INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT HELPING WORKPLACE RECOVERY 
An interview with IMPACT’s New England Regional Advisory Board Co-Chair
 
On Shawn Nehiley’s first day as an iron worker apprentice for Local 7 in 1988 he “fell in love with the trade” and nothing has changed thirty-four years later. 
 
Shawn brings his focus and passion for helping iron workers recover from substance use disorder (SUD) to these positions. 
BTEA NORTHEAST SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATIONS
The Thomas S. Gunning Foundation has established a scholarship program to assist employees, immediate family members of employees and immediate family of BTEA Northeast members who plan to pursue post-secondary education through college or vocational programs.
 
Scholarships are offered each year for full-time study at the accredited post-secondary undergraduate institution of the student’s choice.
Interested students can access the application form here.
IN MEMORIAM

The union construction industry lost a solid advocate this year in Don McKinnon, past Vice President of Component Assembly Systems, Inc. Don sat on the Carpenters Apprentice Program for many years as a trustee, where he held a reputation as a fair trustee with a stern commitment to studying hard, following the rules and providing a full day’s work. Don also served on the BTEA Board of Directors. His commitment to compassion, helping others, living a good life and being a loving and generous man shined in everything he ever did. May Don rest in peace! 
 
The industry recently lost the Queen of Banking in Donna Finnerty, former Vice President of Mt Washington Bank/East Boston Savings Bank. Donna was the go-to woman at Mt Washington Bank for over 40 years, where she worked with the BTEA and multiple building trade unions. She was a legend in the industry and a pioneer in developing the concept of a financial institution providing banking services for unions. Donna was a good soul and her commitment to helping others will surely be missed but not forgotten!

Boston Red Sox pledge to make Fenway Park carbon neutral

The Boston Red Sox on Wednesday are expected to announce that games at Fenway Park will be carbon neutral, a first for Major League Baseball.
 
The credits not only would cover the direct and indirect impacts of operating Fenway, such as its electricity and water usage, but also the so-called Scope 3 emissions attributed to attendees.
Baker-Polito Administration Files $9.7 Billion Infrastructure Bond Bill
Governor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides and MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak recently joined municipal leaders in Worcester at an event to announce the Baker-Polito Administration’s filing of “An Act Relative to Massachusetts’s Transportation Resources and Climate,” (MassTRAC) a $9.7 billion infrastructure bond bill.

Biden Administration Pushes for Higher Construction-Worker Pay

The Biden administration is proposing changes designed to push up wages for workers at federally-funded construction projects such as interstates.
Boston Tops Bay Area to Lead U.S. Life-Sciences Lab Construction

Boston, with more lab space under construction than anywhere else in the U.S., is poised to surpass the San Francisco Bay Area as the country’s biggest hub for life sciences.
Jobless rate drops as Mass. adds jobs
 
The unemployment rate in Massachusetts dropped to 4.7% in February from 4.8% the month earlier as the economy added 14,600 jobs last month, new state data showed.
The biggest towers under construction

In a national look at large office projects expected to be complete this year, Boston came in at No. 2, with about 12 million square feet under construction — headlined by the 42-story One Post Office Square project in the Financial District that's getting a wholesale reimagining.
Wu's plan to boost downtown

The city of Boston is streamlining the steps to convert older, vacant office space into residential units and is planning a downtown block party — all to help bring people back downtown. She's also considering hardship waivers and payment plans for North End restaurants.

ABOUT BTEA NORTHEAST
The Building Trades Employers’ Association Northeast is the leading voice for the union building trades contractor throughout the New England region. The BTEA encompasses seven different area trade associations that employ tradespeople from several different local building trades unions. 
WWW.BTEA.COM Building Trades Employers’ Association - BTEA