Stronger Than Ever 2024 - ENG

2024 STRONGER THAN EVER

2024

BORDER TO BORDER

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF WESTERN STATES CARPENTERS

LETTER FROM THE EST

Carpenters,

In the three decades I have worked for the organization, 2023 was the fastest pace we have ever run as a Regional Council–12 states stretching from the Arctic Circle to the Mexican border, 36 major construction markets, 90,000 members; no other union covers that kind of ground nor has that kind of bargaining power.

With that, our Union is diverse beyond any others. Starting with just our personalities, I can’t think of more polar opposites than a Millwright and a Drywaller. A Bridge Carpenter and a Finish Carpenter.  An Aerospace worker and a Scaffold hand you see where I am going with this.  The Department of Labor has 33 different apprenticeship classifications for our trade.

Then you consider the cultural differences that come from 36 different parts of the country. What works in Fairbanks, AK, may not work in Albuquerque, NM, or San Diego, CA. That’s 90,000 different upbringings, opinions, and backgrounds.   But one thing that brings us all together is the common goal of more jobs, better wages, and a constant improvement in our benefit structure.

As a Carpenter, I always judged my personal accomplishments by looking behind me each day to see how much wall I had built. As an organization, we persistently draw blueprints and lay out the future. At the same time, we must look behind us and measure the outcomes. Last year was filled with production and results. So, to state the obvious, we changed our name twice, merged 12 states, and reinvented ourselves into the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters (WSRCC).

Not without major challenges, we have negotiated life-changing agreements in Washington and Oregon. Not only second-to-none wages but also life-changing improvements to the pension plan that double and/or triple pension values for our Carpenters. We were also able to negotiate an additional 10% increase to all past pension credits for active and retired participants of the Northwest SIPP plan. Not to be outdone, Las Vegas and Reno’s 2023 agreements have the highest increase and best contracts in the history of those markets. We have some of the lowest out-of-work list numbers and the highest trust fund hours being reported in decades.

Nothing happens by accident. With an incredibly active membership, our organizing campaigns remain aggressive and focused, and continue to be THE priority. Altogether, we signed 636 new agreements in our 12-state region. These are companies and/or projects that would have gone nonunion had the Union not drawn the line in the sand.

Our political action, led by our CUPP members, is paying dividends. The Infrastructure, CHIPS, and Inflation Reduction Acts are turning into real projects and real Union jobs.  As the WSRCC, we are cranking out record number of work hours.  We need to keep our foot to the floor to continually advance into nonunion markets and new types of construction and protect what we already have.

Lastly, I just want to emphasize that, without an active membership balanced with skilled professionals, none of these successes would be a reality. Keep an eye out for one another, stay safe, and continue to play a part in building the badassery in our Union.

FRANK HAWK Executive Secretary-Treasurer

MEMBERSHIP STATS

TOP 5 PROJECTS BY DISPATCH

CONTRACTOR SPOTLIGHT

SOUTHWEST MOUNTAIN STATES CARPENTERS EXPANDS NORTH

The Council has been going through some big changes in recent years. It seems like just yesterday that we welcomed our Brothers and Sisters from the mountain states.

In 2023, the Southwest Mountain States Regional Council of Carpenters was happy to announce that we have expanded even further through a merger with the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters. Craftsmen from Oregon, Western Washington, and Alaska have united with the SWMS family. The new Council extends our reach from 10 to 12 states, stretching from the Rio Grande to the summit of Alaska’s Denali Mountain.

With all this new geography, it was time for a new name –one that reflects the look of the new Council. After much deliberation, it was decided that the Council would now be known as the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters (WSRCC).

Our new numbers are impressive. We now have a total of 36 Locals and 22 Training Centers and our membership exceeds 90,000, making us the largest Regional Council in the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. Our Council is no stranger to change and knows what to do when we grow bigger and better. With numbers comes strength and our Union is stronger than it has ever been. Our political power is unmatched, and we are in the best position ever to fight for the best possible jobs, wages, and benefits for our members.

Michal Anderson didn’t need her ear to the ground when she envisioned starting Corti Construction, an ethical and inclusive company. She was born into a family of tradesmen, some of whom had helped to establish labor unions in rural Idaho. Her earliest memories include the time she spent in her father’s flooring shop in Montana. It was there that she was introduced to the building trades and developed a keen sense for the value of good workmanship. Including Union labor into Corti Construction’s business plan was a no-brainer.

“We’re a bootstrap startup, and from day one we decided we wanted to be a Union general contractor because we knew that’s how we get our best work done, and I’m glad we made that choice,” Michal said.

Corti refers to a hearing receptor organ in the inner ear; the company adopted the name to assert the importance of intentional listening when building business partnerships.

Established in 2017 with just 4 employees, the company has since grown to 70 employees. Their first job was installing a handrail at the Microsoft campus across the street from their headquarters in Redmond, WA. Since then, they’ve taken on well-known clients with household names: Verizon, Google, and Amazon, just to name a few. They are known for their interior renovations but also work on large-scale projects such as Seattle’s Colman Dock, where they installed ceiling panels. In a short span of time, Corti has proven that investing in well-trained and valued Union tradespeople offers incredible potential for growth.

Safety, respect, trust, ethics, and excellence are Corti’s primary values, which are well tuned with the WSRCC ethos. Michal believes that the up-front cost of employing a Union-signatory contractor pays off in the quality of the work her team provides, and furthermore, she understands that a well-paid staff translates to better supported and better built communities.

SALT LAKE CITY LOS

LOS ANGELES

LAS VEGAS

BUILD BETTER

SCAN THE QR CODE VISIT

WSBUILDSBETTER.COM

Last year’s Build Better advertising campaign ran from June through November and featured a diverse group of Carpenters with varied and nteresting backgrounds. We considered hundreds of members before we finally settled on 12 working Carpenters representing five states. Jorge, Ronisha, Kevin, Assiah, Julie, and Thereza came to us from Locals throughout Southern California; Shawn came from Northeastern Washington, Adam from Utah, Marcellous from Las Vegas, NV, and Tommy and Sloan from Spokane, WA; and Marco from Tucson, AZ.

The goal of the campaign was to recruit new members and show contractors why they should go signatory with the Union. The featured Carpenters all took different pathways to oining the Union and each of their ourneys uniquely illustrates what brotherhood means to each of them. The campaign utilized digital marketing, social media, billboards, and even airport advertising. The stories will also live on through a dedicated microsite at wsbuildsbetter.com.

The 2023 Build Better campaign resulted in 8,500 “I Want to Join the Union” form submissions, over 67 million total impressions, and 183,000 visitors to wsbuildsbetter.com. Locals followed up on the submissions by hosting informational open houses. There was so much interest that the meetings were capped at the first 100.

Build Better will continue this year, focusing on recruiting members for all the work coming down the pipeline from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and CHIPS and Science Act. More members than ever are going to be working on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in our country’s history.

KEVIN BONA - LOCAL 619 MARCO CALDERON II - LOCAL 1912 ADAM CHAPARRO - LOCAL 801 RONISHA ROBERSON - LOCAL 323

SLOAN DUNCAN - LOCAL 59

ZAVALA - LOCAL 909 ASSIAH HAMILTON - LOCAL 805

POLITICAL MONTANA RIGHT TO WORK

In a resounding victory for Carpenters and organized labor, Montana unions successfully halted the implementation of HB 448, a controversial “right-towork” bill aimed at weakening the collective bargaining power of workers across the state. WSRCC was there in 2021 to stop the nearly identical bill HB 251, and the Carpenters came out in force once again to let the lawmakers in the state capital know that Montana is a union state and that all workers deserve the protections that organized labor ensures.

Local 82 met regularly with legislators at the state capitol and held open houses at the Local for state politicians from both parties. Members had numerous opportunities to meet with and discuss the legislation with their Council members. WSRCC members also stood shoulder to shoulder on the capitol steps in solidarity with other union Brothers and Sisters and community members to rally against the proposed legislation. The Montana House Business and Labor Committee struck down HB 251 and showed once again that when Carpenters come together, people listen.

Right-to-work laws are an attack on organized labor. They weaken our bargaining power, leading to lower wages, decreased benefits, and diminished workplace protections. Whenever there is proposed legislation that hurts workers, the Carpenters will always be on the front lines making sure that our voices are heard.

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT & THE CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) allocates substantial funds for infrastructure development while the CHIPS and Science Act supports domestic semiconductor production. This is a huge investment in America and its workforce, and these statutes are rapidly evolving the landscape of technology and supporting crucial infrastructure development. Union Carpenters are at the forefront of shaping our country and will be there to fill the millions of jobs generated by these acts.

Taiwan Semiconductor Plant, AZ

IIJA and CHIPS and Science Act projects are full steam ahead for the WSRCC in Arizona. One project is the Taiwan Semiconductor plant in North Phoenix, with nearly 1,000 Union Carpenters working on-site. The plant is one of the largest foreign investments on U.S. soil and the largest ever in the state of Arizona. Governor Katie Hobbs and Senator Mark Kelly know that the manufacturing plant will be a crowning achievement of the CHIPS and Science Act. Last year they put the call out for skilled American workers, and the WSRCC delivered.

Micron Plant, Boise, ID

Exyte/Kiewit Joint Venture Infrastructure turned to the WSRCC when it came time to build the $15 billion Micron plant in Boise. The project is another Union-built investment in America that will benefit from President Biden’s CHIPS and Science Act. This is a huge win for the Council and for our members in Idaho, as it is the first Project Labor Agreement signed in the state in 40 years and will put thousands of Union Carpenters to work.

Intel, Rio Rancho, NM

When Intel decided to make upgrades and expand their flagship site, they turned to us. Known as the Innovation Hub, the microchip plant located in Rio Rancho, currently employs 130 of our members, and Intel recently allocated another $700 million for additional facility enhancements, which secures good jobs, wages, and benefits for our Carpenters for the next five years. Made possible by the CHIPS and Science Act, this investment will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the local workforce in New Mexico and the broader tech industry well into the future.

Micron Plant, Boise, ID

CALIFORNIA

SB 4 & SB 423

In 2023, our members joined forces with our counterparts from the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council as well as workers from other trades to march at the state capitol. We made sure our voices were heard loud and clear to show California lawmakers we support Senate Bill 4 and Senate Bill 423.

In September, in a huge victory for WSRCC and the state of California, the bills were passed, ensuring more Californians are housed and that workers across the state will have those good Union jobs, wages, and benefits well into the future. In October 2023, Governor Newsom signed both bills into law.

Simply put, SB 4 lifts restrictions on land use and allows for nonprofit higher education and faith-based institutions to forgo costly and time-consuming rezoning requirements that impede building much-needed affordable housing. SB 423 works in conjunction with SB 4 and ensures that developers implement Apprentice and prevailing wage rates in the construction of multifamily housing developments.

SB 4 and SB 423 will generate numerous employment opportunities for Union Carpenters, simultaneously paving the way for increased affordable housing construction in California. Both pieces of legislation mandate prevailing wages, family medical health care, Apprenticeship programs, and boast some of the strongest labor compliance standards nationwide.

This victory undoubtedly shows that when Carpenters come together, we are unstoppable— whether it’s on jobsites or in the hallowed hallways of Sacramento’s City Hall. It also shows that we have friends in high places and that we can count on Senator Scott Wiener and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks to put forth Carpenter-friendly legislation and deliver for the WSRCC.

ARIZONA’S INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASK FORCE

Last spring, during Arizona’s Tax Fraud Day of Action, Attorney General Kris Mayes reiterated a promise that she made to us when she was campaigning. She promised to create a task force to fight against tax/payroll fraud during her first 100 days in office.

She followed through on her pledge and created the Worker Protection Unit within the At torney General’s Office, partnering with the U.S. Department of Labor, the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, the Department of Economic Security, and other agencies. This task force focuses on misclassification, wage theft, tax and payroll fraud, workers’ right to a safe work environment, challenging “no-poach” or other agreements between employers that depress wages and limit employee mobility, and other issues that give unscrupulous companies who cut corners an unfair advantage in bidding jobs.

Attorney General Mayes is an ally who recognizes that something must be done to protect vulnerable workers within the construction industry. We are proud to work alongside Mayes and look forward to helping her stamp out these criminal practices in Arizona. Mayes’s actions have been heard far and wide and have set an example for other places battling this criminality like Oregon and San Diego, which have followed suit in creating their own task forces.

DENVER WAGE THEFT ORDINANCE TAKES EFFECT

Brothers and Sisters from Local 555 were fighting hard alongside the Denver City Attorney’s Office to put an end to wage theft in the Mile High City. In January 2023, the WSRCC celebrated the passage of the Denver Wage Theft ordinance—a significant step toward ensuring that workers are paid what they are owed by dedicating improved pathways to report exploitation and wage theft.

In the first six months since the ordinance’s implementation, there has been a marked increase in reported cases and substantial payouts for numerous victims of wage theft. Since November, the Denver Auditor’s Office has recovered over $1.4 million in back wages for workers—a recordbreaking amount since the data became available in 2014!

Armed with updated online resources and streamlined reporting services, the Denver Attorney’s Office and Denver Labor, a division of the Auditor’s Office, are primed and ready to tackle the scourge that is wage theft. Local 555 has made it their mission to inform Colorado workers of their rights and the recourse available to them if they are being taken advantage of by crooked contractors.

Jimmy Matta Senior and Jimmy Matta Junior have established a legacy of Union membership in their family. Jimmy Senior’s parents were Carpenters after immigrating to the U.S. from Guatemala in the mid-1970s. Entering the trades offered a better path for their family and paved the way for two subsequent generations. Read their stories in their own words.

JIMMY MATTA SENIOR:

I grew up amid the towering peaks of Idaho’s Cache Valley and in various cities in central Washington. I learned the value of hard work, starting in the fields at the tender age of ten. In 1998, I relocated to Burien, WA, where I steadily climbed the ranks within the United Brotherhood of Carpenters.

Growing up my father would say to me, “Jimmy, you’ve got to do this ahora! You can’t wait for tomorrow.” Harnessing the resilience and determination passed down from my parents, along with a vision to establish a minority-owned, Union-signatory contracting firm, I founded Ahora Construction in 2016. Throughout my career, I’ve held a range of roles within the Union. These experiences have significantly enhanced my leadership abilities, which, in turn, have proven invaluable in the management of my business.

In these roles, I have consistently adhered to Union regulations and policies, applying the core principles of the Union. I am immensely proud of what I’ve achieved with the Union by my side and eagerly anticipate the future.

JIMMY MATTA SR. & JIMMY MATTA JR.

JIMMY MATTA JUNIOR:

As I walked across the stage after high school graduation, the pressure to follow the college route was undeniable. However, I was acutely aware of the financial burden that came with it. My family’s advice echoed in my mind: Pursue education but avoid crippling debt. It was this wisdom that led me on an unorthodox path—I decided to dive into the world of construction while attending night classes.

As the years went by, my journey took shape. I was determined to make my mark in both construction and education. Combining work and school wasn’t easy; there were those who doubted my ability to succeed. In 2018, I proudly earned my bachelor’s degree in business, a stepping stone on the path to a successful career. Being part of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, I came to understand that a Journeyman card wasn’t just a piece of paper; it was a symbol of expertise and skill that held its own against a college degree.

My involvement in my Union, from Trustee to Political Chair and now as the Vice President of Local 206, has allowed me to actively shape its future. Looking back, I’m filled with gratitude for those who laid the groundwork for this organization. Looking forward, I’m driven to enhance it for generations to come.

Union employment offers valuable perks, including essential benefits like medical insurance and retirement plans. Playing a pivotal role in managing and distributing these benefits for Western States Carpenters and Millwrights is CSAC, the Carpenters Southwest Administrative Corporation. As the administrator of Southwest Carpenters Health and Welfare Trust, Southwest Carpenters Pension Plan, Southwest Carpenters Annuity Fund, and Southwest Carpenters Vacation Trust, CSAC is committed to serving and supporting members in securing and enjoying these advantages.

In 2023, CSAC handled over 300,000 incoming calls from Participants, Beneficiaries, and Contributing Employers. In our ongoing commitment to enhance participant experience, we implemented significant improvements to our phone system, which now features enhanced voicemail capabilities and a convenient call-back option. These innovations aim to minimize hold times by providing you the flexibility to leave a message for our team or request a call back from a Call Center Representative while retaining your position in the queue.

As part of our effort to deliver information more effectively, we have also launched a YouTube channel. This channel hosts informative videos designed to explain benefits, announce changes, and guide you through the utilization of MemberXG’s features.

Finally, in 2023 we launched The Blueprint, CSAC’s quarterly newsletter. Mailed directly to Participants each quarter, it serves as a comprehensive source of news and information. Keep an eye out for this valuable resource in your mailbox or conveniently access it on our website at carpenterssw.org. The Blueprint is our way of keeping you informed and connected to the latest updates and offerings from CSAC.

Health & Welfare

• $400 Million in Benefits Paid

• 88,000 Eligible Participants (29,239 Carpenters/Millwrights & 55,463 Dependents)

Pension

• $370 Million in Benefits Paid

• 2,400 Retirement or Death Benefit Applications Processed

• 31,606 Pensioners or Beneficiaries Receiving Benefits in 2023

Annuity

• $21 Million in Benefits Paid

• 2,400 Retirement or Withdrawal Applications Processed

Vacation

• $234 Million in Benefits Paid

• 78,000 Vacation Payments Made (87% by Direct Deposit)

Employer Services

• 1,345 Contributing Employers

• 21,945 Remittances Processed

• $1.3 Billion in Total Deposits

With the recent merger, we are happy to report that we have expanded the number of Sister Carpenters across the Council. We have welcomed 1,171 new Sisters since last summer, making our Sisters in the Brotherhood (SIB) program a force to be reckoned with: 2,898 Sisters Councilwide! SIB offers a safe and constructive space to connect with and support fellow Sisters.

In 2023, some of the most notable local SIB events across the Council included several charitable actions, such as Local 714’s participation in Walk Your Way at Knott’s Berry Farm, an event for kids with special needs; Local 1977’s efforts in the Pink Chair Facility Restoration Event; and Local 1319’s installation of new flooring for the Women’s Housing Coalition, as well as annual baseball games organized by our new Sisters in the Pacific Northwest. SIB remains an important support and resource committee among Carpenters. We look forward to the strength we can exhibit in greater numbers.

Women Build Nations

In early December of 2023 Sisters from all corners of the WSRCC met in Washington, DC, for the Tradeswomen Build Nations conference, hosted by North America’s Building Trades Unions. During the conference Sisters representing the Western States participated in two days of informational sessions and workshops covering topics that included leadership, infrastructure, childcare, financial literacy, and more. Nearly 4,000 women from across all trades joined a procession through DC including 115 of our Sisters, who chanted, displayed Union banners, and paraded shoulder to shoulder in a display of Union solidarity.

OREGON CITY, OREGON

ABERNETHY BRIDGE

Our Brothers and Sisters in Oregon have been busy all year building up our country’s infrastructure. The monumental revamp of the I-205 Abernethy Bridge is one project that our Council is proudly putting our Union stamp on. The estimated $662 million project is Oregon Department of Transportation’s biggest endeavor in 45 years and our Carpenters have been tasked with delivering the upgrades on time and on budget.

Approximately $3.7 billion in federal funds have been earmarked for Oregon’s highways and bridges, with $45 million in state and federal funds granted to the I-205 Improvement Project’s first phase of construction, including a seismic retrofit of the Abernethy Bridge. Seismic enhancements will make the structure the first earthquake-ready highway bridge to span the Willamette River in the Portland area. The I-205 Improvement Project heralds the first of many future infrastructure jobs our Pacific Northwest members will be involved in.

With the bridge work alone, roughly 50 members, including Pile Drivers, General Carpenters, and Scaffold Erectors, are earning good Union wages and benefits for the next two years during the initial phase of the project. Of those Carpenters on-site, Apprentices make up 16% of the workforce and 8% of the workers are women. When it comes to rebuilding a better nation with solid infrastructure, we are proud of the work we do and look forward to performing this important work for years to come.

JOBSITES AROUND WSRCC

SO CAL

ARIZONA NEVADA

LAS VEGAS

STATELINE TAHOE BEACH CLUB

LAS VEGAS TROPICANA OVERPASS

LAS VEGAS SYMPHONY PARK

FENLEY I-80 RETROFIT

LAS VEGAS OLE RED

BUCKEYE WATER TREATMENT PLANT

CHANDLER INTEL EAGLE

I-10 BRIDGE EMERGENCY REPAIR

When work must be done fast and done right, Union Carpenters are on speed dial. We run the job, and we are the first on-site and the last to leave. So, when the I-10 freeway was critically damaged by arson, shutting down a major thoroughfare and crippling Los Angeles, our members were called into action for this emergency. With an estimated 300,000 cars traversing that section of the I-10 daily, traffic had been brought to a standstill all over the city.

As Mayor Karen Bass emphasized, our city must operate in a state of preparedness.

The Western State Carpenters are critical to that preparedness. Once the fires were put out, we were boots on the ground. Griffth Company came in and cleared the debris and then Security Paving came in to do the shoring—all at a moment’s notice. We worked 24 hours a day for just over a week with 50 Union Carpenters getting hot during the day and 25 at night. We had the freeway back up and running way ahead of expectations. The city was put to the test, and the Carpenters rose to the challenge. The project was initially estimated to take 60 days; we delivered in 8!

We got the freeway up and running again but there’s still more work to be done. We are Carpenters and when we start a job, we will be there in the end to finish it. Union Carpenters answer the call, mobilize, and do what we do best—build from start to finish.

CONTRACTS AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING HIGHLIGHTS

ARIZONA

• A three-and-a-half-year Wood Framing Addendum Agreement was signed, resulting in $3.75 in increased funds to the annuity for the agreement’s duration. Long-term employees will receive immediate bulk payments into their annuity.

CALIFORNIA

• In 2023, the state legislature passed SB 740 with Carpenters’ support. The bill requires skilled and trained workers for specified chemical manufacturing plants. The passage of the bill persuaded Total Western, one of the largest industrial employers in the state, to become a signatory contractor.

• WSRCC signed a five-craft solar agreement five years ago. Leadership knew there was a clause in the agreement that required any contractors directly performing work to become signatory. It was only a matter of time before two contractors attempted to self-perform Carpenter work. Eventually, Blattner and Mortenson approached Local 743 for dispatch and have since become fully signatory in California.

IDAHO

• Southern Idaho negotiated a $1.62 increase in Health and Welfare benefits effective January 1, 2023, under its Exterior/ Interior Systems (EIS) Agreement, as well as a one-year agreement with a $0.61 increase. This change provided full health welfare coverage for EIS Carpenters.

MILLWRIGHT

• A 2024 wage opener was negotiated for the Millwrights under the Southern Nevada MSTS NNSS PLA, resulting in a $3.50 wage/benefit increase effective October 1, 2024.

MONTANA

• Wage and benefit openers negotiated with Butte School District 1 went into effect July 1, 2023. The Carpenters Gold Health Plan became effective with a 160-hour cap. Openers resulted in a $1.68 total package increase over two years.

• The Helena Public Schools wage and benefit opener resulted in a $0.65 wage increases effective July 1, 2023.

• The State of Montana and Department of Administration Capitol Complex Council Agreement negotiations resulted in a two-year agreement with a total increase of $3.00 over two years.

• A two-year agreement was negotiated with the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow with a first-year $2.69 increase and a wage opener for the second year. Health and Welfare was increased to offer the Gold Plan to covered crafts along with a 160-hour cap.

• Both the Montana State Hospital and the Montana State Prison Craft Council agreements were negotiated. Each resulted in a two-year successor agreement with a $3.20 increase retroactive to July 2023 and a $1.50 increase in July 2024.

NEVADA

• In Northern Nevada, an area Master Labor Agreement with $9.50 in total increases over a three-year period was secured. Apprentices saw a huge increase in their hourly packages which ranged from $5.00 to nearly $7.00/hour. All Area Zone Pay premiums increased by $2.00/hour. Carpenters with primary layout assignments will now be compensated at a Foreman scale.

• Effective July 1, 2026, the Carpenter Welder Premium increases to $2.00/hour at the Journeyman rate. Language was added to allow the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday without pay upon giving 48 hours’ notice, which is a start in the right direction.

• Both the Mill Cabinet Shop and the Metal Shop Agreement negotiations resulted in three-year agreements with $6.01 in package increases. The pension cap was increased to 50 hours under both agreements, allowing the workers to maximize their monthly pension benefit (with overtime).

• The Trade Show Shop Agreement negotiated a five-year agreement with $12.75 in increases and with the General Foreman wage increasing to 15% above the Journeyman.

• The Edgewater negotiated a five-year Hotel Maintenance Agreement with $6.80 in increases and the day after Thanksgiving added as a holiday.

• A 2024 wage opener was negotiated for the Carpenters under the MSTS NNSS PLA, resulting in a $3.50 wage/benefit increase.

• Homewood Suites, TRU Hotel by Hilton, and the UBC International Training Center negotiated five-year successor agreements with $11.25 in total increases as well as the addition of Foreman and General Foreman classifications with 10% premiums attached.

NEW MEXICO

• Successor area Master Labor Agreement negotiations resulted in a three-year agreement with $6.53 in total increases. The Apprentice periods percentages and wages increased from $2.75 to $4.37/hour on their total package.

• A three-year successor Mill Cabinet Shop Agreement with Jaynes Structures resulted in $7.03 total increases over the three-year period. The pension contribution was increased to the current rate and its cap went up to 50 hours/week. These two steps will allow the workers to receive the top pension accrual value available with overtime.

UTAH

• A three-year Drywall Appendix to the Interior and Exterior Master Agreement was negotiated with a $2.50 increase in the first year and wage openers in the successor years. The Master Building Agreement was negotiated for a three-year term with $7.50 in increases spread evenly across the three years.

WASHINGTON

• After 20+ years, the City of Seattle Carpenters saw their first wage increase. The increase was negotiated from 1% to 11%.

• The first 12-state agreement with Atomic Electric Inc. was signed last August. They are an electrical company that employs Carpenters to do their concrete foundation work for power facilities. Since they signed, many more contractors signed on to the 12-state agreement.

• The Northwest Wall and Ceiling Association was the first association to see the value of the Southwest pension and wanted to give a better benefit to its membership. By switching over to the Southwest plan, they were able to reallocate a large amount of money back to the members wage and give the members extra benefits with a new annuity.

2023 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING HIGHLIGHTS

CALIFORNIA

After over five years of negotiation and discussion, seven of the eight largest nonunion residential drywall contractors in the Los Angeles/Inland Empire region, met with and agreed on a new Pacific Rim Drywall Association (PRDA) contract that will finally provide vacation/sick time benefits to workers in the private residential drywall market. With that, over 3,500 residential drywall workers hanging board in everything from tract homes to 5-over-2 podiums, will be WSRCC Carpenters. West Coast Paint and Drywall, the contractor that declined to join the association, was later sued by the California State Attorney General for labor law violations.

NEVADA

Southern Nevada Master Labor Agreement negotiations resulted in a four-year agreement with $13.00 in increases. Zone pay changed to just two zones with premium pay of $5.00/hour (in addition to base pay) for work performed over 50 miles from Maryland Parkway and Charleston Boulevard. Carpenters whose primary work assignment is layout will now receive Foreman scale. Contractors earmarked training money for robotics to further diversify our work.

OREGON

Oregon ratified three agreements with the Oregon Association of General Contractors, the General Concrete Contractor’s Association, and the Oregon Walls and Ceiling Association. These agreements give the members 14.11%–14.13% increases over three years. All three associations agreed to switch over to the Southwest Pension effective January 1, 2024, giving an increase up to three times what the average Carpenter was getting under the old pension.

SOLIDARITY DAYS EVENTS JOURNEYMEN GRADUATIONS

WSRCC knows how to throw a party and this year we hosted two of the biggest parties in labor. Solidarity Days in Southern California and New Mexico drew thousands of members, their families, and our friends from a variety of other trades in a tremendous show of union solidarity.

In Ontario, CA, attendees were treated to a sunny afternoon of music by BB Wolf, raffles, carnival games, and great food provided by the different Locals. We even had some celebrities in attendance. Our very own Jorge Zavala, winner of Tough as Nails Season Four, was there signing autographs along with fellow Carpenter contestant Sergio Robles. It is estimated that over 5,000 people attended the spring event!

In Albuquerque, NM, over 500 Union members and their families took part in our fall Solidarity Day. They listened as special guests spoke to members about the importance of unions and the great jobs, wages, and benefits they offer. Speakers included New Mexico Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, and legendary labor leader Dolores Huerta. Other guests included our Brothers and Sisters from the firefighters, police, teachers, and nurses’ unions—all coming together to show that New Mexico is a home to labor.

CELEBRATING OUR GRADUATES:

Once again, the Council hosted graduations at Locals across Southern California to recognize our newest Journeymen Carpenters. They were congratulated during ceremonies, by President Hartranft and Vice President Zambrano, along with special guests including contractors and elected officials. It was a proud moment for their instructors to see these men and women walk across the stage to accept their diplomas. We know the hard work and loyalty they have put in throughout their Apprenticeships. These graduations are a chance to celebrate them and what they have accomplished.

The graduation ceremonies have become a mainstay of becoming a full-fledged Union Carpenter. Receiving their certificates and the symbolic throwing of carpenters’ pencils into the air mark the momentous occasion when graduates have officially launched their career and signify that they can take on Apprentices of their own and give back to our Union and the communities we serve. It is a joyous day, when friends and family can come together and be a part of their amazing journey!

CARPENTER COMBINE DAYS

If you are familiar with pro football, you’ve probably heard of the NFL Scouting Combine, a few days each year during which college football players undergo a series of challenges as NFL coaches and scouts look on. The players are assessed and picks are made prior to the draft, when the standouts are offered their contracts.

In the same vein, WSRCC Combine Day gives Journeymen, Apprentices, and those who are just starting to consider the trade a chance to showcase their skills in front of contractors looking for Carpenters to join their respective teams. Unlike in the NFL, many of the participants at our Combine Days are hired on the spot!

This year the Council hosted Combine Days in Los Angeles and San Diego, with large numbers in attendance. San Diego saw 272 attendees while Los Angeles had over 600 men and women vying for coveted jobs offered by the best contractors in the industry. At each of the events, participants were evaluated as they worked their way through an eight-station course. The skills being evaluated included 4x4 carrying, scaffold assembly, drywall etching, tape measuring, screwing, hammering, plywood carrying, and corbel mounting.

Not only does Combine Day offer some challenging fun, but it can also be an important stepping stone in becoming a successful Union Carpenter. With the popularity of the event, we look forward to hosting Combine Days at more locations in the future.

THE CUPP ONLINE STORE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Members who volunteer more than 24 hours during the year are eligible to choose gifts from the CUPP Rewards online store. The store offers a selection of high-quality, USA-made items to choose from. From coolers and fishing reels to Weber barbecues and rings, we’ve got a product in the store that’s right for you.

Every year our members make us proud with the number of Carpenters Union Participation Program (CUPP) hours they put in— always showing that Carpenters give back whenever we can. Not surprisingly, the Council surpassed the yearly goal of 125,000 volunteer hours. Carpenters showed up to earn their hours in a variety of ways this past year. Whether it was participating in blood drives, gathering school supplies for kids, rebuilding a vandalized Little League clubhouse, or working with Habitat for Humanity, our members were there to support the communities they call home.

CUPP is an important community engagement program that creates public awareness and participation in our hometowns. The more the program expands, the more attention our Union gets—which leads to more work locally. CUPP was launched in Idaho and Washington in late 2023 and will be implemented in more new states by the end of 2024. Don’t forget, CUPP hours can be redeemed for WSRCC-branded products from the CUPP Rewards store. Stay tuned for more great products being added.

CAREER CONNECTIONS

CSBA TRADE SHOW

FILL YOUR CUPP!

The innovative hands-on pre-apprenticeship training through our Career Connections program delivers state-of-the-art technical education and a clear path to a good middle-class career. This year, more than 20,000 students took part in over 225 programs offered to schools across 11 states. Whether Career Connections graduates go on to college to earn a four-year degree or choose to start working right after high school, the program helps them get a head start on a rewarding career. MORE THAN 20,000

STUDENTS

DESIGN BUILD COMPETITION

Twenty-one Career Connections schools in Southern California participated in the 38th annual Construction Industry Education Foundation (CIEF) Design Build Competition. Participants competed by building small structures, such as tiny homes and sheds, while contractors, Representatives from the WSRCC, and industry professionals judged their work.

The students competed for $10,000 in scholarship prizes, including Best Build Quality, Rookies of the Year, and Safest Crew. A $2,000 scholarship was awarded to students who wrote essays about their desire to pursue a construction career. Career Connections schools took home four of the seven top prizes, with Tahquitz High School winning Best in Show–Open Category and Sultana High School winning Best in Show–Shed Category!

The Council is proud to make this event a success every year. The pathway to a good middle-class career begins in high school and Career Connections offers the resources to make that possible.

The Career Connections Program hosted a booth at the California School Board Association’s (CSBA) 2023 Annual Education Conference last December. Over 2,700 school district board members, school district superintendents, and top-level administrators attended. Nearly every school district in California was represented. This was the first year that the WSRCC Career Connections team hosted a dedicated booth.  Hundreds of attendees stopped by the booth to meet with Career Connections Outreach Specialists and Special Representatives to view the curriculum textbooks and learn more about the Career Connections program and the benefits of partnering with the Carpenters. Offering alternative pathways to college is of paramount importance in California Schools.  WSRCC’s Career Connections outreach has resulted in expanding from 30 to 225 active programs in less than five years. The Career Connections team will host a larger booth at the next CSBA Annual Conference tradeshow at the Anaheim Convention Center in December 2024.

OPEN HOUSES–CAREER CONNECTIONS IN WHITTIER AND LAS VEGAS

In 2023, Locals 1977 (Las Vegas) and 721 (Whitter) hosted Build Better Futures Orientation Meetings, where high school students got a firsthand glance at what a career as a Union Carpenter looks like. The open house events gave students and their families the opportunity to meet the Career Connections team, local contractors, and Apprenticeship instructors. They heard from industry professionals about what it takes to be a Union Carpenter and what a career in the trade entails.

After a presentation, the students were given a chance to walk the shop floor and visit booths sponsored by different contractors. What the students enjoyed most were the workstations, where they had the chance to learn how to properly hammer nails or experiment with welding using an advanced virtual welding machine.

A sobering recent study reported that a construction worker in the United States is three times more likely to die by suicide than all other jobsite fatalities combined. That is why the Council makes it a priority to aid our members through the Brotherhood Outreach for Strength and Support, or BOSS Committee. The BOSS Committee is a safe place for members to work through mental health challenges with the support of Carpenter Brothers and Sisters.

Now in its third year, BOSS ensures that struggling Carpenters know that it is okay to not feel okay and offers them ways to connect with others to help them pull through a mental health crisis. The committee organizes blood drives, charity walks, strategy meetings and hosts open forums to highlight its mission and to make sure that members know that they can share their experiences, vent concerns, and learn that they are not alone.

The Council is dedicated to erasing the stigma surrounding mental health so that our members know that when they are struggling, they can turn to their Brothers and Sisters for help. As an added measure to prevent suicide risk, we have successfully implemented mental health language into our collective bargaining agreements.

In 2023, the BOSS Committee was the recipient of the Visionary Labor Union Award at the Construction Working Minds Summit— an award presented to organizations helping to break the stigma of mental health in construction. Our Council is proud of its commitment to an honest and open dialogue when it comes to the mental and emotional well-being of our members and, as always, we are working hard to make sure that everyone knows that together we are stronger and that no one must struggle alone.

HAWK RECEVIES VISIONARY LABOR UNION AWARD

The African American Task Force (AATF) is a Councilwide committee dedicated to growing African American membership. Through monthly meetings, member-driven initiatives, and community-facing events, the AATF works to inform African Americans about the worthwhile career there is to be had with the Carpenters. Last year marked the AATF’s ninth anniversary and 2023 was stronger than ever. Members spread the word everywhere in the community; PAC meetings, juvenile camps, church communities, high schools, and work source centers. The task force successfully recruited 270 new members throughout the 12 states. The AATF is looking forward to 2024 and continuing to be an asset in helping to grow our Union by making sure that African American Carpenters are represented.

Dignity and Pride (DAP) is a Council-wide committee focused on growing equity and inclusion in the Union. As an extension of the AATF, the committee’s mission of education, mentoring, and retention is all inclusive and looks to strengthen our numbers within all underrepresented communities. Representing a broad spectrum of Carpenters, the members spread a message that the Union is open to anyone who has a good attitude, hustles, and is motivated to start and maintain a good career. Typically, the committee focuses not just on recruitment but on enhancement classes to make sure that our Carpenters are the best in the industry and that they always have work.

ONE OF A KIND HEAVY HITTERS MEETING

Last fall marked the first-ever AATF Heavy Hitters meeting at the Carpenters International Training Center in Las Vegas. The attendees listened as Western District Vice President (WDVP) Pete Rodriguez discussed construction industry culture and the way forward through inclusivity and diversity. WDVP Rodriguez pointed out all the commonalities that our members share despite our different backgrounds. He stressed that we are all Brothers and Sisters once we put on that hard hat and strap on those bags in pursuit of a goal shared by all–a better life for our families. The attendees left the meeting armed with valuable information and ready to educate fellow members!

ALP MEETINGS

WSRCC believes that a Carpenter’s path to success should start early on. Apprentices face a specific set of new experiences and providing them with in-depth guidance helps to foster a future of successful construction industry leaders.

Our Local Union halls and training centers host monthly Apprentice Leadership Program (ALP) meetings, which give Apprentices the opportunity to discuss and strategize issues and scenarios that often arise during daily jobsite operations. Equipping our Apprentices with effective problem solving, communication, and collaboration methods are the main objectives of the monthly meetings. Apprentices are also introduced to Council resources and programs such as the Carpenter’s Union Participation Program (CUPP) and the Brotherhood Outreach for Strength and Support (BOSS) Committee.

In 2023, ALP meetings kicked off for the newly merged Locals in the Pacific Northwest, giving our Apprentices the opportunity to grow and thrive in their occupations across 12 states. By implementing leadership tools into the Apprenticeship program, it is possible that we can cultivate leaders before they journey out.

ORGANIZING

G Builders Is Busted for Wage Theft and Misclassification

In another victory for the WSRCC, Portland-area contractor G Builders paid out $886,000 to 127 carpenters who were misclassified and stolen from. At the end of 2022, the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters launched an investigation and, after a year and half of diligent work, the WSRCC brought it home. We helped the U.S. Department of Labor gather overwhelming evidence necessary to stop the deliberate exploitation and get these workers paid. Once word was out about G Builders’ business practices, the criminal contractor closed its doors for good.

Carpenters Organize for Signatory Agreement with Walsh Construction II

In San Diego, Walsh Construction II sought a Single Project Agreement (SPA) for heavy highway work, in which they could use our Carpenters without becoming a signatory contractor. The Council wasn’t playing that game and we insisted on a longterm commitment. Walsh attempted to go around the Brotherhood and assemble their own team, but our members stood strong. Within a few weeks, Walsh gave in and signed.

Arizona Governor Hobbs Keeps a Promise to Carpenters

At a press conference publicizing the implementation of the Volunteer Protection Program covering the Taiwan Semiconductor project in North Phoenix last fall, Governor Katie Hobbs announced that she is making good on a promise made to the Carpenters. Hobbs pledged to work with the Council to double the number of construction and trades registered Apprentices by 2026 and to create better access for women and other underrepresented individuals.

Local 1912 developed a strong relationship with Hobbs when she announced her candidacy for governor. We asked her to make our Apprenticeship program a priority once elected. “It is great to see Governor Hobbs’s administration take special interest in increasing registered Apprenticeships to develop a more highly skilled workforce in Arizona. This will help meet the demands of our rapidly growing economy, provide good wages for our workers, and grow community wealth for Arizona,” said Fabian Sandez, President of Local 1912. We couldn’t be happier now that she is delivering on that promise.

Our organizing effort is one of the major components of the Council’s battle for workers’ rights. We constantly recruit new members, educate potential members about the benefits of joining our Union, negotiate with employers for better wages and working conditions, and promote solidarity within our industry.

It can get ugly out there and our leadership is not afraid to go to bat for workers. Whether it’s walking onto a jobsite to organize exploited workers or going toe to toe with a crooked contractor to make sure that criminality is punished, our Representatives are always on the front lines. The Council fights to empower all workers to improve working conditions and strengthen our bargaining power in the industry. We organize for the good jobs, wages, and benefits that are our right. We stand with employers and lawmakers, from the smallest jobs to the biggest, to provide workers with the means to live comfortably and with dignity.

Thanks to the Southwest Mountain States Carpenters Training Fund, our members are entering the workforce more skilled than ever. The Fund’s Apprenticeship program trains the next generation of Carpenters in a large selection of crafts and is bar none the best in the industry. Our world-class training centers across the western states provide compliance-driven classes where these new Carpenters get the hands-on skills training needed to excel in the field and make it home safely every day. Whether it’s scaffolding, interior systems, or bridge building, whether you are a high school student just getting started through Career Connections or you’re a Journeyman honing your craft with weekend enhancement classes or training to be a Superintendent, our members can count on the best instruction in the industry. Our Apprentices also earn while they learn, giving them a head start in getting their careers in motion.

35,507

APPRENTICES ATTENDED CLASSES

3,977 CLASSES OFFERED IN 2023 1,887 MEMBERS JOURNEYED OUT

TOTAL APPRENTICES BY PERIOD IN 2023:

– 1,502

– 992

– 1,079

– 1,111

– 1,156

Total - 9,331

MSG SPHERE LAS VEGAS

Last summer, the long-awaited MSG Sphere finally fired up its 580,000-square-foot programmable LED exosphere. The sensational displays of eyeballs, basketballs, and the earth have added to the spectacle that is the Las Vegas skyline.

The $2.3 billion project is the largest spherical structure in the world, measuring 516 feet wide with a height of 366 feet, and it seats 17,600 people with standing room for an additional 20,000 spectators. The concert venue was home to a U2 residency, with many more world-famous performers on the list to appear.

The marquee venue is an audacious feat of design, the construction of which was equally impressive. With so much at stake, it is no surprise that Union Carpenters have been on the job since the beginning. A total of 14 signatory contractors have supplied work for hundreds of Union Carpenters since the project broke ground in 2018.

RETIREE SPOTLIGHTS

JOHN DUNPHY – LOCAL 1319

After John Dunphy graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1970 with a degree in education, he struggled to find work. A friend who was framing houses suggested he try carpentry until a teaching position opened. After framing houses for a few months, he realized that he absolutely loved the work and joined Local 1353 in Santa Fe, NM. “The [wood] framing contractor I was working for received a contract to frame some townhouses that were financed with Union pension fund money, so we were told we had to join the Union to work on that project. Not knowing anything about what this meant, I signed up and, after the project was finished, went to the hall to get more information. Little did I know this would be one of the best decisions of my life!” John and his wife, Marilyn, later moved to Albuquerque, and he transferred to Local 1319.

John took Journeyman enhancement classes, including welding certification, and was hired on to the Trestle project at Sandia National Laboratories for three years. He was noticed by an agent and was appointed a Steward. Later, the Carpenters Apprenticeship program learned he had a teaching degree and recruited him to teach classes. He continued this path for almost 17 years, holding the Director of Apprenticeship and Training title for New Mexico before retiring. To his delight, his son, Matt, is a Coordinator with the Training Fund in Buena Park, CA. John remains active as a member of Local 1319, continues to teach, and he is currently working with our agents to launch a retiree committee in New Mexico.

EVEN THOUGH THEY’VE HUNG UP THEIR BAGS, THEY’RE STILL

UNION CARPENTERS

ANTHONY VENTURA – LOCAL 805

Local 805 member Anthony Ventura hung up his bags just last year. Anthony started in the trade at eighteen years old as a Lather and in interior systems and steadily moved up the ranks, accepting leadership roles within the Union. When he retired, he was the Lead Representative for the Local 805 team and PAC deputy. He also served as Financial Secretary and as a Delegate for Local 805.

In the mid-nineties Anthony had the “gig of a lifetime” working on the Oakland Coliseum. As a committed Raiders fan, this is his most cherished project. “I got a chance to hang with the Raiderettes—enough said.” Since then, Anthony has worked on a variety of memorable projects, each one different than the last. “I feel like I’ve had a hand in building California as we know it,” says Anthony. “Things I’ve always loved about our trade is you’re never bored because you’re always going to go to a different project, and you never know where that might be.”

But most of all, what he loves about the trade are the Union Brothers and Sisters he met and learned from, and the friendships that will last a lifetime. “I think it is so important because we all come from different places and we all come together for a common goal, to build iconic projects all over the country!”

JOSEPH BARON – LOCAL 503

Joseph Baron says that when he joined the Union in 1986, it was a “fluke.” That’s hard to believe, considering that he spent the next 37 years as a Union Carpenter. After relocating to Oregon and struggling to find steady work, he was offered a job, and the only prerequisite was to join the Union. Joseph went to Local 247 (now 503) to sign up shortly thereafter, and while he tested as an Apprentice at fifth period level, he decided to start at a third period level, knowing that it would enhance his skills, something that he wasn’t able to do on his own. He is proud of prominent projects he was able to work on, such as the Nike Headquarters in Beaverton, and the historic preservation work at the Portland City Hall.

In his decades of involvement with the Union, he filled many roles, including as a Business Representative with the Council and a Financial Secretary for his Local, and he served as a Delegate for 11 years. He even worked as a lobbyist in Salem during the 2008 session, working to elect pro-labor candidates. The latter part of his career was spent working at Intel, where he trained incoming Apprentices—the highlight of his career.

MIGUEL PERRY – LOCAL 425

JUAN SANCHEZ – LOCAL 801

Juan Sanchez was a farm equipment operator before entering the construction industry and later joining the Union in 2001. The transition was smooth, given his familiarity with operating heavy machinery, and he enjoyed the variety that general carpentry offered, which allowed him to leave a mostly sedentary job. He says that carpentry work was often hard and challenging, but the support and benefits of working Union balanced the scales. In his 20-plus years of Union trade experience, he is proud of the impressive infrastructure projects he worked on, including bridge and highway construction in Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. The most memorable was the I-15 and 106th Street project in Salt Lake City, UT, where he worked a nearly 24-hour shift, digging out the existing road and rebuilding it under a critical deadline.

Juan retired in 2022 and makes the most of his time by relaxing and volunteering in the community. When asked if his children followed his footsteps in the trades, he said each of them found their own path in other trade professions, but when asked to give advice for someone interested in becoming a Carpenter, he said, “I really tell people to join the Union and be part of the Union for better benefits and a better life for your family Join the Union and work Union.”

For Miguel Perry, becoming a member in 1979 was a chance incident and one that led to a decades-long Union career. He started as an EIS Carpenter, then spent the past 20 years as a Council Business Representative who pushed for Apprentice utilization requirements on publicly funded projects in the state of Washington.

After running out of funds while in college, Miguel had to find a job. He inquired about work at a construction site. The supervisor asked if he was an Apprentice, and, not knowing exactly what that meant, he said yes and was given the job. Weeks later he was confronted about his lack of Union membership. Instead of getting fired, he was able to keep the job but only if he became a Union member. That choice led to a stable career—two decades in the field contributing to projects like the Seattle Convention Center and later representing members until his retirement.

“If you see a potato on top of a fence, you know it didn’t get there by itself; someone put it there.” That is how Miguel describes his tenure as a Council Representative of nearly 20 years, that the membership had placed him in that role beginning in 2005. He says having the opportunity to serve and find work for members was the highlight of his career, along with successfully securing Carpenter work on government projects. He retired in December 2023 and plans to stay involved by participating in the Carpenters Union Participation Program before relocating to Spain by the end of 2024.

ROBERT SELLE – LOCAL 951

Retiree Robert Selle is a third-generation Carpenter out of Local 951. He joined the Union when he was just seventeen, worked for 33 years, and, impressively, retired at 49. During his time in the field, he wore many hats; he was a metal stud framer, he hung drywall, and he installed T-Bar systems for five years at the beginning of his career. However, he spent most of his time as a Foreman until his retirement in 2020.

Some of his most memorable projects include the Ontario Training Center, Hustler Casino, the Stater Brothers corporate office, Loyola Marymount University, and University of Southern California. “I worked all over the place on so many diverse and cool projects. I loved meeting new people and seeing different sites. Every day was a new experience!”

Even though he is retired, he has not slowed down a bit. An avid sportsman, he spends half the year doing what he loves, running his outdoors company, Classic Bird Hunt. He spends all his time living and working with his beloved hunting dogs, Taz, Josey, and Cali, and he could not be happier.

WESTERN STATES REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS

Executive Secretary-Treasurer

Frank Hawk

President

Sean Hartfranft

Vice President

Frank Zambrano

Chief of Staff

Favian Guillen

Regional Manager Washington

Antonio Acosta

Regional Manager Whittier

Oscar Cordova

Regional Manager Colorado, Nevada, and Utah

Mike Hawk

Regional Manager Oregon and San Diego

Doug Hicks

Regional Manager Southern California Interior Systems

Jacob Lopez

Regional Manager Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming

Mario Martinez

Regional Manager Gold Coast, Kern County, and North Los Angeles County

Josh Raper

Regional Manager Arizona and New Mexico

Fabian Sandez

Regional Manager Inland Empire, Riverside, and South Los Angeles County/Long Beach

Frank Zambrano

Council Office

533 South Fremont Ave. 10th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

213-385-1457

@WSCarpenters

wscarpenters.org TikTok

Procedures for Objecting Nonmembers to File with the Union Objections to The Expenditure of Dues for Purposes Not Germane to Collective Bargaining

Union membership is an asset of great value to working people. Union membership alone provides workers with a measure of control over their wages, hours, benefits, and working conditions. Under Section 8(a)(3) of the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. 158(a)(3), employers and unions have the right (except in so-called right-to-work states) to enter into agreements requiring that workers, as a condition of employment, join and maintain their membership in the union. This law and policy is consistent with the democratic principle of majority rule, and it ensures that everyone who benefits from union representation shares in the cost of providing that benefit. Consistent with this principle and the law, many collective bargaining agreements between employers and UBC Local Unions and Councils (“affiliates”) of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (“UBC”) require as a condition of employment that workers enjoying the benefits of these agreements join the union and remain members in good standing. Over the years, however, the National Labor Relations Board and the courts have, to some degree, undermined union security by holding that these clauses can be enforced against workers who refuse to join the union or resign from it only to the extent of requiring “financial core” membership, that is, the payment of union initiation fees and periodic dues. Workers cannot lawfully be required to actually join a union as a condition of employment. But, again, they can be required to pay the union an amount equal to the dues and fees uniformly required of union members. These rulings clearly contradict the plain language of the statute, which specifically states that an employer can lawfully make an agreement with a union “to require as a condition of employment membership” in the union. Nevertheless, unless and until these legal interpretations are changed, the UBC will follow the prevailing law and enforce union security provisions in a manner consistent with the statute and applicable court decisions. Recently, backward-looking court decisions have further narrowed workers’ union security rights, holding that “financial core” nonmembers can file with the union an objection to paying for union activities that are not “germane” to collective bargaining in order to obtain a rebate of that portion of their dues, which is determined to have been expended for nongermane purposes. Like most unions, the UBC spends a great amount of its funds on activities that even the courts agree are directly related to collective bargaining. In addition, the UBC expends some funds for other activities, including organizing, legislative activity, publications, etc. All of these activities help to strengthen our union and thereby create a more favorable position for labor in the collective bargaining process. In that sense, every one of these activities advances our union’s fundamental mission—workers joining together to better their lives. However, backward-looking court decisions have taken an extremely narrow view of the role of the trade union movement, ruling that certain such activities are not “germane” to the labor organization’s function as the legally recognized representative of workers in collective bargaining. “Financial core” membership carries with it very high costs—the loss of all of the benefits, rights, and privileges that workers would otherwise be entitled to as union members. These include (1) the right to receive union funeral benefits; (2) the right to vote on whether a strike will be called against their employer; (3) the right to vote on the rate of dues they are required to pay; (4) the right to vote on the ratification of collective bargaining agreements that determine their wages, hours, and working conditions; (5) the right to vote in the election of the union officers and stewards who represent them; (6) the right to attend, speak, and vote at union meetings, where union policies that directly affect their jobs are determined; and (7) the right to a transfer card, so that they are not required to pay a new initiation fee if they go to work in a different collective bargaining unit, which frequently happens when a worker changes jobs. In short, these nonmember workers lose very important rights, benefits, and privileges, including the right to meaningful involvement in setting the terms and conditions of their employment—a voice and a vote in union governance—thereby allowing others to unilaterally make decisions affecting them, their families, and their livelihoods. It is illegal for an employer to compensate a nonmember worker in any way for the loss of these valuable union rights and benefits. As for the union, it is required by law to represent nonmembers in the same way that it represents members. While the union will meet this requirement of law, it will not do anything for nonmembers that is not absolutely required by law. Objecting nonmembers who choose to file with the union objections to the expenditure of dues for purposes not germane to collective bargaining must comply with the following procedures:

SECTION 1: Workers who are covered by a union security agreement, who meet their union security obligation by paying all dues and fees but who choose or who have chosen not to become members of the union, or who have resigned from the union (hereafter “nonmembers”), may file objections to expenditures of dues for activities not germane to collective bargaining. Such workers filing objections in accordance with procedures set forth herein shall be entitled to receive an appropriate reduction of their dues or fees.

SECTION 2: Nonmembers who wish to file an objection shall do so annually by notifying in writing the General Secretary-Treasurer of the UBC at 101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001, of their objections. For those who have previously filed, the annual notice of objection must be received at the above address between April 1 and April 30 of the current year. The objection must include the objector’s social security number, a statement of the nature of the objection, and the objector’s current home address, and it must identify the objector’s UBC affiliate. Provided, however, that the UBC will honor nonmember employees’ express, written statement to the UBC that they object on a continuing basis to supporting union activities not related to collective bargaining and contract administration. The nonmember objector is obligated to inform the General Secretary-Treasurer of any change in address. Upon receipt of a proper objection as described above, the UBC shall send the objector a letter of acknowledgment and notify the objector’s UBC affiliate that an objection has been filed. Those individuals who, for the first time, regardless of when it occurs during the year, choose to resign their union membership, or who refuse to join the union and who wish to file an objection, must send their objection to the General Secretary-Treasurer no later than 30 days from the date of thei rresignation or refusal, as otherwise specified above.

SECTION 3: Nonmember objectors shall be charged for all activities germane to collective bargaining, including all union expenditures for activities or projects normally or reasonably undertaken by the union to advance the employment-related interests of those it represents in collective bargaining. Such nonmember objectors shall not be charged for those expenditures that are not germane to collective bargaining. The term “germane” shall be given the most expansive scope allowed by law.

SECTION 4: The General Secretary-Treasurer shall review the UBC’s audited records and determine the amounts of expenditures incurred in the prior fiscal year that are chargeable and nonchargeable to the objector, that is, those that are germane to collective bargaining and those that are nongermane. The General Secretary-Treasurer shall allocate union expenses into major categories and shall designate those expenses as either germane or nongermane. The objector’s UBC affiliate shall be responsible for reviewing its audited financial records to determine germane and nongermane expenses in general accordance with the principles and procedures specified herein. These UBC affiliates are independent of the UBC and are solely responsible for complying with the procedure specified in this Notice as respects their own expenditures and implementing reductions communicated to them by the UBC and other affiliates. In this regard the UBC bears no responsibility or liability for the actions or inactions of its affiliates.

SECTION 5: The UBC’s and the affiliate’s review described in Section 4 shall be completed no later than July 31 of the year following the year in which the expenditures were made. As soon thereafter as practicable, a description of chargeable and nonchargeable expenditures shall be mailed to each nonmember who has filed a timely and proper objection under this procedure. The appropriate UBC affiliate shall mail the nonmember objector and the General Secretary Treasurer its description of chargeable and nonchargeable expenditures.

SECTION 6: The amount to be paid by the nonmember objector shall be calculated based upon the percentage of chargeable and nonchargeable expenditures indicated in the review. For the review completed in 2023, the UBC’s chargeable expenses were 53.44% of its total expenditures. Thus, the per capita tax for the objecting nonmember paid by the affiliate to the UBC shall be reduced by that amount. For 2023, the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters chargeable expenses were 77.25% of its total expenditures. Thus, the objecting nonmember’s dues shall be reduced accordingly. The most current available audit report shall be used by both the UBC and the UBC affiliate to determine the amount to be paid by the nonmember objector. When more current audit reports and reviews become available, the amount to be paid by the objector shall be adjusted accordingly. Any subsequent adjustment in favor of the objector will be sent to the objector as soon as is practicable.

SECTION 7: Nonmembers filing a proper and timely notice of objection pursuant to Section 2 shall receive a dues reduction in the amount calculated under Section 6 above beginning within sixty (60) days of the receipt of their objection. They shall also receive a dues rebate in the percentage amount of their dues reduction back to the date of their objection.

SECTION 8: Nonmembers filing a proper and timely notice of objection pursuant to Section 2 herein may challenge the calculation of chargeable and nonchargeable expenditures by filing a challenge with the General Secretary-Treasurer of the UBC, at the address indicated above. Such challenge must be in writing and must be sent to the UBC within thirty (30) days from the date of mailing of the description of chargeable and nonchargeable expenditures as set forth in Section 5. Failure to comply with this procedure will render any purported challenge invalid.

SECTION 9: The arbitration procedure which follows is not mandatory. Nonmembers may pursue their rights under all other available legal procedures. Upon receipt of a proper and timely challenge, the General Secretary-Treasurer shall refer same to the American Arbitration Association (AAA) for determination under the AAA’s Rules for Impartial Determination of Union Fees. Challenges may be consolidated by the General Secretary-Treasurer for determination by the AAA as appropriate. The General Secretary-Treasurer shall have the authority to informally resolve challenges in the best interests of the UBC. The arbitrator shall have jurisdiction over all procedural matters affecting the arbitration. A court reporter shall make a transcript of all proceedings before the arbitrator at the expense of the UBC. The transcript shall be the official record of the proceeding and may be purchased by the challenger or otherwise made available for inspection as required by the arbitrator. Fees and costs charged or associated with a party’s representative shall be borne by that party.

SECTION 10: At the arbitration the union shall have the burden of establishing that the reduced dues amount being charged to objecting nonmembers is lawful. In determining the correct amount of the dues reduction, the arbitrator shall give full consideration to the legal requirements limiting the amount the objector may be charged and shall set forth the legal and arithmetical basis of such determination in the written decision. The order and decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding on all parties.

SECTION 11: The UBC shall establish an escrow account containing the portion of dues paid by non members filing challenges pursuant to Section 8 herein which reasonably may be in dispute in arbitration. Upon receipt of the arbitration award, the escrow fund shall be distributed in accordance with the arbitrator’s decision.