Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters Executive Secretary-Treasurer John Ballantyne Among NJ Labor Leaders to Receive Essex County Democratic Committee Labor Leader Award

EDISON, N.J., Feb. 21, 2018 -- Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters (NRCC) Executive Secretary-Treasurer John Ballantyne was among several of New Jersey’s top leaders in organized labor to receive the Essex County Democratic Committee (ECDC) Labor Leaders Award. 

The annual event, held at Nanina’s in the Park in Belleville, NJ on February 16^th, honored a number of State labor leaders committed to fighting for strong workers’ rights and advocating for the working-class people of New Jersey.

Other labor leaders recognized at the event included:

• Joseph P. Calabro, Business Manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1158
• Maria Foster, Director of Government and Community Affairs, International Union of Painters & Allied Trades District Council 711 and Business Representative of Local 277
• John LoCrasto, Business Representative, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825
• Pamela Luster, Staff Representative, Communications Workers of America Local 1036
• Ivette Mendez, NJ Political Director, 1199 SEIU
• Ciro Scalera, Director of Government Relations, NJ Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust

“I am extremely humbled by this recognition and would like to thank Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman Leroy Jones, Vice-Chair M. Teresa Ruiz, Essex County Freeholders and other local elected officials that have helped advance the rights of not just union carpenters, but all workers,” said Ballantyne. “Every decision I make is focused on aggressively advocating on behalf of thousands of hardworking men and women, protecting the rights of our members, ensuring our members get the benefits they need and securing safe working conditions.”

Composed of over 1,000 district leaders, the ECDC is a diverse and progressive organization that works to lobby for pertinent issues relevant to the residents of Essex County. The ECDC frequently conducts initiatives revolving around voter registration, education of the electorate and Get Out The Vote action plans.

As the Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the NRCC, John Ballantyne leads one of the largest trade unions on the East Coast, comprised of nearly 40,000 members. He oversees the NRCC’s business strategy, critical financial planning as well as contract negotiations, development of contractor relations and training and recruiting efforts to ensure that the organization can work cooperatively with contractors and maintain the superior quality of workmanship that contractors have come to expect from union carpenters.

About the NRCC

The Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters (NRCC) represents nearly 40,000 hardworking men and women in Delaware and New Jersey and portions of Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania. NRCC is one of the largest trade unions on the East Coast. The NRCC equips professional men and women carpenters with the skills, training and quality workmanship that are demanded in today's construction industry. For more information on NRCC, please visit our website: northeastcarpenters.org & like us on social: Facebook: facebook.com/NortheastRegionalCouncilofCarpenters; Twitter: @nrccarpenters; Instagram: @northeastcarpenters; LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/northeastcarpenters; and Snapchat: @nrccarpenters

Contact: Tony Bianchini
Phone: 609-402-1730