Contract Negotiations Update

There is a message posted on the District Council's website that says, "Contracts Talks Extended to August 31, 2012." No other information is provided.

Carpenters have not received a raise since October, 2011, and been working without a contract since June 30, 2011.

Last week we reported that John Delollis, Director of the Wall & Ceiling Association (WC&C), was invited to address the delegate body on Wednesday July 25th and present the WC&C proposals for the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Mr. Delollis, said the four major issues the WC&C want are:

• Full Mobility with only NYCDC members 50/50 with all outsiders.
• No pay differential for shift work.
• Eliminate the half day work for full days pay for Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. These days to remain as regular work days.
• Allow two man jobs without the assignment of a shop steward.

In exchange for these four items the WC&C has offered a wage and benefit increase of $13.13 per hour = 15.4% total for 5 years.

In March carpenters soundly rejected four contracts negotiated with contractor associations last year—a blow to contractors because the deals included a number of work-rule changes that they have long coveted.

The primary one was “full mobility” provision that would have enabled contractors to select any member of the union to work for them; the current system compels them to hire at least one-third of their workers via union referrals.

Agreements with the Building Contractors Association, Cement League and Wall, Ceiling and Carpet Industries were all rejected by nearly 2-to-1 margins, with nearly 2,400 votes cast on each.