News

Union Carpenters today threw their support behind the re-election efforts of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu at an endorsement event in Roslindale focused on housing. 

Joe Byrne, executive secretary-treasurer of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (NASRCC) said the union endorsed Wu because she understands the production of housing has to incorporate the interests of city residents, developers, the city and the men and women who do the work. 

“Mayor Wu knows that increasing quality, affordable housing in Boston is a crucial piece of making the City attractive and livable,” Byrne said. “She also knows that building housing with union workers creates additional benefits. 

“Apprenticeship training is a valuable workforce development tool, which provides career pathways for Boston residents and a future workforce for responsible employers. The health care and retirement benefits union workers earn help them support their families while also reducing the burden on public services.” 

NASRCC represents more than 10,000 union carpenters in Massachusetts, many of whom live or work in Boston and the Boston area. Union carpenters in Boston are active and educated voters, bosting a voter registration rate of more than 80%. 

The full transcript of Byrne’s comments are below. 

My name is Joe Byrne with the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters and I’m proud to represent more than 10,000 union carpenters across Massachusetts, many of whom live or work right here in Boston and the Boston area.  

I’m pleased to be here today to announce our union’s strong support and endorsement of my friend, Mayor Michelle Wu, for re-election as the mayor of our great city.   

Throughout her time in office, Mayor Wu has provided steady and visionary leadership, helping guide Boston through the aftermath of COVID-19 and bringing people together to keep our city growing and moving forward.  I have had the privilege of working with Mayor Wu and know first-hand that she is a tireless champion of workers and is deeply committed to helping my members and all the people of this city to prosper.   

Mayor Wu knows that increasing quality affordable housing in Boston is a crucial piece of making the city attractive and livable. She also knows that building housing with union workers creates additional benefits.  

Apprenticeship training is a valuable workforce development tool, which provides career pathways for Boston residents and a future workforce for responsible employers. The health care and retirement benefits union workers earn help them support their families while also reducing the burden on public services.  

Mayor Wu is committed to working with our union and other building trades to support careers in the trades for young people in Boston by investing in the building of a new Madison Park Technical High School. She signed a landmark agreement to create direct pathways for Madison Park graduates to union construction jobs.  

Additionally, we’ve partnered with the Boston Housing Authority and the city administration build or rebuild around 4,500 units for families and seniors. This is creating hundreds of good paying jobs for our members at the Old Colony, Mary Ellen McCormack, Mildred Hailey and Bunker Hill developments.  

Our union has also worked with the city administration and nonprofit partners like the Pine Street Inn in Jamaica Plain and Dorchester, as well as the Planning Office for Urban Affairs at 41 LaGrange Street in Chinatown, to build transitional and affordable housing that supports individuals and families as they transition out of homelessness. More recently, we’re just completing an affordable housing project sponsored by the Madison Park CDC on Whittier Street. These developments have created hundreds of good union jobs while addressing the urgent need for safe, affordable housing across the city.  

Mayor Wu has also helped support one of the most ambitious and transformative developments in our region at the Suffolk Downs project located in Boston and Revere. While it has faced challenges, this project promises to deliver approximately 10,000 new housing units and significant long-term work opportunities for our members.   

Mayor Wu is advancing other creative policy solutions aimed at revitalizing and expanding residential development in the city’s core – using planning and zoning tools to spur development.  If adopted, these policy changes could unlock major development projects that are currently awaiting approval, helping to restart the downtown housing market and create more union jobs.  

We are proud to stand with Mayor Michelle Wu because she shares our values, and her leadership has brought meaningful progress for our members and our city. We look forward to helping her win in November and partnering with her in the next four years.