Massachusetts Building Trades Council Files Ethic Complaint Against Former Government Employee

Boston, MA (December 11, 2008) – The Massachusetts Building Trades Council filed an ethics complaint today with The State Ethics Commission against the former director of the Massachusetts Division of Apprentice and Training (DAT). The MBTC believes that John Rich, who is now the director of work-force development, standards and compliance at Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts (“ABC”), is violating Massachusetts ethics law by lobbying on apprenticeship issues.

As Director of the (DAT) John Rich lobbied for support of the Massachusetts Division of Apprentice and Training but now in his new position is lobbying against it arguing the rules and regs are slanted against non-union programs. Rich is clearly using his former state position to benefit

“ABC”. The MBTC requests that the Ethics Commission investigate whether Mr. Rich violated G.L. c. 268A § 6 and/or G.L. c. 268A § 23(b)(3) by participating in any matter in which he had an actual or apparent conflict of interest due to his attempts to gain employment with ABC without providing appropriate notice to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development or the Governor. Mr. Rich was hired by Associated Builders and Contractors less than (6) months after leaving his position at DAT.

Second, MBTC requests that the Ethics Commission investigate whether Mr. Rich’s advocacy as Massachusetts Associated Builders and Contractors’ Director of Workforce Development Compliance, and Standards to eliminate DAT constitute violations of Chapter 268A §§ 5(a), (b), (e).