Category Archives: News

September 12, 2018 – Richard Tolson Testifies at Hudson County Freeholder Committee Hearing

By | News, Uncategorized, Underground Construction Economy | No Comments

Richard Tolson, Director of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Administrative District Council of New Jersey, testified at the Freeholder Public Resources Committee Hearing on July 25, 2018, alleging that some of Hudson County’s most prominent developers are engaging in illegal hiring practices.   It was reported that many contractors and subcontractors around the county have routinely violated labor laws.   “These practices have become the model for how to develop here,” said Richard Tolson.

As a result of the hearing on July 25th, the Board adopted a Resolution.  The Resolution and transcript of the meeting were sent to nine separate government entities …

August 8, 2018 – On the Job Grout Training

By | News, Uncategorized | No Comments

On Wednesday, August 8th, Dan Siteman, IMI, together with NJ BAC Training Coordinator, Bob Alesandro and NJ BAC Local 5 Instructor Ren Engelhardt, mobilized and delivered jobsite grout training.

As reported by Dan Siteman:  “The next innovation of the built environment is not a new material or application, but the implementation of more stringent quality assurance.  More often, designers and specifiers are requiring a basic level of competence, even specialized training for project applications.  The International Masonry Institute (IMI), partnered with the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC), develops unequaled training programs at our National Training Center in …

September 7, 2018 – “CountMeInNYC” Rallies Continue!

By | News, Uncategorized, Underground Construction Economy | No Comments

The CountMeInNYC Rally continues! CountMeInNYC is a movement of Rank and File New York City union construction workers banding together to fix broken shop and fight back against greedy developers.

The Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, a construction union umbrella organization representing more than 100,000 workers, has been organizing for close to a year against Related Cos., the largest developer in New York City. Its goal is for Related to exclusively use union labor at its Hudson Yards project, the city’s largest private real estate development since Rockefeller Center.

The Building and Construction Trades Council’s rallies …

August 1, 2018 – MULE Demonstration

By | News, Uncategorized | No Comments

On Wednesday, August 1st, Masonry Contractors of New Jersey sponsored a demonstration of the MULE (Material Unit Enhancer) at the IMI/BAC training center in Bordentown, NJ.  The demonstration was given by Sean Fitch, Construction-Robotics.

The MULE grips block units and reduces the stress of repetitive movements.  Each project is different, but there is always some increase in production.  The manufacturer claims increases in production from 75% to over 200% are possible.

The MULE can either be purchased or rented; takes only minutes to set up; is free standing with pre-built wheels; and, runs by compressor and regular 110v electricity.

Visit …

October 3-5, 2018 – International Council of Employers 2018 Annual Meeting

By | News, Uncategorized | No Comments

Join your colleagues for the 4th Annual ICE Meeting to be held at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C., Wednesday through Friday, October 3-5, 2018, as we continue to build upon the important, innovative and engaging conversations had in the past, as well as our traditional first-night social outing!   This year’s Eugene George Award will be presented on Thursday evening, October 4th, and will honor Benjamin Capp, Jr., Wolverine Stone Company, with the Dedication Award and Edward Navarro, IUBAC, with the Industry Person of the Year Award.

See the link below for registration information and further details:

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1102010861000&ca=9136406e-185e-4eba-90e1-1c733e7cae72

 …

April 2018 – Architecture Students Design and Build Their Vision of a “Temple of Freedom” at the Masonry Design/Build Competition at NJIT CoAD

By | News | No Comments

The annual Masonry Design/Build Competition, sponsored by Masonry Contractors of New Jersey, has played an important role in the students’ academic pursuits as part of the NJIT CoAD curriculum since 2003.   This year more than seventy students on five teams had the unique opportunity of linking their design ideas with hands-on experience while collaborating with masonry professionals and craftworkers.

On April 7th and 8th, students were mentored by masonry professionals as they spread mortar, laid brick, and built a “Folly” using the theme “Temple of Freedom”.  The students investigated the use of masonry through the history of architecture from ancient …

Annual Masonry Design/Build Competition at NJIT’s College of Architecture & Design

By | News, Uncategorized | No Comments

On April 7th & 8th, the Association will once again sponsor the Masonry Design/Build Competition at NJIT’s College of Architecture & Design.  This year the theme is “Temples of Freedom”.  The main goal of the project is speculation on the future of masonry.

The Kick-Off Event was held on February 28th at NJIT and hosted by Michael Schmerbeck, President of the Association and Back Brook Masonry, a major sponsor of the competition.

Dan Siteman, Director of Industry Development and Technical Services with IMI, presented “Revealing Masonry’s Aesthetics: Creating Patterns, Bond, and 3D Masonry” to the students.  This presentation was designed …