New York, NY – Matthew Aracich, the newly-elected president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties, representing 37 Affiliates, and the former business manager of Heat and Frost Insulators Local 12, has been elected to the United Way Board of Directors in Long Island.
United Way of Long Island advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on the three key building blocks of education, financial stability and health. It is part of a worldwide network spanning across 41 countries and territories, including more than 1,200 local organizations in the U.S.
“I am delighted to join the Board of United Way of Long Island. I am impressed by their commitment to support our youth and veterans by giving them the skills needed for successful, long-term careers in the building trades,” remarked Aracich. “Those who find themselves down on their luck often turn to faith looking for a miracle to make their lives better. By harnessing the power of morality and generosity, organizations like the United Way have been able to provide their own version of miracles. I couldn’t imagine anything better than going to work with the prospect of helping people. This is simply the single most rewarding accomplishment anyone can hope to achieve in their lifetime,” he added.
“Mr. Aracich is an incredible asset to our Board of Directors. His expertise and networks in the construction industry are unparalleled, “said Theresa A. Regnante, President and CEO of United Way of Long Island. “We look forward to continuing to develop United Way’s relationship with labor unions such as Local 12 to provide meaningful career paths for our program participants.”
Aracich will take over from Richard O’Kane at the Building Trades Council on January 19th. The Building Trades Council comprises 37 unions with 59,000 to 65,000 members.He told LaborPress he plans to continue O’Kane’s work pursuing project-labor agreements for public construction, with a “full circle of participation” among municipalities, contractors, and unions. “There should be labor standards with all public money,” he says.
Aracich was a third-generation member of Local 12, one of four children born to his Heat and Frost Insulator father, including a set of identical twins, of which he is one. His father’s father was also a Heat and Frost Insulator. He initially worked as a commercial diver, then went to work for the U.S. government, first doing geological surveys, then as a Heavy Equipment Operator for the U.S. Navy. In July of 1985, he followed in the family footsteps by becoming a Heat and Frost Insulator in his own right. In 1988, he became a Mechanic, and a Foreman. He worked for one company for fifteen and a half years. In 1999, he became President of Local 12, then, in 2004, Financial Secretary. In 2012 he started his tenure as Business Manager and Financial Secretary. Local 12 is affiliated with the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, a union that represents more than 25,000 members across the United States and Canada. He was responsible for negotiating contracts, securing work opportunities and representing the Union in all capacities in political forefronts.
Aracich’s talents have not gone unnoticed from those in the sphere of government. He has often been asked to testify on energy issues to legislators and government agencies, and was even invited to the White House during the Obama Administration, where he gave a presentation on the benefits of Mechanical Insulation.
