Feb. 15—The Laborers and the Operating Engineers announced Feb. 14 they are leaving the Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD), a branch of the AFL-CIO, to form a group with other unions in the industry.

“In a time when solidarity has never been more critical, we think they are making a mistake for their unions and for our industry,” says BCTD President Edward Sullivan.

The unions are joining with the Iron Workers and Bricklayers, who remain members of the BCTD, and the unaffiliated Teamsters and Carpenters, to form the National Construction Alliance.