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

President Mitch Sonntag Re-Elected

Don’t forget to vote today

Polls are open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. today for the Local 157 Officer Election, so don’t forget to vote.

Article temporary taken down for updating

A Message from Local 157 President Mitch Sonntage

President’s Agenda for Change

Brother and Sisters:

In construction, if you don’t produce you’re down the road. When a carpenter is given a job to do, and there is no change, you are out the door. Since I was elected as President of Local 157, I thank you for your confidence, I thank you for your support, I thank you for the opportunity to work for you, to produce for you and make positive changes for you. Brothers and Sisters, change began in March 2013 and I want to tell you about it.

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Local Union 157 - Delegate Elections Results

Local Union 157 - Delegate Elections Results

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McCarron directs Local 157 to Rerun Delegate Election

In summary, Local Union 157 is directed to rerun the election for delegates as soon as practical and in accordance with the requirements of the UBC Constitution. Any member who was previously nominated but no longer wishes to be a candidate should withdraw their candidacy. Also the President of the Local Union should exercise the authority provided for under section 33A and "determine all questions of eligibility for office subject to appeal to the General President under section 53G".

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Notice of New Meeting location for all Local 157 members

Local 157 “On the Rise”

Please come down and participate at your monthly Local 157 Meeting.

There have been many positive changes going on with Local 157 and the new leadership is firmly committed to continue to rebuild the solidarity.

With the innovative addition of the Local 157 pre-meeting gatherings, one has the opportunity to connect with your elected delegates about your concerns and hold your representative accountable for their input, on your behalf. Please come down and be a part of the proven resurgence into your local! Reunite with friends, receive “sound” information and help to protect your future!

Meetings are held at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua 154 Sullivan Street N.Y.C. Our next three meetings will held on October 16th, November 20th and December 18th. Delegate Committee Forum @ 4:00 pm, Local Meeting starts at 4:30 pm.

There are Beverages, Food, Tee Shirts, Gift Card Raffles, 157 Stickers and Union Camaraderie. We are planning to have De Walt, Milwaukee, Hilti and other tool companies with their new tools at our up-coming meetings.

Local 157 Fishing Trip

When: October 19th, 2013, Set Sail at 7:00 am till 3:00 pm
Cost: Approximately $60.00 w/Bait & Pole Included.

Welcome aboard the Brooklyn VI All friends, kids and spouses are welcome to join in on a day of good times and camaraderie on the open seas!! The Brooklyn VI is a modern super-fast 110' long 26' wide super cruiser. Be a part of Local 157’s first annual fishing trip! Bring food and beverages (suggested) or purchase on board.

Contact: Jimmy Hogan @ 718-916-5858 Bill Walsh 646-247-4380

Important Notice: Local 157 Meeting Change

Attention Members: The August 21st monthly Local 157 meeting will be held at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua, 154 Sullivan Street at 4pm.

Reminder to our Members–Local 157 Voluntary Dental Plan Registration Dates

Rolling Enrollment Continues!!!  Sign up by August 10th to have coverage beginning September 1st. Note: for the PPO option the August 10th date also establishes coverage starting September 1st.

Please mail in your paperwork asap! For the Healthplex DMO and  the Healthplex PPO. 

For more information or questions contact:

Lois Riccobono
Benefits Consultant
(631) 249-0500  Ext. 6385.

Local 157 Election Results

Members Voice 157 wins majority of delegate seats!  With a total of 1484 votes cast, Members Voice easily beat Carpenters Alliance slate. You needed a minimum of 540 votes to win a delegate seat, only Paul Capurso, Tom Mc Keon, and Cory Kennedy from Carpenters Alliance won seats.  Members Voice John Daly won and remains Executive Committee member.

Delegate letter to Judge Berman in support of full mobility

Dear Judge Berman:

I am a Delegate and shop steward in the New York City District Council of Carpenters. I understand that you have a very difficult decision to make, and that judgment is going to have a sweeping effect on the carpenters union as we know it.

When l was running for the position of delegate to Local 157, it was not uncommon for those running to have to publicly state at union meetings what their position was on full mobility. The delegates to the various locals were elected by the members of their respective locals, knowing what the position was of the persons they were voting for. The Wall and Ceiling contract was passed as per the Bylaws, by men and women chosen by the membership. For others to take a contrary position is unfair and inaccurate.

Before the initial meeting of the newly elected delegates, we studied several of the contracts. This training session lasted 3 days, and several of the contracts were studied from cover to cover. The delegates voiced their concerns about wording and their displeasure with provisions such as the Favored Nations Clause. l do not understand how anyone can say that nobody knew what was contained in the contract, after going through three days of comprehensive training on the contracts.

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Members Voice Wins!

 Bilello backed Gausman slate defeated.

Preliminarily election results show it was a clean sweep for the Members Voice Slate with approximately 700 vote cast. Congratulations to the winners.

Elections results provided by Dan Franco.

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POLLS ARE OPEN! Come out and VOTE TODAY in Local Union 157's Election!

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VOTE Members Voice Slate

Please come out this Wednesday and support The Members Voice Slate!! 

Experienced Leadership Putting Members First. 

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NOTICE OF VETO BY THE REVIEW OFFICER

 (John's note: Local 157 pro tem president Gerry Gausman, screws up again)!

To: The Executive Board, Local 157

Guy Giordano, Local 157 Election Committee Chairman

During the course of the last few days I have received a number of email messages from members of Local 157 regarding the eligibility of certain members of Local 157 to run for office (in an election to be conducted on February 20, 2013). The messages specifically addressed whether the candidates in question meet the requirements set forth in Section 31.D of the Constitution of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (to wit, whether they depend on the trade for a livelihood; whether they resigned or were required to resign their current offices before they accepted their nominations). All of the referenced emails are incorporated herein by reference.

Each of the candidates was nominated and accepted his nomination in a special meeting of Local 157 held on January 30, 2013 (notice of which, attached as Exhibit A, had been timely given to the membership).

One of the members whose eligibility to run has been questioned, Greg Kelty, purported to resign as Treasurer of the local union in a letter he submitted to President Pro Tem Thomas McGonnigle dated November 28, 2012. The letter is attached as Exhibit B.

Regarding the mechanics and timing of his purported resignation, Kelty said “My resignation will become effective upon the election of a new Executive Board or immediately upon supervision of the District Council.” The result of this language is that the office of treasurer was not vacated on November 28, 2012, nor was it vacant on January 30, 2013, when nominations to fill the office were sought, made and accepted. Kelty, in fact, accepted a nomination for the office of treasurer, an office he still held at the time and holds to this moment.

The taking of nominations to fill an office which had not been vacated was a moot exercise which wasted the assets of the local union, was contrary to proper democratic process and should not have been conducted.

Accordingly, the procedure and process employed by Local 157 to accept nominations to fill an office which had not been vacated and the result of that process is hereby vetoed pursuant to Paragraph 5.b.iii (c), (d) and (e) of the Stipulation and Order as a waste of local union assets and contrary to one of the purposes of the Stipulation and Order (as set forth in Paragraph 4 therein) to maintain and run the affairs of the District Council and its affiliated local unions in a democratic manner.

Dated: February 14, 2013

Dennis M. Walsh
Review Officer

Gausman running mate accused of Harassment

Accused harasser, Pat Brennan.

Local 157 pro tem president Gerry Gausman’s running mate Patrick Brennan, has been charged with, improper harassment, causing dissension, and violating the Obligation, and must appear before the NYC District Council Executive Committee on February, 14, 2013, an informed source said.

Brennan who is running for Treasurer, on Gausman’s, Carpenters for Carpenters slate, allegedly made threatening, intimidating and bullying comments and caused physical harm to members of the UBC, the source said.

Brennan has a history of improper behavior, back in October 2011, we reported that Brennan, was accused of running an illegal raffle,  while seeking elected office on Gausman's, Carpenters United NYC Slate, in an effort to raise money to pay for their failed campaign.

Yesterday, we reported that Gausman is attempting to improperly disqualify the eligibility of UBC members, William Walsh and Greg Kelty, who are running against Gausman on the Members Voice 157 slate.

"It's enough to make you sick and disgusted" with the way Gausman is running his campaign, the informed source said.

We also reported that Review Office Dennis Walsh said among other things, Gausman's decision regarding the eligibility of Walsh and Kelty, “is incorrect and made upon a deficient record."

"It is not sufficiently documented or accompanied by sufficient process to erase the suspicion that it is politically motivated," Walsh said

Between Gausman engaging in political dirty tricks, and Brennan acting like a thug, by threatening and bulling members, the two seem to be made for each other and make the perfect Valentine's Day couple.

Brennan and Gausman were both unavailable for comment.

Gausman Pulls Political Hatchet Job

Gausman playing dirty tricks

Local 157 pro tem president Gerry Gausman, has placed himself at the center of an election controversy by attempting to improperly disqualify the candidacies of fellow executive board members Bill Walsh and Greg Kelty, by citing they are retired members and ineligible to hold elected office.

Gausman, citing and acting on alleged complaints to the Inspector General’s office, regarding the eligibility on Walsh and Kelty, has abused and misused his authority for political gain, according to informed sources.

Longtime former Local 608 members that know Gausman well; said, “Gerry is a boob and incompetent, he has been running for office for years, he cannot win on his own merits, so he retorts to political hatchet jobs, trying to tear down his opponents with a non-issue, in a feeble attempt to will an election."

In April 2011, I criticized Gausman for lack of leadership, and in June 2011, again, while Gausman made another failed attempt at running for local president, I criticized him for failing to give the membership a single reason why you should vote for him.

“We’ve had strong presidents and weak presidents, skillful presidents and incompetent presidents, honest presidents and corrupt presidents. Gerry Gausman stands alone as the first president who simply declines to lead.”

On every issue going back to when Mike Bilello appointed him vice president pro tem and continuing up until now, Gausman has dumped responsibility and has set a pattern of negligible and incompetent leadership.

Financial Secretary pro tem Walsh and Treasurer Kelty have filed emergency applications to General President Doug McCarron under Section 53G via FedEx and Fax. Both Kelty and Walsh are semi-retired and depending on the trade for a livelihood by working 39 hours per month as per Section 31D of the UBC Constitution. Bill Walsh and Greg Kelty are also both seated District Council Delegates and Walsh is on the District Council Audit Committee.

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Gausman’s disqualification of Walsh and Kelty occurred three days after an Election Committee meeting where no mention of the eligibility of either Financial Secretary pro tem Walsh or Treasurer Kelty was made by Gausman’s Carpenters for Carpenters slate.

Walsh and Kelty are running on the rival Members Voice 157 slate, which has stoked up a backlash of membership accusations that the Gausman disqualifications are politically motivated.

In a brief telephone conversation with Local 157 Blogspot, Treasurer Greg Kelty, said that, “Gerry Gausman did not contact me in anyway before the disqualification and no requests for documentation were made.”

“Gerry made no effort to investigate the situation and made no good faith effort to provide his fellow executive board members due process before disqualifying Financial Secretary Walsh and myself”.

Gausman notified Review Office Dennis Walsh of the disqualifications and Walsh, after reviewing the matter said, Gausman's decision regarding the eligibility of William Walsh and Greg Kelty, “is incorrect and made upon a deficient record. It is not sufficiently documented or accompanied by sufficient process to erase the suspicion that it is politically motivated.”

Walsh urge Gausman, to “at least seek the guidance of Frank Spencer as a duly authorized agent of the UBC and include in that request any evidence presented by or available from Bill Walsh and Greg Kelty.”

Gausman was unavailable for comment.

Come meet the Members Voice 157 Slate

Join us Today, and meet the candidates of the Members Voice Slate.