Saturday, December 28, 2013

An open letter to the brothers and sisters of the NYCDCC

Greg Kelty
Vote for Greg Kelty For EST 


Brothers and Sisters: I have been a member of this District Council for 29 ½ years. I hold a Bachelor degree in Business Administration with a Major in Finance. I am presently the Treasurer of Local Union 157 and Delegate to the DC. I am a strong advocate for our members and work tirelessly to insure the rank and file members are not being taken advantage of by the leadership of the council.

These past two years have been a rude awakening for many of us, this Council has been a ship without a rudder wandering aimlessly from month to month. We have had an absence of vision and leadership at the council for too long. The only objective of this council since the UBC International ended its supervision has been to shove crappy contracts and PLA’s down working carpenter’s throats. Even in light of the news that construction starts may hit or even surpass the highs of 2007 next year, our leadership is still approving PLA wage and benefit concessions.

Our Rep center is a complete failure. Our council reps seem to have little knowledge of the contracts and jurisdictional issues. I have heard from way too many members that council reps don’t represent them, they are there for the contractors and when they should be going to bat for our contractors over jurisdictional issues, they give our work away.

I think most of us will agree the Organizing Department has undoubtedly been the costliest and biggest failure of any department at the DC. The Area Standards Campaign has not produced a single benefit for our members and has been a dismal failure for years. It seems it's only purpose is to give DC reps high paying jobs and members a place to fulfill their annual picket obligation so we don’t lose $500.00. The fact that no one at the Council acknowledges this complete failure shows a complete lack of vision and leadership.

Many of our delegates will tell you our legal counsel at the DC are an embarrassment and a disgrace. From the MWA fiasco to lack of filing legal notices for the strikes in a timely manner is inexcusable.

The most recent embarrassment was at the last court conference, despite assurances from the DC, Judge Berman was shocked to find out that the compliance program and IT systems put in place are not functioning as promised. Judge Berman approved full mobility, at the objection of many members, because of the assurances he received from the DC that its compliance program is 100% functional, and now as a consequence the contracts are in jeopardy of being abolished.

At the conference, Review Officer Dennis Walsh remarked about the failure of leadership at the DC:

"The frustrating thing about the District Council of Carpenters is that it only responds to negative inducement. One would have thought that after all these years of oversight, the pendency of a consent decree since 1994, and the stipulation and order since June of 2010 that the leadership at the union would have decided, finally, we must engage in rigorous self-analysis. We must figure out how to improve this institution so that it is perfected, so that not only is corruption eradicated, but that it functions as the modern, efficient, compliant business that it must be to benefit its 20,000 members and their families."

Brothers and sisters, we need leadership at the council that is willing to take the bull by the horns and engage in rigorous self-analysis. We need a leader with vision and a can do attitude who will step up and say we understand these problems and, with alacrity, we are going to solve them and move this DC into the modern, efficient, compliant business that must benefit our members and their families!

Fraternally,
Greg Kelty

46 comments:

  1. DROP DEAD UNITY TEAM !

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  2. First, Thank you for running Greg. Second the rep center is not a disaster. I have been a Steward for 3 years and the concerns or problems that have come up on job-site I've worked the Business Agents have been able to manage well. The work of the Union Rep. has always be a contentious one. "Hostility to the walking delegate was not initially restricted to employers." Mark Erlich EST New England Regional Council, pg 80 (With Our Hands) Your politicization sounds personal. You need to thank the Veteran reps for staying at half the pay to educate the new reps.and tell us what you wood do differently. Third, you can not state with any bit of fact that the Organizing Department as not turned jobs for our members. There is more to Organizing than a picket sign. Most Organizing is done behind the scene because most members don't have the stomach for it. Four, your lack of attendance before shop local 2790 demonstrates your advocacy to " work tirelessly to insure the rank and file members are not being taken advantage of by the leadership of the council" shows us what you wood have done with the MWA. Lastly, but surely not last the the judge and the ro, have issues with the IT system because no IT system can anticipate all human scenarios and they are going to be critical of any procedure that has the right to protected concerted activity. So if the shit aint perfect its a work in progress. They both can kiss my ...You know what happens when people act like no one knows what they are doing around here. Good Luck.

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    1. You sir, or madame are an ass for supporting anything McCarron which has left this union in ruin.

      Gregh speaks the truth, so take your "anti union" to hell where you belong.

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  3. Will you have 1 senior member on all jobs ?

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  4. Reggie stop blowing the reps

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    1. Assnonymous you are so predictable. “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.”

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    2. common sense!! WE all know about the REPS doing a half distance job but at least for they come around to the job when you need them not like years ago. The organizing debt is BS if you ask ANYBODY.The only way that's going to work is if you put 100 or more guys on a picket line and make some noise than maybe you will get some people thinking and asking questions!!! Know with that said you GREG if elected you have to before anything fix the MEDICAL PLAN!! Other wise this union isn't going anywhere because most men and women join the brotherhood not only for a good paying job but TO HAVE A GOOD MEDICAL PLAN for there family. Right now it BS where it use to be the best so talk about that and get it back you got my VOTE. COMON SENSE!!!

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    3. Thank you common sense, please tell us what you will do not what others don't do.

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    4. the only thing that makes common sense here is the discussion about the medical. all the other BS is called Ridicule.

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    5. When a Stewards does their job there is no need for a BA on the Job! good night.

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    6. Hey COMMON SENSE you better read Joey G's letter if you wanna hear about your Medical..

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  5. Some people say that dynamite holds no weight at the bargaining table. Its was dynamite that forced the legalization of collective bargaining. Incidence of violence like "The House of Morgan" bombing put the World and Wall St. on notice that New York Workers Wood not be treated like second class citizens in the Land of Wonders. The National Labor Relations Act also known as the Wagner Act after NY Senator Robert F. Wagner is a unconditional statute of US labor law which guarantees basic rights of private sector employees to organize into trade unions, engage in collective bargaining for better terms and conditions at work, and take collective action including strike if necessary. At this stage of the game Union members children who have chosen to follow in their fathers and mothers footsteps have become Supernumeraries either using a hammer to get work done on the front lines becoming Superintendents or a Signatory using a pen to sign a pay check to finance the war. "I found the position of walking delegate anything but a pleasant task. Although naturally of a peaceable disposition I was plunged into a continual war. My presence on the job was an irritation ... some union men envied me, not realizing the sorrows of my lot"(Lynch First walking delegate p.347). Assnonymous why didn't you run for EST, everyone knows why I could not?

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  6. Ive attended delegate meetings and have seen Greg Kelty go to bat for the membership everytime. Ive never witnessed Joe Geiger stand up for th membership once.Greg Kelty wants the members to vote on the contracts they work under Joe Geiger doesnt.The choice is simple Vote for the Greg Kelty who trusts you the member to decide how you pay and conditions will be. Thank you

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  7. Greg, you, like Dennis Walsh, SO F***ing wish you looked like you do in your pictures on this website... BTW LOVED the part in your initial campaign lit about making sure that benefit hours are being submitted properly. Pretty sure that all your work in Jersey is not coming back to the DC seeing as how they still think you're "retired". You're a dick marketing himself under false pretenses... Sounds a lot like Bilello if you ask me.

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    1. Sounds like this is either BULL-elo or Leblow.

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  8. labor reaper\To tell you the truth I don't know to much about how you would go about all that but maybe start with cleaning house down there. Its seems to me everyone we vote into office {EST} all they do is go right back to the same old way. So maybe this time around {who ever gets in} the members have to him accountable for want he runs on other than want can you do? Yea I am all about making it better but that's want we but these guys in office for. Lets hope this time we but the right guy in.

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  9. I will first speak about the MWA since it effects my loco. the members want the same benefits as the outside like in the past and a pay increase. However this is the age of concession bargain of which I am not apart of but i will tell you once you've give something up it will take something else to get it back. Jimmy I suggest we should compare any offer at minimum to the same benefits package as the Northeast Regional Shops so that we are not working against each other and repeating History. The only way to clean house is to give people what their hand calls for. For those with ambition I say follow your instinct and do what ever it takes to effect change but always know there are two sides of a double edged coin and learn both the written and unwritten rules of our industry. For Dock Builder questions ask Bob he is a nice guy.

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  10. how do you get hit by a car when you are a flag man? Karma

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  11. Jimmy I suggest we should compare any offer at minimum to the same benefits package as the Northeast Regional Shops

    This is NY and we look down on any application of regional coucil's, no matter the fact "it will happen here".

    It hasn't yet & will not any time soon so take your cumbaya lets all be as one crap back to Mccrron & tell him to shove it!

    Your tag says it all, labor reaper!

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    1. it was the north east regional that started this back stabbing shit im just trying to be diplomatic.. dont judge me on Mcmorron if you have not read my writings about"The New York Affair".

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    2. ok assnonymous since you are so ambitious to can start by going to The House of Sessa.

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  12. are there any head to head debates set up for this race?if not may i suggest we set up 2 or 3 debates where each candidate can spell out the specifics they have in mind to help the members.

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  13. people don't work for you when you ridicule them. They shit on you every chance they get. Larry.




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  14. Kelty is the biggest joker this union has ever seen. He doesnt know the first thing about leadership, and still continues to de-fruad our benifits fund. He would be the last person I would want to control our future. He calls himself RANK AND FILE, and is any thing but.What a crock.
    I urge all my fellow members to STAY AWAY FROM THIS GUY. He is definitly a step in the wrong direction.

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    1. Your a true blue dc doug mccarron DICK SUCKER!!!!! Youre a step in the wrong direction an asspilot of epic size. You are as valuable as the wretched taint between Joe Geigers ball now go BLOW YOUR DOG ASS WIPE TRUE BLUE SPUNK SKIMMER!!!!!!

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    2. Nice try. Everybody knows Greg is in bed with the R.O. and Mcarron. If this guy gets his way, the union as we know it will crumble. STAY OUT OF N.Y.C. GREG- R.O.-MCARRON You are all the enemy.

      P.S. You talk like you are from New Jersey. You coward

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    3. I AM definitely not from jersey! They dont even have Cranes. How in the hell do they feed themselves? I AM a NEWYORKER!

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  15. "True Blue N.Y.C." demonstrates typical anti-union/corporate mentality, case in point, with focus on geography instead of class, relative to the EST election. Use of this divisive tactic serves the sell-out agenda; by pushing a delusional Long Island vs. Jersey scenario (as if our Locals are rival sports teams) the real issue, of Council officials failing their Duty of Fair Representation to the Membership, is avoided.

    The reality is, most Carpenter members of NYC Locals don't live in the five boroughs, to begin with. They ride Metro North, NJ Transit, or the LIRR, into the city, and take their paychecks back with them. Meanwhile, actual NYC residents pay a much higher cost of living. If a NYC Member works in another locality for a period, and pays into that Fund, they are just as well supporting our out-of-town UBC Brothers and Sisters, providing appropriate mutual aid.

    Vilifying a Journey Carpenter by their Local, or where they may on occasion work, functions more as a pathetic attempt to give cover for Unity Team leftovers squatting 395 Hudson, than true expression of union solidarity or fraternal organization.

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    1. Duty of Fair Representation to the Membership. Stop talking what you cant prove. I will tell you this if you sue me it will be the last person you sue. Its the out of town Cabinets that started this back stabbing shit. What I cant be a Cabinetmaker in New York dealing with the same economic conditions A high cost of making a living in WOOD.

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  16. Out of Towners is the most commented blog under the 157blogspot.com website, yet nary a peep or the slightest inclination by the RO or USAO or the rank & file member to find out exactly how many so called NYC District Council of Carpenter members of the 13,500 +- active (not retiree, honoree or apprentice) Journeyman Carpenters actually reside in the 5-boroughs of the District Council's jurisdiction.

    Note: The UBCJA & the D.C. as well as in-house counselor Murphy and the Benefit Trust Fund beancounters, CPA's, auditors and counsel of reecord all have this information at the 'click of a mouse', so the Question is simply this:

    Why have all the above parties failed to ask these questions and force the RO, USAO & the Funds and their counsel to produce an accurate Report for Judge Berman detailing same?

    Travelers whether from an adjoining District Council or a state or two away or across the country, 1099 Cash Workers and/or Illegal Aliens have no right whatsoever to displace working rank & file Carpenters who physically and for tax purpose with the IRS actually reside in the jurisdiction of the NYCDCC - period!

    PLEASE INCLUDE THIS IN THE DEBATE QUESTIONS & HAVE EACH CANDIDATE STATE EXACTLY WHY THEY AGREE OR DISAGREE.

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    1. Im talking Cranes dumbass. do you own a Crane?

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  17. All well and good, the important fact remains: Greg Kelty, Local 157 Member, has worked in NYC & Vicinity, contributing to our Funds his entire career-- now retired, drawing a pension, still relying upon the trade within the limits of the law-- is an on-the-tools Union Carpenter.

    This District Council, and International, with their profound tendency for betraying the rank-and-file, needs a qualified NYC EST, who consistently understands, the Members, stands up for them, and does not back down-- we know Greg Kelty is the best candidate for that job.

    The fabricated controversy over a Journeyman legally working hours, on-the-tools, while collecting a pension, and outside their locality, in compliance, after years of contributing to the funds, and service for this union, is at most a red herring, by those who have nothing else to offer but lies.

    What the Geiger campaign to discredit Kelty has drawn attention to, inadvertently, is we have have an opportunity before us to elect an EST who really, wants to get rid of Forde era players, at the trough 395

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  18. we need to get the union back in control of the members.the members are the real heroes ,iregardless what people say who make the union.the real hard facts are organizing needs to change with better tactics with more firepower to combat the nonunion.real leaders will get our dental ,optical and lower the deductables for the members.elections should not be about political gains,but about change to bring about the problems the union has been dealing with for a long time.electronic tablets speed up bringing hours in,all the jobs at the council should be held with good union men and women who have worked with the tools for along time and understand the members needs and concerns,which i feel would do our whole membership good.pride,good understanding,people who could problems,and good union members who stand up to the contractors to make sure all benefits are paid in a proper manner or face penalties or fines,to do the right thing.real leaders will bring good results.i prey our leadership takes this seriously,because it is everyones livelyhood,god bless the members,and rank and file,bring change for the betterment of our whole organization to a proud organization.

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    1. Organizing needs to do this and Organizing needs to do that. Members don't do picking without the threat of fine. Membership lost a lot of their union spirit not because of how things are run. we have 125 years of Organizing under our belt but because they have homes and families who take up their time. Some say require five pickets per year but picketing is only a freedom of expression we use collective bargaining and that is done in" good faith" and we know it when we see it.

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    2. What do you think Organizing is? If you have info that will send a non-union company owner to prison for tax and insurance fraud and you ask for anything personal like cash it is extortion if you axe them to sign a CBA its legit. do you Collective Bargaining 101 Tom Lilly How many Businesses have you Salted?

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    3. Freedom is not Free! Ask Rob

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  19. our members have made bold sacrifices over the years.freedom has nothing to do with the state we are in.our retires are the ones who made the union,as with the members as know.men have been arrested because of bad tactics by the nonunion.we have gottan bad press because of this hopilia.we need to change direction by getting the contractors on violations of unsafe working conditions.it surely is a big problem which is going around the city.we need to educate the public and hopefully educate some of the nonunion carpenters to get them on our side.1 good example,if they get hurt,they have nobody to turn to ,they will be out,no job at all.more labor protection laws to make these scab outfits relieliez cutting corners will bring upon stiff penalities.1099 also plays a big part,the contractors should be penalized for that.

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