The next Legislative session for the state will be held in 2027. The following are issues that are important to the Texas Building Trades Council, our local unions, and members.
- Fair wages and Strong Standards
- Texas workers deserve pay that matches their skill and the value they deliver. Prevailing wage laws keep out-of-state contractors from undercutting local labor, protect training standards, and make sure public money supports good Texas jobs.
- Workforce Training and Apprenticeships
- State investment in registered apprenticeship ensures Texas has a homegrown, highly skilled workforce ready for energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing projects. That’s economic development that actually benefits Texans.
- Worker and Jobsite Safety
- Texas leads the nation in workplace fatalities and is the only state that doesn’t require workers’ compensation. We push for better enforcement of safety standards, proper licensing, and training requirements. Responsible contractors shouldn’t lose bids to those cutting corners on safety. Construction workers face long hours, job insecurity, physical pain, and the pressure to stay "tough." All of this takes a major toll our mental health and the result is an industry with one of the highest suicide rates in America.
- We support policies and programs that help workers get help without fear or stigma, including confidential counseling options, peer support networks, and jobsite training that teaches foremen and apprentices how to spot warning signs early. Texas should invest in mental health resources designed for working people, because no one should lose their life trying to make a living.
- Public Investment in Infrastructure
- Smart investment in roads, schools, water systems, power grids, and public buildings means steady jobs, stronger communities, and better infrastructure for decades to come. Public works should be built by skilled, licensed professionals under fair contracts.
- Energy Jobs
- Whether it’s traditional energy, renewables, or grid modernization, working people must be at the center. We back policies that tie public incentives to job quality, training, and local hiring so the energy transition builds, not replaces, our middle class. The union apprenticeship and journeyman training programs ensure that Texas will have the necessary workforce to build a safe and reliable energy grid as well as meet construction schedules and budgets to ensure the continued economic prosperity of Texas.
- Licensing and Quality Standards
- We fight to protect and strengthen skilled-trade licensing so Texans can trust that public buildings are built safely and professionally. Deregulation, for the sake of deregulation, leads to lower standards and unsafe shortcuts. This also promotes corporate greed, lower wages and benefits that destroy the working class.
- Retirement Security and Healthcare
- We support protecting multi-employer pension plans, expanding access to affordable healthcare, and ensuring responsible contractors uphold benefit contributions. Our great state will be strongest when working families are secure.
- Right to Organize & Collectively Bargain
- No one should lose their job for standing up for fairness at work.
- Every Texan should have the freedom to join together for better wages and working conditions. We support laws that protect workers from retaliation and ensure fair bargaining rights for public and private sector employees.
- Accountability for Public Dollars
- Taxpayer money should go to responsible contractors who play by the rules.
- We support “responsible bidder” policies that screen out law-breaking, low-road contractors who cheat workers, underpay taxes, or skirt safety laws. Public money should awarded on performance and integrity, not exploitation. When a community makes a large infrastructure investment, they should get the full return on that investment.
- Veteran's and Second Chance Hiring
- Hard work should offer a second chance.
- Many veterans and returning citizens find purpose and stability through the skilled trades. We advocate for funding and incentives that expand apprenticeship opportunities for these Texans — strengthening communities and reducing recidivism.
- Childcare for Working Families
- You can’t build Texas if you can’t afford to go to work. Too many skilled workers, especially apprentices and young parents, are forced to choose between earning a living and caring for their kids. The high cost and shortage of childcare keep Texans out of the workforce and hold back our state’s economic growth. Women especially, are statistically the primary caregiver and need the childcare support. Without it, they have a barrier keeping them from a construction career and a middle-class income. We support practical solutions that make childcare accessible and reliable for working families, including partnerships between contractors, unions, and the state to expand affordable options tied to workforce development and apprenticeship programs.
