MONDAY! COURT DATE AND RALLY

DEMOCRACY IN ACTION: NYC RANK AND FILE CARPENTERS REQUEST FEDERAL JUDGE RESTRAIN OUTGOING UNION BOSSES FROM FORCING DELEGATE VOTE ON COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS, PROTEST OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETING

Rally Permit 

WE NEED YOUR HELP AGAIN: DISTRICT COUNCIL RALLY 

WHEN: TODAY- MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2012 4-8 PM,
WHERE: 395 HUDSON STREET

New York – Today rank and file union members have filed a Motion for a Restraining Order to prohibit a forced vote on binding Collective Bargaining Agreements. Federal Judge Richard M. Berman will hear an argument from attorneys representing these members concerning the attempt by union bosses to force this vote and thereby violate the due process rights of the rank and file members. Such due process rights are guaranteed under the National Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, United Brotherhood of Carpenters Constitution, and NYC District Council By-Laws. Simultaneously, hundreds of rank and file members will be rallying in support of their “last stand” against a corporate takeover of their union.

UBC Supervisor Frank Spencer has scheduled a rushed ratification vote on five-year collective bargaining agreements with three contractor associations for the District Council Delegate Body, on Tuesday Jan. 10, a day before a newly elected Executive Secretary Treasurer and other leaders are installed Jan. 11.

During a December 20 court conference, Federal Judge Richard Berman sought to ensure that there would be full opportunity for the membership to vet the Collective Bargaining Agreements prior to any ratification. Judge Berman strongly suggested that a “Town Hall” meeting be conducted wherein UBC representatives would field questions and provide answers concerning the Agreements. Despite further efforts of United States Attorney and federally appointed Review Officer, Dennis Walsh, to schedule this meeting, UBC representative Thomas Garrison refused to cooperate, and District Council Supervisor Frank Spencer declined invitation by Walsh for the UBC to participate in a Review Officer forum, nor schedule a UBC “Town Hall” meeting. Judge Berman recommended that the vote be delayed from January 5, 2012, to January 15-January 19. Lawyers for the UBC adamantly refused and have scheduled the vote for January 10.

Rank and file members main concern with the Collective Bargaining Agreements is that a clause incorporating complete employer preferential hiring (“Full Mobility”) will lead to a diminution of their labor rights and increased corruption. Preferential hiring completely removes the work referral system whereby the union establishes a list of members that are eligible for a particular project. Rank and file members, in struggling to protect their federally mandated rights, argue that removing such protections will lead to employer violations of health, safety and labor laws as well as age, ethnicity, and gender discrimination.

For more info contact: Demian Schroeder: 646-321-3274, email: rally524@yahoo.com, or visit: http://nyccrfo.blogspot.com/

UBC Complaint 1-6-12