‘Pride in Every Project’
Since 1936, Gallup has tracked the ebbs and flows of the American public’s regard for labor unions. Earlier this fall, the latest annual survey released by the analytics and advisory company reported that in 2024, 70% of Americans approve of labor unions—a sentiment that has been on a steadily rising trajectory since its 2009 nadir.
Opinions are, of course, one thing and the story that reality tells is another. \When South Jersey Biz spoke to some local professionals entrenched in the region’s labor organizations and trade associations, feedback was mixed in regard to seeing their numbers similarly ascend, though it wasn’t without optimistic outlooks.And misconceptions about blue-collar work still plague their industries, despite dogged dedication to safety measures and the lifelong training opportunities, family-supporting salaries and rewarding career pathways that they attest to.
Whether they’re professionally supporting the trades sector, representing the interests of non-union shops’ workers or longtime union members, there’s one thing that the experts we chatted with agree on: The trades are a necessary component in the fabric of community, and the workers comprising that sector are ready to meet tomorrow with future-focused training that elevates their skills to the benefit the region they call home.
What are the benefits to a community when well-trained trades workers are hired to build residential, commercial or industrial projects?
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“Our carpenters take pride in every project, because they’re building in their own communities. The wages they earn go right back into local businesses, schools and families. The work our members do stands up over time, saving communities money and problems down the road. When contractors and developers hire union carpenters, they know they are getting people who are trained, professional workers. And through our apprenticeship program, we are opening doors for local workers to learn a trade and start a career without the burden of college debt.”
—William C Sproule, executive secretary-treasurer, Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
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“Our carpenters take pride in every project, because they’re building in their own communities. The wages they earn go right back into local businesses, schools and families. The work our members do stands up over time, saving communities money and problems down the road. When contractors and developers hire union carpenters, they know they are getting people who are trained, professional workers. And through our apprenticeship program, we are opening doors for local workers to learn a trade and start a career without the burden of college debt.”
—William C Sproule, executive secretary-treasurer, Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
“Safety is priceless: If you’re putting people in buildings, those buildings need to be safe. And part of being safe is building with the right materials—which are the masonry materials that I push. It’s also building with people that have been trained properly to all the building codes and safety codes that are needed in the commercial construction industry, and knowing who you’re hiring—and unions do background checks, they train, they mentor. It’s very important, whether you’re constructing hospitals, retirement facilities or student dorms, to make sure that these people doing the construction know what they’re doing and you know who they are. We make sure our people can do the proper calculations, can read safety materials and are following the OSHA laws that regulate unions. … When you hire locally, you’re investing in the community, because those people are able to then spend their living wage at the local deli, at the local restaurant, at the local pharmacy, everything that makes up the community where we live.”
—Amy Hennessey, executive director, Employing Bricklayers Association
—Amy Hennessey, executive director, Employing Bricklayers Association
What are the biggest challenges your industry is facing today? How is your organization addressing it?
“The construction industry in New Jersey is facing an aging workforce: A significant percentage of union craftworkers are aged 55+. Retirements are looming and the trades are in need of young people to fill the impending void. Thankfully, union leaders recognized this early on and ramped up recruitment. Our expectation is that New Jersey’s union construction industry will not see a shortage of skilled tradespeople because we are anticipating the industry’s needs, and matching our hiring and training opportunities to those needs.”
—Shamara Gatling-Davila, education manager, Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey
“The construction industry in New Jersey is facing an aging workforce: A significant percentage of union craftworkers are aged 55+. Retirements are looming and the trades are in need of young people to fill the impending void. Thankfully, union leaders recognized this early on and ramped up recruitment. Our expectation is that New Jersey’s union construction industry will not see a shortage of skilled tradespeople because we are anticipating the industry’s needs, and matching our hiring and training opportunities to those needs.”
—Shamara Gatling-Davila, education manager, Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey
What kind of lingering misconceptions do you find yourself encountering about jobs in the trades?
“A common misconception is that construction work is outdated or unsafe—and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Today’s job sites are highly professional and technology-driven, with safety as the top priority. Merit shop contractors, like those at ABC-NJ, meet or exceed safety standards and invest heavily in training and certification to protect every worker.
Another myth we often hear is that non-union contractors don’t pay fair or prevailing wages. In reality, ABC-NJ members are committed to competitive pay, great benefits, and advancement opportunities based on skill and performance. Our focus is on rewarding hard work, promoting safety, and ensuring everyone in the industry has a fair shot to succeed.”
—Samantha DeAlmeida Roman, President & CEO, Associated Builders and Contractors - New Jersey Chapter
“A common misconception is that construction work is outdated or unsafe—and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Today’s job sites are highly professional and technology-driven, with safety as the top priority. Merit shop contractors, like those at ABC-NJ, meet or exceed safety standards and invest heavily in training and certification to protect every worker.
Another myth we often hear is that non-union contractors don’t pay fair or prevailing wages. In reality, ABC-NJ members are committed to competitive pay, great benefits, and advancement opportunities based on skill and performance. Our focus is on rewarding hard work, promoting safety, and ensuring everyone in the industry has a fair shot to succeed.”
—Samantha DeAlmeida Roman, President & CEO, Associated Builders and Contractors - New Jersey Chapter
“Many New Jersey employers are still having to correct misconceptions around pay transparency, employee classification (i.e.: whether an employee is an independent contractor or appropriately a member of the union) and general union-related rights. Even indirect discouragement of a union workplace can violate labor laws, so all employers need to be careful not to violate the collective bargaining rights of employees in order to avoid legal action by the union.”
—Susan S. Hodges, Shareholder & Co-Chair, Labor and Employment and School Law, Parker McCay
—Susan S. Hodges, Shareholder & Co-Chair, Labor and Employment and School Law, Parker McCay
How does your organization attract and retain the next generation of tradespeople to ensure the talent pool remains robust and ready to meet tomorrow’s needs?
“One great example of how we attract the next generation of tradespeople is Construction Industry Career Day (CICD). ACCNJ collaborates with other industry associations, our labor partners and a planning committee to host our annual Construction Industry Career Day. This is an interactive two-day event to showcase the construction industry’s educational opportunities and occupations. One day is open to the public, and the other is strictly for high school students. This is a great way to show young people the benefits of a career in construction and what everyday life can look like.”
—Shamara Gatling-Davila, education manager, Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey
“One great example of how we attract the next generation of tradespeople is Construction Industry Career Day (CICD). ACCNJ collaborates with other industry associations, our labor partners and a planning committee to host our annual Construction Industry Career Day. This is an interactive two-day event to showcase the construction industry’s educational opportunities and occupations. One day is open to the public, and the other is strictly for high school students. This is a great way to show young people the benefits of a career in construction and what everyday life can look like.”
—Shamara Gatling-Davila, education manager, Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey
“Being in the community is very important when it comes to hiring the community’s future masons and workers. There’s a program at the Eastern State Penitentiary that we work with, and there’s various avenues for connection: There’s a push for that in our industry, so we connect with a lot of not only votech students, but also the various schools and resources in and around the city of Philadelphia.”
—Amy Hennessey
—Amy Hennessey
What can be done to ensure that students and future members of the workforce know there are rewarding, family-supporting careers available to them in the trades?
“We need to show students—especially women and minorities—that the trades are for everyone. At ABC-NJ, we work hard to break down stereotypes and open doors by partnering with schools, community groups, and workforce programs that reach underrepresented populations. When people see others like them thriving in the trades, it changes perceptions. These are good, family-supporting careers where anyone with drive and skill can succeed. The more diverse our workforce, the stronger our industry becomes.”
—Samantha DeAlmeida Roman
“We need to show students—especially women and minorities—that the trades are for everyone. At ABC-NJ, we work hard to break down stereotypes and open doors by partnering with schools, community groups, and workforce programs that reach underrepresented populations. When people see others like them thriving in the trades, it changes perceptions. These are good, family-supporting careers where anyone with drive and skill can succeed. The more diverse our workforce, the stronger our industry becomes.”
—Samantha DeAlmeida Roman
How does bringing expertise in both employment and labor law benefit your union clients?
“Parker McCay represents employers of all sizes, and our knowledge of both employment and labor laws gives our public-sector clients an edge because we assist them with legal compliance, as well as helping them minimize labor disputes and strengthening workplace relationships between the employers and the unions. With effective training for managers and non-unionized staff on how to handle employment issues with union members, we help our client avoid matters that lead to grievances and arbitrations, which limit employer liability and also improves morale in the workplace.”
—Susan Hodges
“Parker McCay represents employers of all sizes, and our knowledge of both employment and labor laws gives our public-sector clients an edge because we assist them with legal compliance, as well as helping them minimize labor disputes and strengthening workplace relationships between the employers and the unions. With effective training for managers and non-unionized staff on how to handle employment issues with union members, we help our client avoid matters that lead to grievances and arbitrations, which limit employer liability and also improves morale in the workplace.”
—Susan Hodges
With national trends increasingly indicating a rise in union support, do you anticipate that pattern’s staying power? What can be done to ensure the trend toward unionizing continues?
“Absolutely. The rise in union support reflects what we’ve always known—and that’s when workers stand together, they have power. But it also speaks to the growing frustration many middle-class families feel about the widening gap between the very wealthy and working people. Even though wages have gone up in many industries, there are still families living paycheck to paycheck. … We are seeing more workers realize that they deserve fair treatment and a voice on the job. Younger generations, in particular, are gravitating toward the trades because they want stability, purpose, and a clear path to success. Many see [us] as that path because it’s a way to earn a good living, learn valuable skills, and be part of a brotherhood and sisterhood.
To keep this momentum going, we have to continue organizing, telling our story, and showing that unions are still the best way for working people to build stability and opportunity. The EAS Carpenters Union is focused on outreach and education, making sure the next generation knows this is a pathway to a real career. We’re also continuing to invest in training, expand access to apprenticeship programs, and ensure every worker understands the value of standing together for fair wages, benefits and respect on the job.”
—William C Sproule
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Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Biz, Volume 15, Issue 11 (November 2025).
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Author: Madeleine Maccar
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