On Thursday June 23, 2016 Vote Members' Voice

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Local 157 Members' Voice Party is the necessary response to the lack of representation working
carpenters were receiving in their local and regional union government.

We are a group of rank and file carpenters, we work on the tools day in and day out. With that we have an understanding of what issues face union members and their families that no paid employee of the district council can ever understand.

This election is different from all the others. Your voice is needed now more than ever. With the briskly changing times in construction in New York City, we need to work together to preserve principles that protect our families and union. Sadly, when one looks at the voting records of some delegates, it appears they are completely out of touch with the average carpenter working in the field today. The members of Local 157 and their families deserve leadership that understands their needs and situations.

We work hard to represent the carpenters of Local 157 and welcome member input and support. We also encourage members of all the Locals' in The New York City District Council of Carpenters to stand up and demand the representation they deserve!

To learn more check out our website www.membersvoice157.com

PLA's Approved: Delegate Body Meeting July 9, 2014

PLA's Approved: $7.54 Off A Rate B12A  

 

525 West 52nd St: 14 Story and 22 Story, 450,000 SF, 80% Market Rate, 20 % Affordable Housing, Approximately 200,000 Man Hours

225 East 39th St: 36 Story, 380,000 SF, 80% Market Rate, 20% Affordable Housing, Approximately 130,000 Man Hours

138 East 50th St: 50 Story, 257,000 SF, Hotel, Approximately 115,000 Man Hours

$4.00 Off A Rate B12A  

 

53 West 53rd St: 70 Story, 728,000 SF, Residential, Approximately 235,000 Man Hours

The recommendation of the Executive Committee was to approve the following Project Labor Agreements and to amend the future Manhattan Residential/Hospitality PLA's addendums to reflect a $4.00 deduction going forward from the current $7.54 deduction.

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Carpenters Receive Wage & Benefit Increase

The New York City District Council of Carpenters’ Delegate Body ratified by a roll call vote a $2.40 per hour contract wage and benefit increase to begin July 1, 2014 for the members working under the following collective bargaining agreements.

Arch Metal Glass, Building Contractors Association (BCA), Independent Building and Construction Agreement, The Association of Wall-Ceiling and Carpentry Industries (WC&C) and Floor Coverers.

The $2.40 per hour wage and benefit allocations are as follows:

• $1.00 Increase to Hourly Wages 
• $0.44 Increase to Pension Fund 
• $0.96 Increase to Annuity  Fund

The Road to Self-Governance "One Step Closer"

Delegate Body Approval of New Stipulation and Order

 

On Thursday, May 22, 2014, a Special Meeting of the Delegate Body was called to consider and vote on a new Stipulation and Order in United States v. District Council, 90-cv-5722. It was approved unanimously by the Executive Committee and recommended to the Delegate Body. The new Independent Monitor, who will be appointed if and when the Stipulation is approved by the Court, Glen McGorty, attended the meeting and spoke to the Delegates. Then, Barbara Jones, the Council’s attorney, described the important provisions to the Delegate Body. After questions, the Delegate Body voted overwhelmingly, with only one no vote, to approve the Stipulation and Order, and to allow the current Stipulation if the Court is unable to approve the new Stipulation by the time the current Stipulation expires on June 4, 2014.

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Carpenters Receive Wage & Benefit Increase

The New York City District Council of Carpenters’ Delegate Body on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 ratified by a roll call vote a $2.40 per hour contract wage and benefit increase to begin August 20, 2013 for the members working under the following collective bargaining agreements.

Building Contractors Association (BCA), Independent Building and Construction Agreement, and  The Association of Wall-Ceiling and Carpentry Industries (WC&C).

Carpenters working under these agreements accounted for approximately 10 Million Hours of work within the past 12 months.

The $2.40 per hour wage and benefit allocations are as follows:

• $0.80 Increase to Hourly Wages
• $0.80 Increase to Welfare Fund
• $0.80 Increase to Annuity

A vote to amend the original motion of allocations and increase hourly wages by $0.80 and increase the Annuity by $1.60 failed by a vote of 52 to 32.

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Hypocrisy thy name is Bilello & Co.

On April 25, 2013 the Delegate Body of the New York City District Council of Carpenters by a vote of 50 to 32 rejected a motion to have the WC&C Agreement ratified by the rank and file membership.

These same hypocrites on February 8, 2012 unanimously voted "to give the membership the power to determine the future of their union."

“We decided that the best way to go forward was for rank-and-file ratification of the contract,” said Mike Bilello, the union's new executive secretary-treasurer. “It's something I campaigned on. It's part of the transparency of the new district council, the desire for us to put control of the organization back in the hands of the membership.”

Below is an excerpt of the Delegate Body meeting minutes of February 8, 2012 regarding the decision for rank and file ratification:

Local 20 Executive Committee member Christopher Wallace takes the floor, "The Committee met for five (5) hours last night and we want to have a vote. There was a lot of discussion and it was unanimous. Upon a unanimous agreement of the negotiating advisory committee and by the recommendation of the Executive Committee, it is an honor, that I stand here tonight for the first time in District Council history and in keeping with our newly elected officers pledge that the members be in charge of their Union, that I ask for a motion from the floor to have the rank and file members by mail in ballot conducted by the American Arbitration Association, vote to ratify the five collective bargaining agreements posted on the District Council website, with the specialty local members voting exclusively on their contracts."

He asked for a motion to have rank and flle members ratify the five (5) agreements.

A motion to approve was made by Salvatore Tagliafero and seconded by Joseph Sabatino.

Below is the April 25, 2013 Roll-Call vote listing the names and Locals of how each delegate voted on the motion to have the WC&C Agreement ratified by the rank and file membership.

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Musumeci vs. Bilello

Irrational no apology– Bilello

Attention All UBC Members:

I would appreciate your views regarding the pending charges (see below, which were referred to the Trial Committee) against NYC District Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer Mike Bilello.

Unique to the New York City District Council of Carpenters, Section 5.f of the DC Bylaws, among other things state:

"any District Council Delegate may file a complaint with the Trial Committee Chairman and there by initiate an arbitration to be conducted before a three-member panel consisting of the Trial Committee Chairman, Trial Committee Vice Chairman, and a third arbitrator to be chosen by the Trial Committee Chairman and Trial Committee Vice Chairman. All decisions of said panel must be supported by substantial evidence and any party to the proceeding may seek review of a decision with the District Court."

Despite having made several good faith offers to EST Bilello to resolve this situation with a simple apology to the Delegate Body, Bilello irrationally chooses to waste the time, energy, and resources of the District Council by continuing to drag us down this unfortunate and embarrassing road.

In seeking arbitration there must be a distinct issue and request for an award.

I ask all my UBC brothers and sisters to carefully review the charges and articles below, and to post your views on what remedy should be sought by arbitration.

The Stipulated Issue is: Did NYCDC EST Mike Bilello violate articles of the UBC Constitution and NYCDC Bylaws? If so, what shall the remedy be?

Thanking you in advance,
John

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Review Officer to address Delegate Body

Walsh's term expires December 3, 2012.

Review Officer (RO) Dennis Walsh will be making an address to the delegate body on Thursday October 18, at 5 pm, all members are encouraged to attend this meeting.

It is my understanding that the government’s proposal to extend the RO's term by 18 months will be put to the delegate body for a vote. The full board of the Benefit Funds has already approved the proposal and it is expected that the District Council Executive Committee also agrees with the proposal.

The RO is an appointee of the United States District Court pursuant to a federal court order. That order expires on December 3, 2012. Under the order, The RO has the right to make a motion to extend his tenure under the order by six months.

The RO has publicly stated that he will do so in the absence of an extension stipulation.  Some weeks ago, the United States Attorney asked the Benefit Funds and the District Council to extend the tenure of the RO by 18 months. The trustees of the Benefit Funds have informed the RO and the government that they agree to such an extension.

Attention Members

There will be a Delegate Meeting on Wednesday, March 14th at 5 p.m. Location: 2nd Floor, Labor Technical College, 395 Hudson Street, New York, NY.

All members are welcome to attend.

Attention Members

Delegate Meeting scheduled for Wednesday February 8, 2012 @ 5PM in the Labor Technical College, 2nd floor Common Room.

Review Officer to Delegates: You're Vetoed!

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Vindicated, Review Officer Dennis Walsh vetoed a motion made at last Wednesday meeting of the Delegate Body to bar rank and file members from attending meetings of the Delegates.

In an article Delegates to Membership: Drop Dead, we reported that a majority of the 100-member delegate body voted to bar the rank and file as new council leadership stood silent and did not argued for or defend the rights of the rank-and-file to attend delegate meetings.

In a letter written today Walsh said, "I find that the motion and its adoption violate the Stipulation and Order and the Bylaws of the District Council."

"As the motion to henceforth bar members from attending delegate body meetings was ultra vires and would function as a de facto amendment of the Bylaws, pursuant to Paragraph 5.b.iii [c and e] of the Stipulation and Order."

Walsh also noted for the record that "rank and file members were in attendance during the entire meeting of January 25, 20l2, without any delegate objecting, and that no harm to the District Council or its affairs ensued."

"The new administration is off to a rocky start, first over 80 elected delegates oppose transparency measures, violate the Bylaws and act undemocratically, then elected council leadership threatens to file charges against John Musumeci, because they are uncomfortable with free speech and the speed of information posted on this blog."

"If this is a prelude of things to come, we were better off under UBC supervision," a rank and filer who wishes to remain anonymous said.

The very word "secrecy" is repugnant in a free and open society

Someone posted this excellent speech by JFK in the forum. The delegates who voted to bar the membership from delegate meetings, and the new District Council Leaders who sat silently while the rights of the rank-and-file were trampled on, should listen closely to the words of JFK.



The very word "secrecy" is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings. We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts far outweighed the dangers which are cited to justify it.

Even today, there is little value in opposing the threat of a closed society by imitating its arbitrary restrictions. Even today, there is little value in insuring the survival of our nation if our traditions do not survive with it.

And there is very grave danger that an announced need for increased security will be seized upon by those anxious to expand its meaning to the very limits of official censorship and concealment. That I do not intend to permit to the extent that it is in my control. And no official of my Administration, whether his rank is high or low, civilian or military, should interpret my words here tonight as an excuse to censor the news, to stifle dissent, to cover up our mistakes or to withhold from the press and the public the facts they deserve to know.

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Delegates To Membership: Drop Dead

That was the clear message sent at last Wednesday delegate meeting when a majority of the 100-member delegate body voted to bar members from attending delegate body meetings.

Rank and filers in attendance were shocked by the action of the delegates and the silence of the newly elected council leaders as delegates voted to deny them access and transparency measures specifically written into the new District Council Bylaws.

"This is outrageous, two weeks into the new administration and we are being shown the door, its back to business as usual," said an angry rank and filer.

"Neither Lebo, nor Bilello, argued for or defended the rights of the rank-and-file to attend delegate meetings, nor did they act in anyway consistent to their platform of "members rights and democracy" which they were elected on."

"Furthermore, by denying member-rights and democracy, the authoritarian BOSS regime Bilello/Lebo has actually given ammunition to Amalgamated, by substantiating claims the UBC is undemocratic and abusive and no improvement therein will occur under the new District Council administration," a member posted.

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DELEGATE MEETING NOTICE

The District Council has scheduled a Delegate meeting for Wednesday January 25, 2012 @ 6PM in the Labor Technical College 2nd floor common room.

Delegates to the District Council and Executive Committee Member

Local 20

Glenn Arnold
Larry Cirillo
Peter Malandro

Executive Committee Member—Christopher Wallace

Local 45

Martin Flash
Wayne Gibbs
Michael Rodin
Daniel Sessa
James Shea
Eric Tyznar
Jarrett Weinrich
Phil Fiorentino*

Executive Committee Member—Paul Tyznar

Local 157

Michael William Belingo
Gerard Bruen
Paul Capurso
Edward Carey
John Carty
Guy Collins
Joseph Connelly
Kevin Corrigan
Vincent Delessio
Michael Donnelly
Daniel Dore
Kevin Egan
Joseph Faith
Phillip Ficarra
Sean Anthony Firth
James Fisher
Donald Foley
Christopher Grogan
Glenn Hatcher
Gauntlett Holness
William Lacey
Gregory Kelty
Cory Kennedy
Thomas Kineavy
Martin Lydon
Martin Maguire
Kevin McCabe
John McCarthy
Thomas McGonnigle
Graham McHugh
Steven McInnis
William McKenna
Thomas McKeon
Ed McWilliams
John Moloney
John Musumeci
Joseph Nina
Noone Turlough
Louis Norelli
John Sheehy
Mitchell Sonntag
Elly Spicer
Steven Spinelli
Vincent Spinelli
Bill Walsh

Executive Committee Member—John Daly

Local 740

John Cavanaugh
Michael Cavanaugh
Frank Ippolitti
John Montgomery
Daniel Walcott

Executive Committee Member—

Local 926

Sal Tagliaferro
Joseph Albanese
Joseph DiNapoli
Daniel Dunbar
Hayden Peters
Robert Alvarez
Nicholas Tavernite
Maurice Williams
Louis M. Simancas

Executive Committee Member—

Local 1556

Joseph Geiger
Christopher Parzych
Thomas King
Dennis Olenick
Dominick Barressi
Peter Rice
Craig Johnsen
Brian McLaughlin
Charles Lucas Jr.
Robert Joule
Michael Hughes
Thomas Russell
Thomas Bender
William Vega

Executive Committee Member—Sean Hughes

Local 2287

Scott Belford
Barry Berman
Kevin Fleming
John Walz Jr
Robert Fogarile

Executive Committee Member—Raymond Harvey

Local 2790

James Ellis
Giancarlo Rachiele
Walter Clayton, Jr.
Andrew Mucaria
William Peters
Ralph Vincenty
Rafael Pena
Alex Rosales
James Smith
Pedro Sanchez
William Lawston

Executive Committee Member—Robert Villalta

Important Delegate Meeting

To: LOCAL UNION PRESIDENTS AND DELEGATES

From: Matthew Walker, Director of Operations

Please be advised, all Delegates are requested to attend a meeting that will be held on January 9th and 10th at 7:00 a.m. on the 10th floor of the District Council. These meetings are being held to review and discuss the proposed posted Collective Bargaining Agreements. At the conclusion of the January 10th meeting a vote will be called for the ratification of each contract.

Please inform all Local Delegates.

This notice has been faxed to all Local Union offices as well as being posted on the District Council website.

Update on Monthly Delegate Meeting Held on April 13, 2011

From NYCDC 

(John's Note: Do you think the "Rally 4 Solidarity" had anything to do with the council's sudden attempt of keeping you informed?)

Your District Council leadership is committed to keeping you informed of developments and activities affecting our members. Below is a brief summary of the issues raised during the recent NYCDC Delegate meeting on April 13, 2011:

Increased Transparency

In response to suggestions from the Delegates to be more transparent, the Council now provides on the website updated names and contact information on Council staff, including email addresses.

Contract Discussions

The District Council leadership has been meeting with the Employers regarding our upcoming contracts. We have been clear with the Employers that the District Council will not consider any proposal that includes a reduction in wages. We are about increasing market share and man hours. If we are successful in our discussions with Employers regarding contract language that doesn’t impede productivity, it will be a win for both sides. The Employers also raised the issue of an 8-hour work day. We have already led the industry in addressing the current downturn in the economy. However, we will not address the 8-hour work day issue until we have an opportunity to review what the other crafts and subtrades have committed. We want to work on a level playing field.

CONTINUE READING...

Current District Council Delegates

Below is a list of all current council delegates by local noting whether they are elected or appointed.

Preview of “delegates list”

Snail Mail Finally Arrives

WE'VE all heard of snail mail - but this is just ridiculous. Today in the afternoon mail I received a letter dated August 31, from the New York City District Council of Carpenters advising me that the "Charity Softball Tournament and Family Pinic will be held Saturday, September 18th beginning at 9:30 a.m. sharp!

The envelope was marked "PRSRT STD." Presorted Standard is a Post Office term that defines the class of service and postage that is required for a particular mailing. Presorted Standard mail will typically take about 10-14 days for delivery nationwide.

Delegate Summary Report May 2010

Delegate Summary May 2010