ensure opportunities for our apprentices to progress through their training, increases to the swing stage and waste water tank rates, and the addition of steward language that gives us the ability to automatically appoint a steward on certain jobs. All told, this agreement sets a strong foundation for the future of our Council, and it couldn’t have happened without your support and solidarity as a collective membership. 

Trustees Secure Significant Increase to Pension Accrual Rate
In September, our Labor and Management Fund Trustees reached an agreement that resulted in a $20 pension accrual rate increase, bringing the rate to $207.50 per credit. The Trustees were also able to secure a $700 13th check for our current retirees. This increase solidifies our pension benefit as far exceeding that of any other non-licensed trade, and that is thanks to the strong fiscal stewardship of our Funds over many years, and the strong support of our membership. 

Securing Work Through Project Labor Agreements
As mentioned above, we are facing external economic pressures that are slowing work across the building trades. However, unlike in previous slow times, there is reason for optimism in the not-too-distant future. And it’s not just blind optimism. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Organizing & Servicing Departments, as well as support from elected officials, we have been able to negotiate Project Labor Agreements, or commitments to 100% union labor, on several upcoming projects.  

While you may read of other projects throughout this newsletter, a few promising examples include the new Madison Park Technical High School in Boston – projected at over $700 million. This massive school construction project falls under a historic Project Labor Agreement signed by Mayor Michelle Wu covering all new construction and major renovation in the Boston Public Schools.  

The Somernova Project in Somerville’s Union Square neighborhood is projected to create 6,000 construction jobs over 1.5 million feet of industrial and commercial space – all covered by a Project Labor Agreement, thanks to the strong advocacy of DC 35 members, our allies in the building trades, and our friends in Somerville city government.  

The Sofia Tower in Everett is a proposed 21-story residential building that will be built with 100% union labor, and would not have been able to move forward without the advocacy of DC 35 members at Everett City Hall. While too many residential projects like the Sofia have gone non-union in the past, we will continue to use our power as a union to capture an increasing share of the residential market. 

The Year Ahead
As a District Council, our goal for the coming year is to continue our progress in securing union commitments on upcoming work. When private sector work slows, it becomes even more important to secure all the public work we can. Thanks to the legislation signed by Governor Maura Healey in March of 2025, once again as a result of your strong advocacy, Project Labor Agreements are now possible on many more state and local projects. The District Council, working with the rest of the unionized Building Trades, is currently working to identify major school construction projects in the planning stages where a Project Labor Agreement is possible, including in Brockton and Peabody. As always, our team is working to identify any and all work possible, but the difference-maker is YOU. Our membership, standing together in solidarity, is what delivers results.  

It is my honor and privilege to serve as your Business Manager / Secretary-Treasurer, and I could not be more excited for the coming year. 2026 is poised to be a great one for District Council 35.