About Massachusetts Building Trades Unions
Massachusetts Building Trades Unions (MBTU) is a 100-year-old organization dedicated to helping working people improve their quality of life. We are comprised of 62 member locals representing over 75,000 working men and women across the state.
Through the efforts of MBTU member unions, our members receive the best training available, vital healthcare coverage, and the security of pension and annuity benefits.
Employers benefit through joint investments between labor and management in training current and future employees. This joint effort between contractors and our member unions benefits customers because, with trained workers, the job is done right the first time.
For the unions represented by MBTU, our goal has always been, and continues to be, improving the standard of living for construction workers and their families throughout the state. By achieving this goal, everyone benefits including our members, employers, customers, and most importantly, the communities where we live and work.
1. To coordinate the activities, functions and interests of the state and local affiliates in the building and construction trade industry.
2. To promote the growth and development of all building and construction trades unions, and to foster and develop the organization of men and women in the construction industry.
3. To foster, develop and advance apprenticeship training and to cooperate with the Federal and State agencies promoting the interest of apprenticeship training.
4. To promote the development of health and safety of tradesmen in the building and construction industry.
For the unions represented by the MBTU our goal has always been, and continues to be, improving the standard of living for construction workers and their families throughout the state. By achieving this goal, everyone benefits including our members, employers, customers and most importantly, the communities where we live and work.
Through the efforts of MBTU member unions, our members receive the best training available, vital healthcare coverage, and the security of pension and annuity benefits. Employers benefit through joint investments between labor and management in training current and future employees. This joint effort between contractors and our member unions benefits customers because with trained workers, the job is done right the first time. Communities in the Commonwealth are benefiting through union outreach activities, which means that more women and minorities are getting the training they need to earn high wages with good benefits and working conditions in the construction industry.
But most importantly, we all benefit because building trade members are active in their communities. Our members take pride in their work and in helping their neighbors. Whether it is assisting in the rehabilitation of a community center, raising funds for diabetes research or simply sponsoring a little league team, local union members are there to help. Last year alone, member locals of the MBTU donated to over 700 local charities and charitable events. In addition, our members have donated millions of dollars in volunteer labor to other charitable organizations such as Rosie’s Place and the Cam Neeley House and countless other endeavors.
Francis X. Callahan, Jr. President
Frank Callahan began his career in the labor movement with the Pioneer Valley Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO in 1990. After holding a variety of offices with the Pioneer Valley Building Trades, including Research Coordinator, Executive Director, and President of the Pioneer Valley Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, he was appointed Legislative Director for the Massachusetts Building Trades Unions, AFL-CIO in 1996. Frank was elected President of the Massachusetts Building Trades Unions in 2007. He is a member of the International Union of Painters & Allied Trades Local 939. He is Executive Vice-President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, Delegate to the Greater Boston Central Labor Council, President of the Construction Institute, a faculty and board member of the Boston Labor Guild School of Labor Management Relations, a member of the School Building Advisory Board of the Massachusetts School Building Authority, a member of the Board of Directors of the Friends For Children and serves on the Board of Directors of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. He received a B.A. in Economics/Political Science from Providence College, and a M.S. in Labor Studies from the Labor Relations Research Center at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Frank and his wife Mara live in Arlington and are the proud parents of three beautiful daughters.
Louis A. Mandarini, Jr.
Secretary-Treasurer
Jeff Sullivan, Vice President
Jeff Sullivan has been a leader in the labor movement for nearly thirty years. Now in his third term as Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer of District Council No. 35 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Jeff has always worked for an improved quality of life for all union members.
He began his career as an apprenticeship drywall finisher in 1980 with Local 1280 in Revere, Massachusetts. After completing his apprenticeship, he worked as a journeyman drywall finisher on most of the area’s major construction projects for over ten years.
In 1990 he began his leadership with his election as trustee, treasurer and delegate for Local 1280. His outstanding leadership to the membership resulted in him being elected from Local 1280 as Business Representative, the first drywall finisher so elected in the history of District Council No. 35. He served in this capacity for an additional 8 terms until his election as Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer of District Council No. 35 in 2009. Again, he was the first drywall finisher to be elected to this position in the history of the District Council. Re-elected to a second term in the Summer of 2012, with over 94% of the vote, and in 2016 was sworn in for a third term without opposition; another first in the long history of the District Council. Jeff rolls up his sleeves every day, continuing his work in support of working men and women.
The first contract negotiation headed by Jeff Sullivan in 2009 resulted in the most successful wage and benefit package ever secured in the history of the IUPAT. Fulfilling another promise made to the membership, Jeff implemented improvements in the training program, resulting in more skilled workers ready for cutting edge jobs in today’s construction industry. He also restructured the stewardship program bringing about real, positive change for all union members. He has accomplished all of this while increasing the efficiency of the administrative operation of District Council No. 35 resulting in a strengthened financial position for all members.
Jeff Sullivan is a well-respected leader and he has assumed various roles throughout the region. He is past president of both the North Shore Building Trades Council and the Merrimack Valley Building Council. He is vice-president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and the Massachusetts Building Trades Unions where he employs his expertise and drive in support of state-wide initiatives in support of increased unionism and improved lives for all working people. Jeff is highly regarded by legislative leaders throughout the region and his advice has been sought by local, state and federal officials. He has also been recognized for his tireless work in the area’s working-class communities and has received awards for his work in lifting working men and women; most recently being awarded the 2017 recipient of the Leadership Award from the Greater Boston Labor Council.
He and his wife Diane have been married for over thirty years and they have three daughters. The Sullivans live on the North Shore.
Building Trades Councils
Berkshire Building Trades Council
Contact Name: Tim Craw, President
Contact Address:
150 North Street, Suite 27
Pittsfield, MA 02101
Phone Number: 413-246-4848
Email: tcraw@nasrcc.org
Boston Metro District Building Trades Council
Contact Name: Brian Doherty, General Agent/Secretary-Treasurer
Contact Address:
12A Everdean Street, 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02122
Phone Number: 617-282-0080
Email: briandoherty@metrobtc.org
Brockton Area Building Trades Council
Contact Name: David Fantini, President
Contact Address:
475 Myles Standish Boulevard
Taunton, MA 02780
Phone Number: 508-533-1433
Email: d.fantini@iuoelocal4.org
Framingham-Newton Building Trades Council
Contact Name: Chris Murphy, President
Contact Address:
3 Pierce Street
Framingham, MA 01702
Phone Number: 508-561-4335
Email: christophermurphy@laborerslocal609.com
Merrimack Valley Building Trades Council
Contact Name: Chris Brennan, President
Contact Address:
25 Colgate Road
Roslindale, MA 02131
Phone Number: 617-522-0520 ext 145
Email: cbrennan@iupatdc35.org
North Shore Building Trades Council
Contact Name: Chris Brennan, President
Contact Address:
25 Colgate Road
Roslindale, MA 02131
Phone Number: 617-522-0520 ext 145
Email: cbrennan@iupatdc35.org
Pioneer Valley Building Trades Council
Contact Name: Colton Andrews, President
Contact Address:
P.O. Box 563
Holyoke, MA 02041
Phone Number: 413-772-9772
Email: PVBuildingtrades@gmail.com
Quincy Building Trades Council
Contact Name: Bob Rizzi, President
Contact Address:
P.O. Box 690429
Quincy, MA 02169
Phone Number: 781-405-9193
Email: rlrizzi@comcast.net
Southeastern MA Building Trades Council
Contact Name: David Araujo, President
Contact Address:
PO Box 214
Somerset, MA 02726
Phone Number: 508-802-3551
Email: laborers0876@gmail.com
Worcester-Fitchburg Building Trades Council
Contact Name: Jorge Rivera, President
Contact Address:
25 Colgate Road
Roslindale, MA 02131
Phone Number: 617-435-3944
Email: jrivera@iupatdc35.org
Contact Address:
150 North Street, Suite 27
Pittsfield, MA 02101
Phone Number: 413-246-4848
Email: tcraw@nasrcc.org
Contact Address:
12A Everdean Street, 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02122
Phone Number: 617-282-0080
Email: briandoherty@metrobtc.org
Contact Address:
475 Myles Standish Boulevard
Taunton, MA 02780
Phone Number: 508-533-1433
Email: d.fantini@iuoelocal4.org
Contact Address:
3 Pierce Street
Framingham, MA 01702
Phone Number: 508-561-4335
Email: christophermurphy@laborerslocal609.com
Contact Address:
25 Colgate Road
Roslindale, MA 02131
Phone Number: 617-522-0520 ext 145
Email: cbrennan@iupatdc35.org
Contact Address:
25 Colgate Road
Roslindale, MA 02131
Phone Number: 617-522-0520 ext 145
Email: cbrennan@iupatdc35.org
Contact Address:
P.O. Box 563
Holyoke, MA 02041
Phone Number: 413-772-9772
Email: PVBuildingtrades@gmail.com
Contact Address:
P.O. Box 690429
Quincy, MA 02169
Phone Number: 781-405-9193
Email: rlrizzi@comcast.net
Contact Address:
PO Box 214
Somerset, MA 02726
Phone Number: 508-802-3551
Email: laborers0876@gmail.com
Contact Address:
25 Colgate Road
Roslindale, MA 02131
Phone Number: 617-435-3944
Email: jrivera@iupatdc35.org