Friday, August 24, 2012

Crain's Articles

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20120823/LABOR_UNIONS/120829948
Crain's New York Business

Carpenter union's leaders OK contractors deal

A new contract with employers swaps easier hiring rules for union carpenters with a near-17% wage and bennies hike over five years.

By Daniel Massey @masseydaniel
August 23, 2012 11:49 a.m.


http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20120821/LABOR_UNIONS/120829973
Crain's New York Business

Carpenters may be close to nailing contract

Union leadership votes expected after 14 months of back-and-forth between 25,000 carpenters and the contractors who hire them.

By Daniel Massey @masseydaniel
August 21, 2012 3:35 p.m.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Union carpenters reject work-rule changes

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20120327/LABOR_UNIONS/120329891 
Crain's New York Business

Union carpenters reject work-rule changes

Carpenters turn down several contracts negotiated with contractor associations last year—a blow to the builders pressing for more hiring flexibility.

By Erik Engquist
March 27, 2012 3:43 p.m.
Updated:

Members of the carpenters union have soundly rejected four contracts negotiated with contractor associations last year—a blow to contractors because the deals included a number of work-rule changes that they have long coveted.
The primary one was “full mobility” provision that would have enabled contractors to select any member of the union to work for them; the current system compels them to hire at least one-third of their workers via union referrals.
Voting results were revealed to members of the New York City District Council of Carpenters Tuesday. Agreements with the Building Contractors Association, Cement League and Wall, Ceiling and Carpet Industries were all rejected by nearly 2-to-1 margins, with nearly 2,400 votes cast on each, according to the union. A deal with the Greater New York Floor Coverers Association was defeated 123-94.
A single contract was approved, with the Hoisting Trade Association, by a 74-29 count, union officials said.
The carpenters' deals were negotiated by leaders who have since lost power. The new executive secretary-treasurer of the 25,000-member carpenters union, Mike Bilello, had argued against “full mobility” during his election campaign but did not take a formal position on the deals, except to say they deserved a vote.
“There were some unpopular things [in the agreements], in particular the full mobility,” Mr. Bilello said. “It was really a referendum on full mobility.”
Another clause that some members disliked would have allowed two-person jobs without a shop steward. But the prospect of turning over all hiring to contractors was the primary issue for many rank-and-file members.
One carpenter, Demian Schroeder, said: “By giving the contractors 100% control over hiring, and no work-referral system, carpenters would be less likely to make complaints about noncompliance with the contract, labor law violations and safety violations. I voted against all of those contracts because they are profoundly antiunion agreements that eviscerated the fundamental union principles of our organization.”
Mr. Bilello said he expected to begin negotiating agreements within a week. The contracts expired June 30, 2011, but an “evergreen clause” keeps them in effect for one year. The pressure is now on the union to get a new deal in place by June 30, 2012.
“We have got to come up with a contract that works for both sides,” Mr. Bilello said. “We have to go fast. It cannot linger.”