In the third and final installment of the focus on the Opioid Crisis in Construction, Anastasia Barnes chats with Tom S. Gunning, the director of labor relations at the Building Trades Employers’s Association (BTEA).

Tom was the organizer behind “Building Trades for Recovery Week”, which happened between April 29 and May 3rd of 2019.  The week-long event was designed to increase awareness and understanding of substance use disorder and help construction industry professionals learn best practices for prevention and recovery. Tom discusses the reason behind his organizing the event, the take-aways and success of the conference.

Tom Gunning is the Director of Labor Relations for the Building Trade Employers Association (BTEA). As a voice for union building trades contractors throughout New England, his efforts focus on developing and maintaining prosperous relationships with seven trade groups in order to negotiate with 13 different trades covering over 85 different local unions in the northeast region. Gunning acts as an advocate for planning and development issues to efficiently generate and sustain business for the association’s members and drive partnerships for economic development. He serves as a trustee on several joint apprentice and training committees. Prior to joining BTEA, Gunning was a member of Laborers Local 223. Gunning is a graduate of Bridgton Academy and St. Anselm College. Currently in recovery himself, Tom Gunning is an advocate for mental health wellness in the building trades and regularly acts as a Substance Abuse Counselor through Modern Assistance Programs, Inc.

Special thanks to Karas & Karas Glass for sponsoring Episode 7 of our podcast!