New District Council of New York and Vicinity Trial Procedures

The parties will be known as the Charging Party and the Respondent. The Trial Chairs will be known as Trial Chairs (TC). The role of the TCs will be independent: administratively comparable to hearing officers or administrative trial judges, subject to appeal pursuant to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Constitution (“UBC Constitution”).

Special Election Notice for Executive Secretary-Treasurer

Updated

Pursuant to the Bylaws of the New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters (the “District Council Bylaws”), Paragraph 5.k of the Stipulation and Order entered on June 3, 2010, in United States v. District Council, et al., 90 Civ. 5722 (SDNY) (RMB) (the “Stipulation and Order”) and the Order of the District Court issued on August 15, 2013, authorizing modified election rules, please be advised that the Review Officer (“RO”) will conduct a special election for the balance of the term of the office of District Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer (“EST”) which expires on January 11, 2015, as follows:

Hundreds Camp Outside Carpenters Union Hoping to Land Apprenticeship

NYC Carpenters Union Handing Out Hundreds Of Applications To Job Hopefuls

NEW YORK (CBS NewYork) –The wait is over for hundreds of carpenters who have been camped out for days in hopes of scoring a coveted apprenticeship with New York City’s carpenters union.

Monday morning, the District Council of Carpenters Union began handing out 750 applications. With that comes the chance for union card and the promise of better benefits and a heftier paycheck.

Nicholas Foreman was the first person in line.

“The pot of gold at the end of that rainbow is getting that interview,” he said.

Foreman has been camping on the sidewalk since last Monday through rainy days and chilly nights with no bed, no shower and no electricity.

“A lot of people are going to come for it because this is a very good job,” he said.

The union holds this application process once every two years. Of the applications that will be given out, 500 will be for carpenters. The remaining 250 will be for dock builders and floor installers.

Those who get jobs will earn $20 an hour to start with the possibility of earning as much as $99 an hour down the line.

But the competition is fierce. The line stretched two full city blocks with the hundreds hoping for their chance at a break.

Margaret Power works at the top of One World Trade Center.

“My son is waiting to get in,” she told WCBS 880′s Alex Silverman early Monday morning. “He’ll be a fourth-generation carpenter.”

“The things that they have coming up in the next few, a lot of money to be made,” one man told Silverman.

“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Bodhi O’Neil from Copaigue.

But getting in the door doesn’t guarantee a job. It only guarantees a spot in the lottery. Union officials said they pull names of individuals from a locked lottery box as the industry needs more apprentices.

“We run a state approved lottery and all of these individuals will put their names in a locked box with their names and addresses. As the industry needs more apprentices we pull from that box in a lottery it’s a blind pull,” NYC District Council of Carpenters Director Elly Spicer told CBS 2′s Kathryn Brown.

Those who have been waiting for days say it’s a chance worth taking.

“I’ve never slept on the streets of New York City, I thought it was beneath me. Well, irony is that I’m willing to do it just for the opportunity of possibly getting a job that can change my life,” Bernard James told Silverman. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Union leaders said they typically pull names from the locked lottery box once every two months.

UBC Trying to put Local 1506 into Emergency Supervision to Silence Mike McCarron

On Friday August 16, 2013, at 7:30 pm Mike McCarron was at Local 1506, located at 5164 Santa Monica Blvd in Los Angeles. Mike McCarron is the president of Local 1506 and is a delegate to the Southwest Regional Council. Mike will be discussing the charges, the emergency supervision of the SWRCC, and the personal history between him and big brother Doug that has lead up to the false charges and improper emergency supervision

By Richard Dorrough

The UBC International at its dirty nasty best...Watch UBC Democracy at work.

Last night the UBC International dirt bags showed up at a Local meeting with security guards to shut down a meeting that Mike McCarron was to explain the seizure of the Southwest Council and Doug McCarrons charges against him. Regardless of whats true between the two McCarrons pay attention to what happens as the UBC stops democracy with threats and intimidation yet again. Watch as not a single officer of the local give a report. Watch as the meeting is adjourned after 15 minutes. Pay attention as to WHO it was announced attended the Southwest Council Executive Board in part 1 of this meeting video.



What a blast the DOL will have with that video when yet again the UBC losses another court appearance

Watch as the Big Brother Doug and his cronies Mike Draper accuse Mike McCarron to be mentally unstable and to have premeditated plans of violence as an excuse to show up at a Local Union meeting with 15 Council Security Guards.

Remember Doug McCarron last words "Local, intermediate and international unions are legally separate entities and liability for a local unions actions does not attach itself to the International” and the kicker “Unions generally adopt a three-tier structure: the international union, various intermediate bodies and local Unions. Though they are affiliated by a constitution these organizations are SUCH SEPARATE ENTITIES that they can and do sue each other and THEIR AGENTS HAVE NO LEGAL BINDING AUTHORITY OUTSIDE THEIR OWN UNION ENTITY.

Watch as a duly elected Offcier is brought to tears as he is forced to do the International dirty Buisness. We have rights violations notices posted on the NYCDC web site.You have rights violations notices posted on the North East Council web site and here we have a video of the UBC at its abusive,intimidating, harassing best.







For more information visit Mike McCarron's website "Stand With Mike."

Would-Be Workers Set For Days Camping Out For Carpenters’ Training Program

Job seekers camp out for a training program at the Carpenters’ Union

Eyewitness News

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Hundreds of people camped out in the SoHo section of Manhattan early Sunday, hoping to apply for a position with the carpenters' union. 

It's all for a chance to join the coveted training and apprenticeship program with the New York City District Council of Carpenters union.

About 750 applications will be distributed starting at 9 a.m. Monday.

The union holds this open application process only once every two years.

Applicants have been arriving from throughout the tri-state area and from as far away as Pennsylvania, waiting outside the headquarters of the carpenters union in the West Village.

Some arrived as early as Monday, and they have continued to line up throughout the week.

"It's tough, no showers, you're sitting here all day, walking around." said the first person on line. "But you know what, the end result is the pot of gold, which is to get my name on that ticket so I can get called for an interview, and to really show the dedication, because I've been here all week."

They're hoping for a career: a steady job with good pay and good benefits.

Of the 750 applications available, there are 500 for carpenters, 150 for dock builders and 100 for floor coverers.

Delegate Body Ratifies New Floor Coverers Contract

The Delegate Body ratified a new 4-year Floor Coverers contract this week.

Please see attached agreement and side letter

Floor Coverers Agreement
Side Letter
Roll Call Vote

Carpenters Receive Wage & Benefit Increase

The New York City District Council of Carpenters’ Delegate Body on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 ratified by a roll call vote a $2.40 per hour contract wage and benefit increase to begin August 20, 2013 for the members working under the following collective bargaining agreements.

Building Contractors Association (BCA), Independent Building and Construction Agreement, and  The Association of Wall-Ceiling and Carpentry Industries (WC&C).

Carpenters working under these agreements accounted for approximately 10 Million Hours of work within the past 12 months.

The $2.40 per hour wage and benefit allocations are as follows:

• $0.80 Increase to Hourly Wages
• $0.80 Increase to Welfare Fund
• $0.80 Increase to Annuity

A vote to amend the original motion of allocations and increase hourly wages by $0.80 and increase the Annuity by $1.60 failed by a vote of 52 to 32.

Foes of Brooklyn's City Point get a court date

A rendering of the proposed City Point development in downtown Brooklyn. Photo credit: Rendering courtesy of Cook Fox Architects

By Matt Chaban

Labor unions fighting a legal challenge against a towering downtown Brooklyn development will get their day in court after all. Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Cynthia Kerns has set a Sept. 24 hearing for the case, which the city is fighting to dismiss, saying the unions have no grounds to bring the suit.

The unions argue that the massive City Point project along Flatbush Avenue, on the site of the former Albee Square Mall in the Fulton Square Mall in downtown Brooklyn, fails to provide promised wages for construction workers and quality permanent employment. Such jobs were laid out in the 2004 environmental review of the project, but the legal team argues they are unfulfilled, and that because of that the project's environmental review should be invalidated.

A union win could halt the project, which is already under construction.

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.

Little Brother Mike Fights Back

Mike McCarron

Mike McCarron launches website "Stand With Mike" to respond and fight the charges filed against him by his brother, UBC General President Douglas McCarron.

GP McCarron placed the union’s southwest regional council under emergency supervision after allegedly finding that little brother Mike (the council’s executive secretary-‐treasurer) "had been intimidating workers and other individuals and failing to adhere to collective bargaining agreements and UBC rules."

In a July 19 letter, UBC General Vice President Douglas Banes gave Mike Draper, vice president of the Western District affiliated with the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, authority to manage the council in light of reports that regional council Executive Secretary-Treasurer Mike McCarron ran the organization in “a manner detrimental to the welfare and best interest of the Regional council.”

Banes’s letter states that there were reported financial irregularities and malpractice as well as a failure “to assure the performance of collective bargaining agreements.”

According to the letter, Banes also obtained information showing that McCarron intentionally intimidated individuals, ran the regional council undemocratically, and withheld information from other council leaders.

In addition, Banes learned that McCarron was improperly spending the council’s assets and interfering with the operations of other organizations. Banes also stated in the letter that McCarron’s behavior is “erratic and unstable,” leading him to conclude that the executive secretary-treasurer is “unable to properly and lawfully perform your duties.”

Mike McCarron, who is the brother of UBC General President Douglas McCarron, has served as executive secretary-treasurer of the regional council for more than 10 years, and has launched a website in response to the charges.

Mike wrote, "As you may have heard, the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters was placed under supervision by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, on July 22, 2013."

"I am in shock over this and other actions that the General President has taken against me and the Regional Council. These actions have nothing to do with the Brotherhood or the Council. The unfortunate truth behind these actions is a dispute between brothers that has bled into the Brotherhood."

"I hope you will stand with me during these difficult times. I am sincerely grateful for your trust and support."

2013 Charity Softball Tournament

Dear Brothers and Sisters: The 2013 New York City District Council of Carpenters Charity Softball Tournament and Family Picnic will be held on Saturday, September 2l" beginning at 9:30am sharp! This year’s event will be held at Cunningham Park, Fresh Meadows, Queens NY l 1366. Maps and directions will be on our website as well as information regarding team sponsorships. Please check the website for weather cancellations. 

As in the past this will he a fun family day, with free food, shirts, games and many family activities as well as some very entertaining softball games. We encourage all members and their families to join us for what is sure to be a great event. This clay is an opportunity for us to honor all of`our members and their supportive families.

Our members are the most talented and skilled tradesmen and women this city has to offer and your Union wants to honor you. Our animal picnic give your District Council Representatives and Officer's an opportunity to thank you for your commitment to this union while you enjoy a day out with your family.

The softball tournament will begin at 9:30am sharp so come prepared for a friendly competition between our brothers and sisters. Join in a game or cheer on your local union's team. It is sure to be an exciting day as we witness who will gain bragging rights of 2013 Softball Champion.

The first 16 teams to register will be eligible. Sponsorship is $500.00 per team. Please make checks payable to NYCDC Charity Fund.

Fraternally,
Stephen Mclnnis
Executive Secretary-Treasurer Pro Tem President, NYC District Council

Carpenters Regional Council under UBC Supervision Due to Secretary- Treasurer’s Conduct

By Jewel Edwards

Leaders of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America July 19 placed the union’s southwest regional council under emergency supervision after finding that the council’s executive secretary-‐treasurer had been intimidating workers and other individuals and failing to adhere to collective bargaining agreements and UBC rules.

In a July 19 letter, UBC General Vice President Douglas Banes gave Mike Draper, vice president of the Western District affiliated with the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, authority to manage the council in light of reports that regional council Executive Secretary-Treasurer Mike McCarron ran the organization in “a manner detrimental to the welfare and best interest of the Regional council.”

The regional council represents about 65,000 union carpenters in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado.

Under the UBC constitution, emergency supervision of a regional council should be implemented when Carpenters’ leadership determines that immediate action by the UBC is needed to “protect and preserve the welfare and interest” of the union, its district councils, and locals.

Banes’s letter states that there were reported financial irregularities and malpractice as well as a failure “to assure the performance of collective bargaining agreements.”

According to the letter, Banes also obtained information showing that McCarron intentionally intimidated individuals, ran the regional council undemocratically, and withheld information from other council leaders.

In addition, Banes learned that McCarron was improperly spending the council’s assets and interfering with the operations of other organizations. Banes also stated in the letter that McCarron’s behavior is “erratic and unstable,” leading him to conclude that the executive secretary-treasurer is “unable to properly and lawfully perform your duties.”

As a result, the Carpenters authorized Draper to hire, fire, and give direction to the district council’s service providers and vendors, manage and monitor the council’s assets, enforce the CBAs, and appoint additional council supervisors and assistants.

Banes said that a hearing will be conducted at a later date to determine whether UBC supervision over the regional council should continue.

Mike McCarron, who is the brother of UBC General President Douglas McCarron, has served as executive secretary-treasurer of the regional council for more than 10 years, a council representative told BNA.

The representative told BNA that the regional council views the emergency supervision as an internal matter, therefore the council will not comment on UBC’s decision.

Brooklyn Bridge Park to Union Workers: You Cost Too Much

By Joe Maniscalco

Brooklyn, NY - Brushing aside concerns about responsible development, safety standards, quality work, storm preparedness and more, the board tapped to oversee the ongoing construction of Brooklyn Bridge Park told union workers on Wednesday that employing them to build out a new section of the park at John Street would just cost too much money.

Ignoring a pro-labor Build Up NYC rally taking place just beneath them on Joralemon Street, members of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Board backed a move to acquire a 1.5 acre site at John Street from Con Edison, and use the services of a suspect contractor called Empire Pile and Foundations, Inc. to establish more parkland and mixed-use residential and retail space.

But the 17-member board of directors - already in retreat from their first floor offices on Furman Street where noise from previous Build Up NYC rallies had made them uncomfortable - took the action before providing the public - including union workers - with one last chance to speak out on the project.

“This is a public park,” said Dan Walcott, NYC District Council of Carpenters director of special projects. “It’s not a playground for this group. Mr. [Seth] Pinsky did everything to get that money but he cut out labor.”

Judge Berman Denies Bilello's Appeal

Clueless Bilello, You're fired!

Breaking News...Judge Berman issued a Decision and Order today denying Bilello's appeal, in short Berman wrote "there is a continuing need for zero tolerance of official misfeasance and malfeasance at the District Council."

On Monday, April 29, 2013 Bilello, the former disgraced carpenter boss, was booted from his post by the court appointed Review Officer (RO) Dennis Walsh for violating several union rules — including directing a schedule pay raise into the Welfare Fund without proper authorization (a story we broke on March 23, 2013) and letting a suspended union member work at the Javits Center and then lie about it.

Among other things Berman wrote, "Having reviewed the record herein, "the RO’s April 29, 2013 Veto correctly concludes, with respect to Specification 1, that from on or about July 1, 2012, through March 12, 2013, Bilello failed to abide by Section 21 of the District Council Bylaws and caused or attempted to cause employer compensation for members totaling more than $900,000 to be directed to the New York City District Council of Carpenters Welfare Fund.

Bilello contends that Specification 1 is “unreasonable” because, while “before the week of March 20, [2013] he had not taken note of § 21’s terms,” (Bilello Petition at 8), the Delegate Body approved his actions on March 27, 2013 nunc pro tunc, “curing any prejudice from this procedural oversight.”

The RO responds (persuasively) that Bilello’s action was more than a mere “procedural” oversight. “Allowing Bylaws to be disregarded, especially based on past practices, [i.e. historical pervasive mismanagement in the Union], would undermine the reform efforts undertaken pursuant to the Consent Decree and the Stipulation and Order.”