Boston — Unions and union contractors across Massachusetts came together recently to support the Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) program, which connects veterans with the union trades after service. This year the building trades unions and union contractors donated more than $80,100 to the program.
“We are honored to work with Helmets to Hardhats and to provide career opportunities for our returning veterans,” said Frank Callahan, president of Massachusetts Building Trades Unions. “There will always be a place in the building trades for these brave men and women who epitomize selflessness, discipline, honor and commitment. They embody the values of our unions.”
Commodore-Walsh Holyoke, a Joint Venture comprised of Commodore Builders LLC and Walsh Brothers, Inc. joined the building trades unions with their own donation of $10,000.
“As a veteran-owned company, we take great pride in supporting programs like Helmets to Hardhats that open doors for those who have served our country. On the Veterans’ Home in Holyoke project, we saw firsthand the strength and skill that veterans bring to the trades, as well as an all-union workforce that not only meets but exceeds our veteran participation goals. These men and women embody the commitment, discipline, and teamwork that define our industry,” said Joe Albanese, chairman and CEO, Commodore Builders.
“The importance of Helmets to Hardhats’ work in opening doors to our beloved military veterans to find meaningful and fulfilling careers in the local trades unions, cannot be overstated. We thank both Massachusetts Building Trades Unions and Helmets to Hardhats for their continued efforts to help us build our future workforce and to build America proudly,” said Richard Walsh, president and CEO, Walsh Brothers, Inc.
“Helmets to Hardhats connects veterans to careers that honor their service with fair pay, strong benefits, and real opportunity. Every veteran deserves more than just a job. They deserve a path to a stable future, and that’s exactly what the union trades provide,” said Andrea Gayle-Bennett, deputy secretary of Veterans Employment, Education and Training Program, Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS).