The Cement League Strike Is Over!

I would like to sincerely thank the Executive Committee for their hard work during this long and arduous negotiation with The Cement League. We are currently in the process of drafting a Memorandum of Agreement to be signed today, which will be presented to the Executive Committee Monday October 7, and to the Delegates Wednesday October 9 for approval.

The support of the members has been overwhelming and much appreciated.

More details will follow as they become available.

Fraternally,
Stephen McInnis
Executive Secretary Treasurer Pro Tem

Carpenters declare strike against Cement League

The New York City District Council of Carpenters went on strike yesterday Wednesday against The Cement League, a building trades employers association.

The two sides have been bargaining for 30 months, but have been unable to come to an agreement, according to the union. "The Cement League is demanding 20% wage reductions in all outer borough construction jobs," while workers have not seen a raise in four years, Stephen McInnis, executive secretary treasurer of the Council, said in a statement.

The Cement League employs more than 500 carpenter members of the union, which represents more than 25,000 skilled carpenters, millwrights, dock builders, cabinetmakers, timbermen and floor coverers, said the Council.

The Cement League did not respond to a request for comment.

Who are the The Cement League

Carpenters across New York City are fighting back against a little known but powerful group of concrete contractors known as The Cement League. The Cement League of New York dominates the Concrete Industry in New York City. Their ambiguous website shares little information about who they are or what they do.

The Carpenters working on New York’s hi-rise hotels and apartment buildings have sacrificed, year after year, in all weather, working without a raise since June of 2010 while real estate prices have skyrocketed.

Each week we read another article of record setting prices for apartments and penthouses while The Cement League seeks to drive down wages and benefits for Carpenters building wealth. The New York Real Estate Industry and its dubious partners in The Cement League have taken greed to a new level. The Cement League and its member contractors are determined to wipe out middle class New Yorkers.

While all other Contractor Associations in New York City’s vast Construction Industry have negotiated fair contracts for their workforce, one organization, The Cement League has moved to betray & undermine their employees  in a greedy stab for more money.

New York City: Carpenters Strike at World Trade Center

NEW YORK—Carpenters lined up around the World Trade Center construction site at 7 a.m. on Oct. 2 to support colleagues that could be facing a pay cut who work on the underground transportation hub.

Negotiations between the Cement League and transportation hub workers broke down yesterday, but another meeting is scheduled for today at 2:30 p.m.

Jeremy Milin, a business agent for New York City District Council of Carpenters, said the carpenters have worked for the last two years without a new contract.

“They [The Cement League] want workers to take a 20 percent pay cut,” Milin said.

John Brunetti from the Cement League said the breakdown in negotiations Tuesday was over a 20 percent reduction in wages for carpenters in the outer boroughs, and not the workers at the transportation hub at the World Trade Center site.

According to Milin, the Vehicular Security Center parking garage across the street was paying their carpenters the normal rate.

“The company has no problem paying our guys what they are worth,” Milin said.

Only at the transportation hub were there problems, according to the workers.

The workers could be back at work tomorrow if negotiations today are successful.

About 200 workers lined up in three locations around the World Trade Center at 9 a.m. Most of them do not work on the transportation hub, but wanted to show their support for their colleagues.

John Arcese, who works on the Cortlandt Street subway station, and is a member of Local 157, said he wanted to support his brothers.

“We want the prevailing wages, because they are gypping them out of wages,” Arcese said.

Cement League Strike Update

At this time The District Council and the Cement League have failed to reach an agreement. The District Council in accordance with the strike vote authorized by the Delegate Body is on strike against Cement League contractors on non-PLA jobs. The position and past practice of the New York City Building and Construction Trades Council is that other trades will NOT honor economic picket lines of another Trade. In the unlikely scenario that contractors attempt to replace union trades people with non-union workers this position will be revisited.

This is especially important on Project Labor Agreements or PLA jobs. While we recognize individual member’s rights in regards to picket lines, the District Council is contractually bound by a “no-strike” provision on these projects. If the District Council was found to be in violation of this provision we would be subject to potentially catastrophic damages in court or through arbitration. Therefore, while we recognize individual members have a right not to cross a picket line the District Council is legally obligated to keep these jobs running without interruption.

It is our intention to conclude our negotiations as quickly as possible. Please refer to our website nycdistrictcouncil.com for continuing updates and a list of PLA jobs with “no strike” provisions.