Boston, MA The New England Jewish Labor Committee honored Local 103 IBEW business manager Lou Antonellis for his leadership in bringing greater diversity to the building trades industry at its 24th Annual Labor Seder held on Sunday, April 7th.
“Lou’s leadership in diversifying the building trades and his pursuit of improving the wages and working conditions of electrical workers in New England exemplifies the new generation of labor leadership in the Boston area,” Stuart Applebaum, president of the Jewish Labor Committee said of Antonellis.
Local 103 IBEW has been working to expand opportunities for women and people of color from communities throughout Greater Boston. Local 103 has played an active role in expanding access to the construction industry for all through initiatives like the Empower DEI Program that mentors and advises women and minority-owned electrical contractors businesses. Currently, more than 50% of all apprentices enrolled in the IBEW 103/NECA Joint Apprenticeship Training Center identify as women and/or as people of color.
“My heartfelt thanks to the New England Jewish Labor Committee for this tremendous honor,” said Antonellis. “Our union is deeply committed to building the most inclusive workplaces that we can, where every person has the opportunity to build a family-sustaining career as a highly skilled electrician. By creating more good, union jobs, more people and communities can truly thrive.”
The New England Jewish Labor Committee draws Jewish community leaders, labor leaders, elected officials, and community activists together to build bridges among different groups to promote social justice. The group’s interfaith and inter-community awards dinner ties the story and ritual of Passover to contemporary labor struggles.
