[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 79 (Monday, May 14, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1043]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF JOSEPH A. DART, PRESIDENT OF MASSACHUSETTS BUILDING 
                        TRADES COUNCIL, AFL-CIO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEPHEN F. LYNCH

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 14, 2007

  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of a good friend and 
tremendous labor leader, Joseph A. Dart. Joe has dedicated his life to 
improving the lives of working men and women throughout Massachusetts.
  Joining Local 257 Painter & Allied Trades in 1974, Joe's hard work 
and leadership skills propelled his rise through the ranks. In 1980, 
Joe became a Business Agent and the following year advanced to Business 
Manager. By 1985, Joe held the position of President of the Pioneer 
Valley Building Trades Council. Joe's ability to advance his union and 
provide the fellow members of his trade with employment exemplifies the 
characteristics in which all members of the Building Trades should 
strive.
  Between 1994 and 1996, Joe added three new positions to his 
impressive list of accomplishments, all of which he holds to this day. 
In 1994, Joe became President of the Massachusetts Building Trades 
Council, an organization which is comprised of 72 local unions and 10 
Local Building Trades Councils representing 75,000 construction trades 
men and women in Massachusetts. In 1995, Joe became Co-Chair of the 
Labor-Management Construction Safety Alliance, where he succeeded in 
passing the OSHA 10-Hour Law requiring all construction workers on 
public projects to be trained in safety. In 1996, Joe became the 
Executive Vice President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.
  Throughout his career in the Building Trades, Joe has been an 
advocate for workers rights and fought to provide his fellow brothers 
and sisters of labor with fair wages and skilled training. Joe has 
negotiated dozens of Project Labor Agreements to guarantee good wages, 
hours, and working conditions on massive construction sites. These 
agreements have also guaranteed employers access to a skilled workforce 
and eliminated labor relations problems. In 1988, Joe was instrumental 
in defeating a ballot question, which was intended to remove Prevailing 
Wage Laws in the state of Massachusetts. Ten years later, Joe was 
essential in the passage of an amendment to the Massachusetts Payment 
of Wages Law, which increased penalties on employers who willfully and 
intentionally violated payment rights of employees.
  Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to join with Joe's family, 
friends and brothers and sisters of labor to thank him for his 
incredible dedication and commitment to the fight for workers' rights 
and service to the American Labor Movement. I hope my colleagues will 
join me in celebrating Joe's distinguished career and wishing him good 
health and success in all his future endeavors.

                          ____________________