Building Trades Employers' Association

Today, the Building Trades Employers Association honors and remembers the brave men and women who have served our nation with dedication and courage. On this Veterans Day, we express our profound gratitude to those who have sacrificed for our freedom and security. We are especially proud of the veterans within our own industry who bring the same dedication, discipline, and resilience to the construction trade. Thank you for your service, both in uniform and on the job. Together, we continue building a stronger, more resilient New York.

The construction industry is grappling with a mental health crisis, and it’s time for action. As part of our efforts, the BTEA is pushing for new legislation to require mental health wellness training on all job sites, alongside existing safety protocols. With rising anxiety and opioid use in the industry, our goal is to ensure workers have the resources they need to cope. We’re calling on lawmakers to join us in making this a reality. #MentalHealthReform #ConstructionSafety #WorkerWellness https://lnkd.in/ezUU4pBT

We are honored to have our President & CEO, Elizabeth Crowley leading the charge for critical mental health reforms in the construction industry. As she emphasized, it’s time to break the silence and bring mental wellness into every corner of our job sites. With partners like Turner Construction Company and the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, we’re committed to creating a safer, more supportive environment for all workers. #MentalHealthAwareness #ConstructionSafety #BTEA https://lnkd.in/eCxpsa2N

This #SuicidePreventionWeek, the Building Trades Employers Association stood with our industry to raise awareness and provide support for mental health. Construction workers face some of the highest rates of suicide, and it's crucial we break the stigma, offer a helping hand, and prioritize mental well-being. Thank you to the folks at E.E. Cruz & Company, Inc. for having BTEA Exec VP Patrick A. Wehle their great #ToolboxTalk at their RBDH Coastal Defense Project at Union Dry Dock. ?? Let’s watch out for each other—on the job and off. ?? Let’s talk, listen, and reach out. ?? You’re never alone. Help is always available. Need support? Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

The NY Construction Report writes about how the Building Trades Employers' Association (BTEA) is pressing the need for enhanced mental wellness as a means to root out industry suicides. Industry stats underscore the urgency: in 2022, over 6,000 suicides occurred among construction workers in the US, marking the industry with the highest suicide rate: https://lnkd.in/gAiBAKmH #construction #wellness #Constructionworkers #mentalhealth

Putting the spotlight on mental health, BTEA Prez. Elizabeth Crowley speaks with Duncan Freeman at Chief Leader on the state of the crisis, what can be done as an industry and how BTEA is leading the charge. “We want our workers to go home in the healthy condition that they arrived at work in. To go back home to their families safe." Read more online here: https://bit.ly/bteacl71724

Another BTEA #SafeBUILD for the history books! Thank you all so much for attending our conference yesterday, so inspiring to have the industry come together to discuss the critical issues facing us today. A special thanks to our honorees: Brendan Loftus, Eve Biggers and Curtis Partition Corporation, Cauldwell Wingate, The Walsh Group - Walsh Construction & Archer Western and Cement & Concrete Workers own John DelRiccio, Anthony Reale, Sal Bonello and Benny Bonello!

The BTEA urges our legislators in Albany to pass this suite of bills that will expand our capacity to build better -- quickly, efficiently and inclusively. Read BTEA Prez. Elizabeth Crowley's op-ed in Crain's here to learn more: https://bit.ly/btea-crains Alternative Delivery (A10543/S9849) and Public Hearing (A8864A) will be a gamechanger for construction in NYC. Let's make it happen. #BuildBetterNYC

The BTEA sent a delegation to Albany on May 13th in conjunction with New York City Mayor Eric Adams' Capital Reform Task Force to lobby for a suite of bills that would give the city additional tools that it needs to build more efficiently. The BTEA’s delegation met with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, as well as Senate and Assembly Housing Chairs Sen. Brian Kavanagh and Assm. Linda Rosenthal, Senate and Assembly Cities Chair Sen. Luis Sepulveda and Assm. Edward Braunstein, Senate Corporations Chair Senator Leroy Comrie and Senate Energy Chair Sen. Kevin Parker. In addition to discussing important, common-sense items still on the docket in this year’s session of the State Legislature, the delegation engaged with lawmakers on the critical question of how insurance premiums can be lowered for the construction industry, so New York businesses can remain competitive with their competitors in other states. A big thank you to all of our members who made this important trip! Felice Farber, Shari Hyman, Jen (Comerford) Robbins, Michael Capasso, Doron Netanel and Liz Weiss!

We're grateful to have hosted City Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, Chair of Transportation & Infrastructure for a meet & greet with BTEA's membership. A very productive roundtable discussion on progressive design build, procurement, diversity and MWBE participation. We look forward to working together to build NYC's future.