Carpenters Receive Wage & Benefit Increase

The New York City District Council of Carpenters’ Delegate Body ratified by a roll call vote a $2.40 per hour contract wage and benefit increase to begin July 1, 2014 for the members working under the following collective bargaining agreements.

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

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

• $1.00 Increase to Hourly Wages 
• $0.44 Increase to Pension Fund 
• $0.96 Increase to Annuity  Fund

President Mitch Sonntag Re-Elected

Don’t forget to vote today

Polls are open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. today for the Local 157 Officer Election, so don’t forget to vote.

Members Voice

Article temporary taken down for updating

A Message from Local 157 President Mitch Sonntage

President’s Agenda for Change

Brother and Sisters:

In construction, if you don’t produce you’re down the road. When a carpenter is given a job to do, and there is no change, you are out the door. Since I was elected as President of Local 157, I thank you for your confidence, I thank you for your support, I thank you for the opportunity to work for you, to produce for you and make positive changes for you. Brothers and Sisters, change began in March 2013 and I want to tell you about it.

RFP FOR POLITICAL ACTION COMPLIANCE ATTORNEY

The New York City District Council of Carpenters, a non-profit, unincorporated labor organization with its main offices in lower Manhattan, seeks a political action Compliance Counsel.

Retained Counsel will provide written and oral reports to the Executive Secretary-Treasurer, President, Political Director, and Executive Committee regarding the District Council’s, and its Political Action Committee’s compliance with Federal, New York State, and New York City legislative and election laws and regulations. These laws and regulations include, but are not limited to, all Federal Campaign Finance laws, the New York State Lobbying Act (Legislative Law §1-a), NYC Lobbying Law (Administrative Code, Sections 3-211-223 and Title 51 of the Rules of the City of New York Sections 1-01-08), and New York State Election Law Article 14. Accordingly, this position will oversee and assist with all necessary filings before the New York State Board of Elections, New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics, New York City Board of Elections, New York City Clerk’s Office, and any that may be required with the Federal Election Commission. Familiarity with these laws is required, including those rules and regulations dealing with campaign finance expenditures and receipts, including independent expenditures. JD and admission to New York State Bar are required.

All proposals should be sent by June 20, 2014, to Daniel Walcott, Director of Political Action, New York City District Council of Carpenters, 395 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014. Responses may also be emailed to dwalcott@nycdistrictcouncil.org, or faxed to 212.366.7497.

WC&C 2014 Scholarship Program

The Association of Wall Ceiling & Carpentry Industries of New York, Inc. values education from grade school to apprenticeship and beyond and is committed again this year to helping families of UBC Carpenters access the high-quality college education they deserve.

Accordingly, the Association is proud to sponsor the 2014 WC&C Scholarship Program and is offering twelve (12) $3,000 scholarships to students with at least one parent who is a NYCDCC Carpenter.

Scholarship is open to students at any level of their studies (not just entering freshmen) and scholarship award is paid directly to the student to use as they choose. Deadline is June 30, 2014.

Application can be downloaded from the WC&C website at www.wcc-ny.com or can be obtained by calling the Association at (516) 478-5600. The application can also be found on the NYCDCC Funds website, or you can click here to download Application.

Real Members Voice

Members Voice

Court order issued yesterday by Judge Berman

Below is a Court order issued yesterday by Judge Berman in response to the letter sent to him on June 4th by the U.S. Attorney, the District Council and the Benefit Funds.

Given the significance of the proposed changes in governance and oversight of the District Council (i.e.,a proposed new Independent Monitor and proposed amended Stipulation and Order), a public hearing with a full opportunity for everyone to be heard on all the issues is both necessary and desirable. That hearing will take place in September.

The September hearing will be held on September 10, 2014 at 11:30a.m. Written comments regarding the proposed Stipulation and Order and Independent Monitor should be served and filed any time on or before August 11, 2014. The Court would appreciate and expect written comments from,among others, Mr.Walsh.

The Eight Interim Report Of The Review Officer

Review Officer Dennis Walsh has issued his Eight Interim Report, (with exhibits) the report contains numerous items of interest and is a must read for all members.

This is my Eighth Interim Report as Review Officer in this matter. It endeavors to inform the Court and the parties of the scope and substance of my activities for the past six months and to convey my impressions of certain aspects of the undertaking. As of this writing, the Court has been asked by the District Council, Benefit Funds and the government to approve a new stipulation and order designed to give the District Council and the Benefit Funds increased control over their affairs while being subject to the authority of a new official, referred to as the “Independent Monitor,” with less authority than the Review Officer (as set forth in the Stipulation and Order entered in this matter on June 3, 2010). The document was negotiated and drafted by the parties after I informed them that I would not serve as Review Officer after the conclusion of this year.

Update on Government, District Council, and Funds Joint Application for a new Stipulation & Order

On Tuesday, May 27, the District Council together with the Government and the District Council Benefits Funds submitted a joint application to Judge Berman of US District Court for the Southern District of New York seeking entry of a new Stipulation and Order to replace the one entered by the Court in 2010. The new Stipulation and Order would provide for the appointment of an Independent Monitor to succeed the District Council’s current Review Officer, Dennis Walsh. The next day, Judge Berman entered an Interim Order allowing the current Stipulation and Order Regarding Appointment of a Review Officer, which is scheduled to expire on June 3, 2014, to continue until the Court is able to reach on a decision on the joint application to appoint a new Independent Monitor. In his Interim Order, Judge Berman noted that “We’ll get to it as soon as feasible.” A copy of Judge Berman’s interim order is available here: [link docket # 1521]. A copy of the proposed Stipulation Regarding Appointment of an Independent Monitor is available here: [link docket #1512-1].


Also on Tuesday, May 27, District Council members that had been vetoed by Mr. Walsh as local union officers wrote to Judge Berman explaining that they were appealing Judge’s Berman’s earlier decision upholding those vetoes to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The members’ believed that the proposed Stipulation and Order Regarding Appointment of an Independent Monitor may have an adverse impact on matters in their appeal. Judge Berman entered the letter on the Court’s docket and noted that: “The Court anticipates conducting a hearing (public) so that interested parties can be heard -- well before any modifications to the Stipulation & Order. The hearing is likely to be held after Labor Day but has not yet been scheduled. (Signed by Judge Richard M. Berman on 5/29/2014)” A copy of the letter is available here: [link docket # 1530]. Judge Berman’s original 2012 decision on the members’ vetoes is available here: [link docket # 1197].