Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Union, Local 2 of Michigan

10/19/2026

🧱 JUST BUILD IT! – Inspiring the Next Generation of Skilled Tradespeople! 🧱

BAC Local 2 Michigan was proud to participate in the Just Build It! Career Fair, giving students an opportunity to roll up their sleeves and experience the masonry trade firsthand!

Throughout the event, students stepped up to the wall and got hands-on experience laying brick, spreading mortar, and learning the fundamentals of masonry from skilled BAC Local 2 members, pre-apprentices, and instructors.

Events like this are about more than introducing students to the trades. They’re about showing young people that a career in the skilled trades offers incredible opportunities to earn while you learn, develop lifelong skills, and build a rewarding career without taking on the burden of traditional college debt.

It was great seeing so many students eager to get involved, ask questions, and discover what it takes to become a skilled craftsperson!

👏 A huge thank you to everyone who helped represent BAC Local 2 Michigan and took the time to share their knowledge, experience, and passion for the masonry industry.

Our continued involvement in career fairs and community outreach is an important part of strengthening Michigan’s skilled workforce and ensuring the next generation understands the opportunities available through union apprenticeship programs.

The future of our industry starts with the next generation, and we’re proud to help build it — one brick at a time! 💪🧱

10/19/2026

🧱 Building Skills, Building Communities! 🧱

Our BAC Local 2 Michigan Pre-Apprentices recently had the opportunity to put their skills to work while giving back to the community!

Our pre-apprentice class partnered with Oakland HOPE Food Pantry to help create a new opening in their building for the installation of a roll-up door. This project provided our future bricklayers with valuable hands-on experience while supporting an organization that does incredible work for families in need.

Opportunities like this are what apprenticeship training is all about. Not only are our apprentices developing the skills and craftsmanship needed to succeed in the masonry industry, but they’re also learning the importance of teamwork, community involvement, and taking pride in their work.

👏 A special thank you to instructors Dave Palo and Eric Rice for their hard work in coordinating this project and providing our apprentices with another outstanding learning opportunity.

We would also like to recognize Trevor Grace, BAC Local 2 Business Agent, for his assistance and support throughout the project.

Most importantly, thank you to our pre-apprentices for stepping up, working hard, and representing BAC Local 2 Michigan with pride!

We’re not just building skilled tradespeople. We’re building the next generation of craftspeople who understand the importance of giving back to their communities!

10/13/2026

🧱 Celebrating 75 Years of Brotherhood with Lafayette Heath Jr.!

When Trevor Grace, Business Agent for BAC Local 2, and Brett Gierak, President of Local 2, recently sat down with Lafayette Heath Jr., they met with a man whose life and career are a remarkable part of our union's history.

Lafayette joined the union on July 1, 1951, at just 18 years old! He got his start working alongside his father and uncle, who owned Heath Brothers Contracting Company. His father encouraged him to save his money and buy his own masonry tools—a piece of advice that helped launch a career spanning nearly five decades.

Lafayette began his union journey with Local 12 in Flint while working at Buick City, later transferred to Local 14 in Ann Arbor, and eventually joined Local 2 in Detroit.

He remembers the tough times of the late 1950s, when work was so scarce that, as he put it, “You couldn't buy a job if you tried.” But Lafayette persevered, working steadily from the 1960s through 1998 and spending his final 20 years as a bricklayer for the City of Detroit. One of the final projects he worked on was Vernors.

Over his 75 years of membership, Lafayette witnessed tremendous changes in our trade, including the development of the pension and health care benefits that members rely on today.

His advice to today's apprentices is simple and powerful:

💬 “Stick with it, me I liked it from day 1.”

Lafayette loved geometry in school and found that it served him well in bricklaying. He especially loved seeing a project go from an empty field to a beautiful building in just six months.

His message to the next generation says it all:

“Live life to the fullest. Bricklaying was good to me.”

And Lafayette certainly knows how to enjoy life! As we visited with him, he was preparing for his 53rd cruise, having traveled to the Caribbean, Asia, Europe, across the Atlantic, and along the West Coast and Alaska. After a lifetime of hard work, he's certainly earned some adventures! 🌎🚢

Lafayette, thank you for 75 years of membership, dedication, and brotherhood. Your story reminds us of the pride in our craft, the value of perseverance, and the legacy built by the generations who came before us.

Congratulations on 75 years with BAC Local 2! Here's to your incredible career and many more adventures ahead!

10/12/2026

The Bricklayers of the U.P. showed up last week in Ishpeming! We had an amazing day knocking doors for Union candidates and were proud to see so much Union support across the community.

A huge thank you to Brian Lantto, Tim Etter, Adam Saari who came out to help get out the Union vote.

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day from Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 2! 🇺🇸✊ Proud to celebrate with our brothers, sisters, and families at the Detroit, Flint, Marquette and Port Huron Labor Day Parades today.

09/01/2026

Congratulations to our members achieving 40 years of service in the Saginaw/Flint Chapter this year! Pictured below are Frank Lee, John Myers, Dennis Kloha and Mike Piazza- It was our pleasure to be able to recognize you at the Retiree Luncheon

09/01/2026

It was a wonderful day getting retirees together from the Saginaw/Flint Chapters! The Annual Saginaw/Flint Chapter Retiree Lunch has definitely proven to be a loved event- thank you to the members who came out to reconnect and share stories

08/28/2026

08/25/2026

Kalamazoo Chapter Retiree Luncheon
8/21/2026

It was great to see Kzoo Chapter retirees enjoying retirement! Always a good time catching up with our members.

(L) to (R) Andy Bradley, Carl Wilkes, Roman Rydecki, Chris Tyler, Dan Stone, Brett Gierak, Dave Uminn, Chad Morrison, Terry Amos, Chris Wallace, Chris Fillmore, Joe Rydecki and Melissa McClelland

08/25/2026

CONGRATULATIONS – CARL WILKES ON 40 YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP!

Carl Wilkes was recognized at the Kalamazoo Retiree Luncheon for his 40 Years of continuous service to the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Union – Local 2 of Michigan. Carl Wilkes is pictured with BAC Local 2 Kalamazoo Chapter Field Representative, Andy Bradley (L) President, Brett Gierak (L) and Secretary Treasurer, Chad Morrison (R)

Congratulations Carl on 40 years on membership with the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Local 2 of Michigan!