Large Massachusetts construction union tells members they can return to work

Welcome back to Critical Mass., in which Curbed Boston covers the region’s major development news every week. The novel coronavirus continues to disrupt things, with the biggest stories all tied to the pandemic. First up, a decision by a major construction union to allow its workers to return to sites if they deem it safe.

The North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, which represents about 10,000 workers in Massachusetts, told members that it was alright to return to construction sites if they thought they were safe. The union had pulled its members from jobs on April 6 amid concern about the spread of the novel coronavirus.

When construction does rumble back to full force in the Boston area, many of the busiest projects will surround new housing (work on which Gov. Charlie Baker has deemed essential statewide anyway). Condo development has driven so much of the years-long building boom. And there was news this week that there is still demand for that housing despite the pandemic. But for how long?