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posted by cdui ranknfile: d@ve at 9:07 PM 0 comments

 
LaborTalk (September 5, 2005) By Harry Kelber
Why is Labor’s Notorious Autocrat A Coalition Partner of Stern’s SEIU?
Douglas McCarron tightened his control of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners at the union’s convention in Las Vegas on Aug. 25, when delegates voted to give him a third five-year term. A pro-democratic opposition slate, Restore the Vote, and its individual candidates could muster only about 12% of the total vote.

Even before the convention, McCarron had amassed enormous power over the union’s 550,000 members by transferring the authority of its 2,200 locals to 55 regional councils, whose officers were handpicked by him and conform to his wishes. In effect, he runs the union like it is his personal property, as he did when he quit the AFL-CIO four years ago without a vote of the membership.

To enshrine his dictatorial powers in the union’s constitution, he had the delegates, most of whom are beholden to him for their jobs, pass Section 10m of the newly revised UBCJA Constitution, which states: “The General President shall have authority to appoint interim officers of newly- established, consolidated or merged Local Unions or Councils” but it also adds two words, “and delegates, ” thus further consolidating McCarron’s tremendous power.

McCarron runs the union like a corporation, claiming that centralized leadership (his) is more efficient and attractive to employers and would produce more jobs for working carpenters.

Opposition to McCarron has grown. In British Columbia, angry carpenters voted to exit from the UBC to escape from his clutches. He is faced with numerous lawsuits challenging his denial of members’ rights. But there was no broad movement at the convention to come close to unseating him as president.

So why did the insurgents, representing themselves as reformers, invite McCarron to become one of the seven “partner” unions within the Change to Win Coalition? Is his ruthless, anti-democratic behavior acceptable to unions like the SEIU and UNITE-HERE, who have always prided themselves as being progressive organizations?

What role are the Carpenters expected to play in the organizing strategy of the Coalition, since they have almost nothing in common with five of its member unions? Or will McCarron, the poster boy of Corporate Unionism, become a model for the other unions in the CTW?

And how will the SEIU and its president, Andy Stern, who have criticized President Bush’s domestic and foreign policies, deal with McCarron, who is Bush’s darling labor leader, who gets to ride on Air Force One? The President, who has never invited Sweeney or any member of the Executive Council to the White House, not even for a cup of coffee and a hello, happily attends the Carpenters’ Labor Day picnics.

The presence of Republican-minded McCarron within the Coalition adds another note of uncertainty about labor’s role and strategy in the 2006 congressional and 2008 presidential election. The Coalition is downgrading electoral politics in favor of focusing on organizing, while the AFL-CIO is counting on a Democratic Party victory that can translate into greater labor influence in government and the economy. Don’t expect the kind of labor unity that existed in the 2004 elections.

Our weekly “LaborTalk” and “The World of Labor” columns can be viewed at our Web site: .
Harry Kelber’s e-mail address is: .

posted by cdui ranknfile: d@ve at 8:31 AM 1 comments

 
CONSTRUCTION UNION CHALLENGES: BLDG. TRADES TACKLE DISAFFILIATION; CARPENTERS FACE LEADERSHIP RACE - ILCA Online
While Sullivan wrestled with the impact of the departure of the Carpenters and Teamsters, Carpenters President McCarron faced a slate of challengers at his union's convention, which opened in Las Vegas on Aug. 24.

Led by Tom Lewandowski of Rockford, Ill., a 28-year UBC member and former Business Manager and Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Local 792, the insurgents are challenging McCarron on a platform of more union democracy and questioning the incumbent president's decision to withdraw from the AFL-CIO four years ago, among other issues.

"It's time for rank and file members to take back control of our union," Lewandowski said in a statement before balloting began. "Our members should be able to vote on their representation, elect their business agents and ratify contracts."

Lewandowski said Carpenters district councils in Chicago, Kentucky and the Pacific Northwest already voted not to endorse McCarron for re-election. Lewandowski did not say whether they endorsed his slate. He admits he has an uphill battle.

"I want to restore local union sovereignty," he told The Labor Paper in an interview during the AFL-CIO convention, where he was introducing himself to delegates as an insurgent in his non-AFL-CIO union. "The contractor base is different everywhere. Our union was built on locals that worked with contractors in their area."
posted by cdui ranknfile: d@ve at 8:34 PM 0 comments

 
Strengthening Our Union Movement - getridofmac.com
Resolution in Support of Free Speech at UBC General Convention

Whereas: Once every five years the United Brotherhood of Carpenters holds its General Convention and makes decisions of important historical significance to all workers, and

Whereas: The Brotherhood gathers members from all over the United States and Canada who are active in working for the Greater good of not only Union Carpenters but of all workers, and

Whereas: The greater good of all working people is manifest in the ability of them being able to communicate to each other their ideas, dreams, and visions, and

Whereas : Our forefathers from the founding of this Great Nation, the United States of America to the founding of this Great Union, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters fought for the right of all workers and Union members to speak about their ideas, dreams, and visions without threat of prison, violence or death, and

Whereas: The US Constitutional Bill of Rights under the First Amendment guarantees all citizens the freedom of speech, be it therefore
Resolved: It shall be a violation of the rules to call for the question to cut off debate before any debate has occurred.

Resolved: It shall be a violation of the rules for any delegate to act as a "floor whip" to seize control of the convention or to prevent, discourage, intimidate, or threaten any delegates from reaching the microphones to freely express their opinions on debatable issues.

Resolved: One hour per convention day shall be reserved for "good of the order" so many delegates will potentially be able to share their views with the entire delegation. Ground rules for "good of the order" shall be 1) confine your remarks to subjects which are of importance to the working class, especially Carpenters. 2) prepare your statement for presentation in under three minutes. 3) no delegate is allowed to speak more than once unless there are no other delegates wishing to speak.
posted by cdui ranknfile: d@ve at 8:21 AM 0 comments

 
Union Members Are Invited to Rank-and-File Meeting
See and Hear Harry Kelber, the 91-Year-Old Candidate For Executive Council
Harry Kelber, the veteran labor educator and journalist, is campaigning for a seat on the AFL-CIO’s 51 Member Executive Council. His candidacy has forced the AFL to hold an election with a printed ballot for the first time since 1995.
Unlike AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and SEIU President Andy Stern, Kelber has a detailed “game plan” for involving the rank-and-file of every union in a nation wide organizing campaign that will also unite, rather than divide the labor movement.
Kelber has a lot more to say about the attempts of a group of international union presidents to take tight control of the federation, while depriving women and minorities of any voice in shaping AFL-CIO policies.
The meeting will also discuss what further steps can be taken to promote union democracy at the convention.
Information about the Meeting
Date: Monday, July 25
Where: Hotel Drake (Georgian Room)
Time: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
For further information, call Ken Little at (253) 576-8950
posted by cdui ranknfile: Ken at 12:35 PM

 
Elect Tom Lewandowski website
Brother Tom Lewandowski proudly announces his candidacy for the position of the General President for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.

Tom Lewandowski comes out of the Chicago Regional Council and is a 28 Year Member from Carpenters Local #792, Rockford, IL.

On August 24th, 2005 Tom Lewandowski will accept the nomination for the position of General President at the 39th General Convention held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Please support Tom Lewandowski as your candidate for General President.

Contact Members to Elect Lew at (815) 985-4573 or email Tom directly

Please send donations to:

Members to Elect Lewandowski
PO Box 580
Byron, IL 61010
posted by cdui ranknfile: d@ve at 3:44 PM 1 comments

 
Elect Brineman VP--Home page
Brothers and Sisters,

I am asking for your support of my candidacy for Western District Vice President of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters.

I stand for open communication, accountability and the basic democratic principles upon which the Union was founded. I am a firm believer in the original vision of Founding Father P.J. McGuire and feel that we have strayed far to the right of his intent and purpose. McGuire believed that everyone should belong to a Union and that the members would be able to share in the wealth that they were producing. He also believed that Union membership brought autonomy over oneself and pride in what one did. These factors would lead to more time available for participation with family and community. The rank and file members have been disenfranchised and are losing hope of having any control over their lives. In order to re-involve the membership we must return the vote to the individual, we must return some autonomy to the locals, and we must get involved with our local communities and remind them that the carpenters are here to stay.

The current leadership of the UBC is not representing the true concerns of the membership but instead is doing whatever it can to mold us into a corporate commodity to be sold to the lowest bidder. They have done their best to fashion the "re-organized" UBC along the lines of corporate America. We are a multi-billion dollar industry which can and should wield incredible industry and political clout for the benefit of the rank and file member. We are not a Union for the sole benefit of the contractors.

The current leadership is very short sighted and needs to broaden its scope and vision. The world we live in is getting smaller all the time and the resources we have are becoming more limited. The UBC needs to look at the ways that we as an organization can promote sustainability not only for ourselves and our industry but society as a whole. We are but a small piece of the overall scheme of things, and need to work in unison for the betterment of our craft. New environmental regulations and alternative energy sources are creating growth industries that could yield millions of hours of carpenter work. We need to look ahead with that kind of vision.

I am developing my campaign and am in need of financial support in order to run it effectively. If you agree with me that we need a change of vision at the leadership level of the Union then please support my candidacy. Thank you.

In Brotherhood & Solidarity,

T. Scott Brineman
posted by cdui ranknfile: d@ve at 3:40 PM 0 comments

 
M E M O R A N D U M
TO: Presidents of National and International Unions
Presidents of Trade and Industrial Departments
Presidents of State Federations
Presidents of Central Labor Councils

FROM: John J. Sweeney
DATE: March 18, 2005

RE: United Brotherhood of Carpenters

At the AFL-CIO's recent Executive Council meeting in Las Vegas, I announced that effective following the conclusion of the Federation's July Convention, unless the United Brotherhood of Carpenters have taken the appropriate steps to seek AFL-CIO reaffiliation, the AFL-CIO will take all necessary action to enforce its Constitution across the board in all related matters, as described below.

This determination was reached following close consultation with the officers and the affiliates of the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department, since it will potentially have a particularly significant impact on unions that share common employers, common work sites, and common job projects with the Carpenters. Other Departments, such as the Metal Trades Department, will obviously be affected as well.

This decision follows exhaustive efforts stretching over several years by BCTD President Ed Sullivan, several national union presidents, and myself to engage Carpenters President Doug McCarron about the Carpenters' concerns or differences with the AFL-CIO. These efforts met shifting and inconsistent explanations about the Carpenters' abrupt disaffiliation from the AFL-CIO in 2001 and about their concerns since then. On some occasions, the explanations offered to us had to do with per capita tax; on others, they related to desired Article XX reforms, or organizing subsidies, or the size of the Executive Council. Most recently, President McCarron has said that he is waiting to assess whether the current debate over reforms inside the labor movement is resolved to his satisfaction.

At this point, the only thing that is clear is the Carpenters' leadership's desire to have all the benefits of an AFL-CIO and BCTD affiliation throughout the country without any per-capita tax obligations to the AFL-CIO itself, without obligations under Articles XX and XXI, and without any responsibility to participate in charting the course for the AFL-CIO and the labor movement at this critical time. These are obviously unacceptable terms.

So that there will be no confusion concerning our intention to enforce the Constitution, and in order to give all AFL-CIO affiliates, trade and industrial departments and councils, state federations and other central labor bodies adequate opportunity to prepare in the event the Carpenters fail to reaffiliate by the stated deadline, I want to be clear about the following expectations:

1. The Carpenters will be barred from affiliation with all state, area, and local central bodies and trade and industrial departments and councils of the departments of the AFL-CIO, and all such bodies must expel the Carpenters and refuse to accept their per capita tax or per capita tax equivalents;

2. The Carpenters will be precluded from participating in any manner in activities, programs, operations, and affairs of all such bodies, and the AFL-CIO will exercise its best efforts to end participation by the Carpenters in all projects sponsored by AFL-CIO related funds and enterprises;

3. In full consultation with the Building and Construction Trades Department, the Metal Trades Department, and other affected affiliates, the AFL-CIO will entertain charter applications from former Carpenters District Councils or other appropriate carpenters' organizations as direct affiliates of the AFL-CIO and its departments;

4. The AFL-CIO and its affiliates will provide to each other support, as necessary and appropriate, if they are confronted with raiding or other attacks or interferences by the Carpenters.

Questions will undoubtedly arise regarding the application of some of these requirements. Please feel free to address them to my office.

Finally, in making this announcement to the Executive Council, I concluded by noting that this is a year of great debate, discussion, and hopefully progress within the labor movement. I stated that while we welcome all unions to join in that effort, at the same time we must recognize that a revitalized and growing movement is incompatible with special arrangements rewarding conduct that undermines the solidarity crucial to the serious work in front of us. Therefore, unless the Carpenters do choose to reaffiliate by that time, we will have no choice but to enforce the Constitution.
posted by cdui ranknfile: d@ve at 7:56 PM 0 comments