The hourly contract raise was the last installment of the 2006 Collective Bargaining Agreement which expires June 30, 2011.
There was no advanced word given to the rank and file regarding the wage give back or any attempt by Spencer to get the consent of the rank and file.
"We believe this action will preserve carpenter member jobs and increase potential employment opportunities in the near future," Spencer wrote in a letter dated December 30, posted below.
Spencer did not present any specifics about what jobs would be "preserved" or how this contract give back will increase "potential employment."
Carpenters have previously criticized Spencer saying "he does not have the authority to unilaterally alter the terms and conditions of a collective bargaining agreement that is in effect, and it is a violation of the National Labor Relations Act to do so."
“There’s a significant difference between negotiating in good faith, and issuing some kind of edict that may or may not be legal."
On July 1, 2010 Spencer, at the urging of the contractors, enacted a 90 day wage freeze with neither the counsel nor consent of the membership. This wage sacrifice was based on a theory by contractors that a wage freeze would "spur new projects." That predication has been disproved, since our contractors could not provide any documentation to support that theory.
Carpenters I spoke with on the condition of anonymity were stunned to learn of the wage give back, "It's outrageous, we have no input or voice in any decision that effect our livelihood and once again we have been kept in the dark."
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| 2006 -2011 CBA |
Wage Letter Jan 2011
DROP DEAD UNITY TEAM !
ReplyDeleteAll that has been achieved under this supervision that has not been brought about by a court appointed investigator has been a lesson by Spencer on how not to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement.
ReplyDeleteSure it might seem like a good strategy to give concessions before you hit the bargaining table, if you are a complete idiot, the unfortunate part is that we are stuck with the clown.
Spencer writes, "it's in the best interest to begin contract negotiation so we can look forward to 2011 with more certainty."
ReplyDeleteWhat was certain was the $2.13 raise we were to receive until you decided to take it away!
Spencer makes absolutely no sense and is unfit to supervise this council.
Concessions before negotiations, sounds like a play out of Obama's uber successful playbook.
ReplyDeleteJust called the OWL, I am number 118 on 157's list. LOL... I have been on the bench for 16 months now :)
Members of the Carpenters' union didn't care enough to take action this summer when our wages were frozen, so why should we now? It's as much the fault of the rank and file for not voicing their discontent, than it is for Spencer to act unilaterally. What small percent votes in elections? We voted in the unity team; so now it's time for the membership to rise from the grave and take possession of the soul of the union, which is our own!
ReplyDeleteI read Mr.Walshs' order of appointment. The man was given general authority to review all actions taken by the council and the locals. This was to make sure that the council and the locals were acting in the " best interest of the membership ". I cannot see how giving back a contractually agreed upon raise serves the best interest of the membership. I can see where it serves the best interest of the contractors , I can see that real easy. Mr. Walsh , crooked contractors bought our leadership top to bottom , and they bought them CHEAP! . If you haven't already figured this out , contractors who were not involved directly in these criminal enterprises were more than aware of them. The unity team bought their silence with sweetheart deals like the "request system ". The request was nothing more than a tool that was used by the contractors , honest and corrupt alike , to render the out of work list meaningless. You have to admit that the scale of corruption that went on , particularly in the drywall industry , could not have gone on without the request system. So now we give back a raise to the contractors, who are as guilty as those BA's and stewards sitting in cells. They were complicit either by participation or by their silence. They directly benefited from a provision that was meant to aid a criminal act. This is clearly demonstrated by the rush of furniture companies to join the ceiling and drywall association after awarding of the request to the " association " . I fail to see how rewarding these contractors by letting them out of their contractual obligations is in the best interest of the membership. I would hope you were presented with some very compelling reasons for these actions. If it's not too much trouble Mr. Walsh , could you or the council be persuaded to share those reasons with us ?. We already know that we are going into early contract negotiations . How about , for a change , we include some of the members who ACTUALLY DO THE WORK !. I fail to see how having our next contract negotiated by unity team holdovers and a group from the UBC , who have never swung a hammer in this town, is in our best interest. You are paid to look out for the membership , this contract will have a greater impact on us and our families then any other matter under your purview. If you are a man of integrity sir, you will use your authority to see that the working membership is given a voice in the negotiating of this agreement. If you let them take our raise and then let them negotiate a sweetheart deal with even more givebacks then your just another guy ripping us off. TIME TO PUT UP OR SHUT UP.
ReplyDeleteI cannot see how giving back a contractually agreed upon raise serves the best interest of the membership.
ReplyDeleteI can see where it serves the best interest of the contractors , I can see that real easy.
Mr. Walsh , crooked contractors bought our leadership top to bottom , and they bought them CHEAP!
If you haven't already figured this out , contractors who were not involved directly in these criminal enterprises were more than aware of them.
The unity team bought their silence with sweetheart deals like the "request system ".
The request was nothing more than a tool that was used by the contractors , honest and corrupt alike , to render the out of work list meaningless.
You have to admit that the scale of corruption that went on , particularly in the drywall industry , could not have gone on without the request system.
So now we give back a raise to the contractors, who are as guilty as those BA's and stewards sitting in cells.
They were complicit either by participation or by their silence.
They directly benefited from a provision that was meant to aid a criminal act. This is clearly demonstrated by the rush of furniture companies to join the ceiling and drywall association after awarding of the request to the " association."
I fail to see how rewarding these contractors by letting them out of their contractual obligations is in the best interest of the membership.
I would hope you were presented with some very compelling reasons for these actions.
If it's not too much trouble Mr. Walsh , could you or the council be persuaded to share those reasons with us?
We already know that we are going into early contract negotiations . How about , for a change , we include some of the members who ACTUALLY DO THE WORK!
I fail to see how having our next contract negotiated by unity team holdovers and a group from the UBC , who have never swung a hammer in this town, is in our best interest. You are paid to look out for the membership , this contract will have a greater impact on us and our families then any other matter under your purview.
If you are a man of integrity sir, you will use your authority to see that the working membership is given a voice in the negotiating of this agreement. If you let them take our raise and then let them negotiate a sweetheart deal with even more givebacks then your just another guy ripping us off.
TIME TO PUT UP OR SHUT UP.
We have now lost a 5% raise this year with no member imput. And what in the world are we doing giving up shit before negotiations even begin. Are these give backs going to count towards the 20% cut Spencer has already promised or are we really getting screwed with a 25% give back. I know its not binding but there should be a symbolic vote at every local demanding membership ratification of the new contract. Lets send a message to Spencer, McCarron, Contractor Associations and Walsh that the membership is not going to just roll over and die. If they try to shove a shitty contract down our throat we should stand up and let them know NO VOTE NO WORK on July 1, 2011. Its time to put politics aside and all locals stand together against tyrany. We can get back each others balls off after we get rid of the outsiders. UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL.
ReplyDeleteWE SHOULD RETAIN AN ATTORNEY, GET A INJUNCTION TO STOP THIS WAGE GIVE BACK. AND FILE WITH THE NLRB WHAT SPENCER IS DOING IS NOT LEGAL.
ReplyDelete