Welcome to the Website for the Texas State Building Trades

The leadership and member locals of the Texas State Building and Construction Trades Council would like to welcome you to our professionally designed website by Union Labor Works.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our us through our website. On our site you can learn a great deal about us such as:

• Officers
• Our History
• Training and Information
• Organizing Information including Why You Should Join a Union
• News and Events
• Promotional Information such as Video and Commercials
• Key Government Information for Your Area
• Key Political Information on Upcoming Projects and Politicians
• Helpful Links
• Contractor Information for Your Area And More!!!

We also provide you with the opportunity to call us if you have any questions regarding any information or would you just like to provide us with feedback about the site we welcome all correspondence! Please submit your comments or questions under the contact us link on the top right of the of web page.

Thank you and God Bless America

Top News

USCIS Cap Count for H-2B Visas for 1st and 2nd half of FY10 NEW [7/16/2010] - The current cap count for H-2B visas for FY10 is 71,262  as of 07/16/10. more

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on Employee Misclassification Protection Act [4/28/2010]

DOL Wage & Hour Southwest Press Releases including Texas [4/22/2010] - These press releases includes Wage & Hour violations and archived links back to 2000. link

S.3254 introduced by Democratic U.S. Senators Brown, Durbin, Murray, Casey & Merkley [4/22/2010] - Employee Misclassification Prevention Act (Introduced in Senate) more

HR 5107 introduced by Democratic U.S. Representatives Woolsey, Andrews & Miller [4/22/2010] - Employee Misclassification Prevention Act (Introduced in House) more

Project Labor Agreement with America's Building Trades Unions Announced for South Texas Project Nuclear Power Expansion [4/15/2010] - Press Release more

Latest News Story on Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas [4/7/2010] - 12 out 16 Foreign Welders from Italy & Slovakia were denied re-entry to US with the B-1 Vistors Visas. There are still 4 remaining foreign welders that are still on the site working with the B-1 Visas in violation of Immigration Laws. more

Press Release: DHS Unveils Initiatives to Enhance E-Verify [3/17/2010]

Want to learn more about Community Service Agreements? [2/20/2010] - Check out the new website that really shows the value of Project Labor Agreements. link

A Union Life: The Truth about life in the Building & Construction Trades [2/20/2010] - Want to know what is really like to be a Union Member in the Building & Construction Trades? Check out the videos. link

Alert on the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge Project in Dallas [2/12/2010] - This project should infuriate all workers and taxpayers in Texas and the United States. Unemployed American workers were denied the opportunity to do this work. more

California Lawyer tries to explain that the State Department illegaly revoked 7 out of the 11 Welders that were issued B-1 Visas [2/12/2010] - Please read how they want the State Department to re-issue the revoked B-1 Visas on the Bridge in Dallas, TX. more

Houston Lawyer tries to explain that the use of B-1 Visas are OK on building bridge in Dallas [2/12/2010] - Letter was provided to Texas Department of Transportation to justify the use of Italian Welders who were issued B-1 Visas to work on the new Margaret Hunt Hill bridge in Dallas. more

More on Dallas Bridge Story [2/8/2010] - Link to news story: B-1 Visas revoked for 7 out of the 11 Italian Welders more

Letter to Governor Perry on the use of Foreign Welders on the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas [2/8/2010]

S 2882 introduced by U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) [12/15/2009] - Taxpayer Responsibility, Accountability, and Consistency Act of 2009 (Introduced in Senate) more

Links related to the ARRA Funds [11/13/2009]

Federal Business Opportunities Home Page by Agency & State for Federal Projects [11/13/2009] - Search up to date Federal Projects for bid soilicitation opportunities, including archived projects that were bid and awarded. more

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) Federal Stimulus Funding Accounting Policy for the State of Texas [11/12/2009]

Up to date tracking of (ARRA) Stimulus Funds inTexas [11/12/2009]

DOL ARRA Stimulus Awarded Contracts by State [11/2/2009] - The contracts awarded for Texas include 9 projects  with a total value of $13.6 million. more

DOL OSHA News Release on Emphasis Program on recordkeeping [10/1/2009] - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is initiating a national emphasis program (NEP) on recordkeeping to assess the accuracy of injury and illness data recorded by employers. more

E-Verify Federal Contractor Rule becomes effective September 8, 2009. [9/10/2009] - Press Release from US Customs and Immigration Services on implementation of E-Verify on Federal Contracts. more

E-Verify for Employees [9/10/2009] - Employees - You Should Know Your Rights and Responsibilities Under E-Verify link

HR 3408 introduced by U.S. Representative McDermott [7/30/2009] - Taxpayer Responsibility, Accountability, and Consistency Act of 2009 (Introduced in House) more

National Building Trades Department launches new marketing website [7/1/2009] - New marketing website for Building Trades Unions that shows our "Value on Display. Every Day" link

National Building Trades News [7/1/2009] - View the latest from the Building & Construction Trades Departments redesigned website including updates from President Ayers and Secretary/Treasurer Sean McGarvey plus the latest videos. link

Welcome to The Texas State Council Building & Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO

Thank you for visiting the web page of the Texas State Building & Construction Trades Council. The unionized construction industry is very unique, and we are proud to be the organization that leads the way when it comes to standing up for what is best for our members...and what is best for our communities.

Throughout our extremely large and diverse state, it is the members of the Texas Building Trades that create and maintain the infrastructure in the Commercial and Industrial Industries, which includes office buildings, hospitals, universities, schools, libraries, stadiums, bridges, warehouses, power generation facilities, refineries and chemical plants that make our state such a wonderful place to live and do business. It is these same members of the Building Trades that tirelessly give back to their communities by volunteering their time to organizations that make life better for those less fortunate. We go beyond the call of duty to raise the standard of living for people in our communities.

The work of the unionized construction trades speaks for itself. Our apprenticeship training programs are second to none, and no one can compete with the level of skilled craftsmanship that our journeymen bring to the job site.

Please take the time to browse our web site. Here you will be able to link to our affiliated local unions, contractors and government contacts. You will also be able to get information on Prevailing Wages, Helmets to Hard Hats, Safety and Health training, Legislative, Political Actions, H-2B Visas for Foreign Labor Applications and upcoming events being hosted by the State Council and its affiliates.

Thanks for visiting....and as always.....WE BUILD TEXAS!