Shame on Terry Nelson!

St. Louis CDC LM-2

2011-11-28T22:31:49Z

St. Louis Carpenters District Council 2011 LM-2

-details $1,366,618 diverted to Local 57!

Targeting funds:

Akbar Electric - $119,834

BST LLC - $154,364

Thunder Electric - $100,000

Duester Electric - $58,960

Laron Electrical Contracting - $80,000

Electricians Local 57 - $5000

Accord Electric - $100,000

Local 57 employee salaries:

Karen Ems - $66,585

Jill Clark - $77,442

Dominic Grasso - $95,960

Bob Augustine - $75,568

Assoicated Electrical Contractors - $126,536

Grants From UBCJA in Washington DC - $18,750

Advertising:

CBS Outdoor - $114,592

St. Louis Cardinals Baseball - $150,027

Training for Electricians:

CJTF - $8,000

Legal Fees for Kevin Price:

Schuchat, Cook, and Werner - $15,000

Respect Our Crafts

2011-11-27T21:40:11Z

Duane Moore named National Director of Respect Our Crafts

-Respect Our Crafts is a cooperative effort by all the Building Trades member unions to help restore the rights of rank-and-file carpenters and bring them back, "into the fold!" Without them we are weaker and it is important that we help them overcome the influences that have eroded their rights under Douglas McCarron. Now is the time for all of our carpenter brothers and sisters to stand with Carpenters Independent Local #1 and with solidarity help restore union carpenters back to their rightful place in labor's storied history! PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO VISIT DUANE MOORE'S BLOG TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS NEW MOVEMENT BY CARPENTERS INDEPENDENT LOCAL #1

The following is reprinted with permission from RespectOurCrafts.com:

(Duane served an inside apprenticeship and graduated as an Inside Journeyman Wireman in 1980 and is a 33 year member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Duane has been involved in organizing since 1987 and has been on the International staff as an Organizer since 2005.)

As National Director of Respect Our Crafts, it is my responsibility to coordinate, assist and advise those Building and Construction Trades Department Affiliates who are under attack by the leadership of the UBC.

I do not consider the UBC a Trade Union, and neither should you. They are no more a trade union than the ABC, Associated Builders and Contractors. The UBC has gone from a reputable labor organization, which represented their rank and file and was a main stay of the Building Trades, to an association representing corporate America at the expense of their membership and all Building Trades Unions. The UBC is leading the race to the bottom.

There is never a good time for unions to be at odds with each other. However, we did not pick this fight. From coast to coast and everywhere in between, for over the last ten years the Carpenters, under Doug McCarron’s leadership, have been raiding work from other construction trade unions. Not only are they attempting to expand their scope of work by attacking individual craft unions, they are signing wall-to-wall agreements throughout the country, and appearing in front of governing bodies and customers speaking out against PLA’s, that help their members and well as all the Building Trades. Enough is enough.

Through the Respect Our Crafts website, we will attempt to keep the rank and file members of the Building Trades Unions informed along with customers and users. Only by organizing, and not cannibalising, will the Union Construction Industry grow stronger.

Strength In Unity.

Duane Moore

Duane Moore's Blog >>

Carpenters Local Union #1

2011-11-27T20:58:44Z

Carpenters Independent Local Union #1

Brothers and sisters, with the help of organizers from the AFL-CIO union carpenters in Albany have stepped up and chartered, Carpenters Independent Local Union #1! Their goal of restoring democratic rights to their rank-and-file brothers and sisters is the most worthy cause labor has witnesses in the last fifty years. We will all benefit from their success and we should do all in our power to support them! Please visit their site and show them your support at http://carpentersindependent.com.

St. Louis PowerCast with John Moyle

2011-11-03T12:37:48Z

John Moyle hosts St. Louis Powercast

Local 57 Facts is proud to announce that ownership of the St. Louis PowerCast has been transferred to writer John Moyle. John plan's to steer the PowerCast away from the singular 'Local 57' issue and take on a broader perspective while covering a multitude of issues that affect working men and women. In his first podcast John hits it, "out of the park," as he discusses the US Banking Industry. As you listen you will begin to understand why we asked for John's help!! John has created a Facebook Fan page as a separate website designed to host his podcast continues to evolve! Stop by John's Facebook page and click LIKE!

{audio}http://berkeley.directrouter.com/~local57f/images/mp3/PowerCast 10-30-2011.mp3{/audio}

Thanks John

AGC Bulletin on CDC contract changes

2011-10-27T11:59:22Z

St. Louis Carpenters District Council & Associated General Contractors

open CBA early. Eliminate, modify language.

The following is a portion of the AGC bulletin describing the upcoming changes to the carpenters CBA.

AGC Labor Bulletin

Amendment to Carpenter Agreement; NMA changes effective 1-1-2012; finalized FASB requirements; NLRB posting requirements as of 1-31-2012; BIM Conceptual Estimating

AGC and Carpenters approve an Amendment to 2008-2013 agreement AGCâ€™s Carpenter Labor Committee was approached by the Carpenters District Council (CDC) to take a look at the 2008 to 2013 Carpenter Agreement and make suggestions for revisions to the agreement. After a meeting of the Carpenter Labor Committee and meetings with the CDC, an amendment was drafted and approved effective as of October 1, 2011. The following are the changes to the 2008 to 2013 Carpenter Agreement:

The following sections were deleted from the agreement: - Section 5.14 - Eliminates Smokestack premiums. - Section 5.15 - Eliminates Layout pay. - Section 7.02 â€“ Leaves lunch time and quit time to contractor. - Section 7.06 â€“ Eliminates need to request permit to work overtime on weekend. - Section 7.18 â€“ Eliminates table saw assistance.

The following sections were modified from the agreement: - Section 7.10 â€“ Eliminates reference to heating stove and forms documenting tools. - Section 7.14 â€“ Vacation to be a mutual agreement between employee and Employer. - Section 7.15 â€“ Deletes money for stilts and Employer pay for saw sharpening. - Section 7.17 â€“ Allows Employer to decide when a Welder or Burner assistant is needed. - Section 10.02 â€“ Deletes reference to Building Trades Council of St. Louis for pickets. - Section 11.02 â€“ Eliminates established practice and refers to contractor assignment.

AGC applauds the CDC for being proactive in making contract changes in the middle of a collective bargaining agreement.

St. Louis Powercast Episode 4

2011-08-12T03:04:20Z

St Louis Powercast Episode 4 on iTunes

Listener Comment Line (314) 677-2240

In this episode we interview IBEW members Tom Martin, Kevin Purcell, and Willi Stroh on their experiences with some of St. Louis' open-shop electrical contractors. We apologize for the poor audio quality and vow to do better in the future!

{audio}http://berkeley.directrouter.com/~local57f/images/mp3/BirkelMP3for57.mp3{/audio}

Past Birkel now IBEW	Hours with IBEW	Annuity
Chris Hepler	8603.50	$47,307.09
Eddie Remick	19,373.38	$138,735.46
Greg Borton	19,542.75	$120,596.95
Dwight Lakin	19,486.56	$152,389.40
Steve Houska	3,089.50	$13,690.23
Jason Tolle	14,876.23	$92,915.57
Mike Wasson	21,387.50	$134,827.71
Rick Fleming	8187.50	$44,693.84
Willie Stroh	4449.00	$20,065.26
Josh Yates	4,259.50	$16,212.35
Mike Clamors	4303.50	$8,119.40
Paul Gierer	17,638.00	$99,236.63
Will Poindexter	4,794.25	$11,059.79
Brian Persons	4477.00	$21,390.82
Jacob Myracle	15,023.50	$89,555.61
Keenan Kirsch	4,558.50	$10,168.37
Zach Wilber	4672.00	$14,675.57
Kevin Pursell	3968.00	$16337.72
Tom Martin	3,724.00	$10,834.70

New Jersey Carpenters United

2011-04-24T13:28:59Z

New Jersey Carpenters United

New Jersey United Brotherhood of Carpenter members establish a website, www.NewJerseyCarpentersUnited.com with a lofty goal. The following mission statement is posted on their home page:

The Goal of this website:

Organize from a grassroots level all New Jersey Union Carpenters who are fed up with the International in Washington weakening our union by taking away our rights and not acting with our best interest in mind.
Separate ourselves from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and become an independent union in control of our own destiny.
Restore our voting rights and return the voice of the rank and file that so many years ago were taken from us.
Get enough members to agree with these goals and vote affirmative on this site so we can then obtain legal counsel to proceed in that direction.

We ask that you go to their site and exercise your right to vote!! Thank you!

Price versus CDC

2011-03-23T04:07:20Z

Carpenter delegate prevails in free speech case!

U.S. District Court Orders Carpentersâ€™ District Council (CDC) of Greater

St. Louis to Stop Infringing Free Speech Rights of Dissenting Members

CDC Prevented from Silencing Members Opposed to Union Raiding

ST. LOUIS â€“ A U.S. district court has confirmed a major victory to carpenters opposed to their unionâ€™s effort to raid the work of other trades. On March 17, 2011, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois issued an agreed-upon permanent injunction barring the Carpentersâ€™ District Council (CDC) of Greater St. Louis & Vicinity from silencing the free speech rights of members.

The injunction stems from internal charges that the CDC filed last year against member Andrew Kevin Price for expressing opposition to the CDCâ€™s formation of a carpentersâ€™ electrical division â€“ Local 57. Price, a dues paying member of CDC, openly opposed the formation of Local 57 by Terry Nelson, executive secretary/treasurer of the CDC. In summer 2010, Price refused to remove an anti-Local 57 sticker on his personal vehicle. When he was then brought up on charges by the CDC, Price filed a lawsuit, alleging that the CDCâ€™s action violated the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). On Oct. 8, 2010, U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Reagan granted Price a preliminary injunction to prevent the CDC from infringing on his free speech rights. Reagan made the injunction permanent in a ruling issued on March 17, 2011, on a joint motion of the parties. (see attachment detailing case number 3:10-cv-0741-MJR-PMF).

The permanent injunction prevents the CDC from filing charges against Price and retaliating against any CDC member for expressing opposition to Local 57. The CDC is also to rescind previous disciplinary actions and reimburse fines against members for opposing Local 57.

In its October ruling, the court characterized Price as â€œâ€¦ a carpenter and a loyal union member. He earnestly believes that the council should spend the unionâ€™s money assisting carpenters, rather than electricians. Price believes that Nelson formed Local 57 to raid other unions (trying to capture electrical work that other unions historically did), and that this policy is detrimental to the future and long-term goals of the Carpentersâ€™ union. Price also believes that Local 57 harms union solidarity and runs contra to the traditional notion of â€˜brotherhood.â€™â€

More details on the case can be found HERE!

WOW - This is HUGE!

2011-03-16T20:39:00Z

This is HUGE!

http://RespectOurCrafts.com

The National Building and Construction Trades Department in Washington DC launches a new website that showcases the collective efforts of all member unions and their leaders as they stand in UNITY against United Brotherhood of Carpenters leader Doug McCarron. We were tempted here at Local 57 Facts to reprint the article titled, "Now is the time - this is the place," but instead we want you to go there NOW and see for yourself! Here in St. Louis we are saluting the efforts of the BCTD and President Ayers!! Long live the Building Trades and God bless all of you!! We will prevail!!

VIDEOS

(our favorite part!)

God Bless President Jimmie Williams

2010-09-29T01:17:14Z

Updated - Resolution 4 passes muster in Kansas City as Nelson tries to reaffiliate!

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades

President Jimmie Williams Leads the fight...again!

IUPAT President Jimmie Williams foresight on Resolution 4 works to protect all union members in America and Canada. God bless President WIlliams!

{player}http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLBvInc5Mis&feature=player_embedded#!{/player}

What is Resolution 4?

Resolution #4 â€“ Eligibility to Serve as a Building Trades State, Provincial or Local Council Officer

All State, Provincial and Local Building and Construction Trades Councils strictly adhere to the Departmentâ€™s Constitution and Solidarity Charter program by requiring that all officers of State, Provincial and Local Building Trades Councils be members in good standing of a National or International Union affiliated with the Building and Construction Trades Department or members in good standing of a Local Union or District Council that has a full Solidarity Charter.

Why is Resolution 4 important?

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America are not a member of the National Building and Construction Trades Department, but throughout the country many UBCJA members hold office in state Building and Construction Trades Councils. Resolution 4 seeks to ensure future officers will respect the Building and Construction Trades tradition of solidarity and respect regarding craft lines.

"If we would have listened to Jimmie Williams nine years ago when he began beating this drum about Doug McCarron and the UBC, we would not be in this mess today!"

SMWIA President Michael Sullivan

The Florida Intiative

2011-02-03T23:08:41Z

A grassroots movement in Florida

Three UBC members from Florida, Carl Barnes, Wayne Harley, and Doug MacCartney, launched a grassroots movement designed to restore the democratic rights of rank-and-file carpenters nationwide. Their website, Members for Democracy, details how they plan to accomplish their goal while working within the restrictive political structure of the UBC. Their hope is palpable. Here is a small snippet from their site:

"Every move our Regional Council makes to divide our trade into specialties; To divide our members into specialists; To dilute our voice in our union or to adulterate our by-laws - we bring onto the floor of our meeting hall. Every action the staff of the regional council makes to deny or hide information from our members - we reveal to the members and file charges against the offending party. It's vital to the health of our union that information pertaining to the employment conditions of our members be available to every member for discussion and response. Also, it is to our advantage to bring these topics to discussion and reveal the scabby cronies of the EST "hiding in" and "spying on" your local (union). Those that are willing to sell out their brothers and sisters for their own personal gain will reveal their self serving greedy ways to your brothers and sisters - they deserve the contempt of all in our union."

Douglas MacCartney, Members for Democracy

Members for Democracy

Forgotten Carpenters

2011-02-01T13:36:16Z

Dying to be a carpenter

by David Correia

"In the years since McCarron has consolidated his control of the union while he and his corporate crowd have grown richer and richer. Meanwhile unemployed carpenters in Las Vegas are shooting themselves in the head. "Every time I turned around," said the local union secretary "somebody was coming into my office to say that someone just popped themselves in the head with a 9 mm or some other thing," such is life and death in Douglas McCarron's carpenters union.

Union carpenters in Las Vegas are struggling in McCarrons home local of Las Vegas as detailed by David Correia, Professor of American Studies at the University of New Mexico:

More McCarronism in Oregon!

St Louis News Breaker Vol. 1 No. 3

2011-01-26T03:03:40Z

St Louis News Breaker Vol. 1 No. 3

Download the latest issue of the St Louis News Breaker to learn the latest news regarding the St Louis CDC's attempt to undercut area wage standards.

Download the St Louis News Breaker Vol. 1 No. 3 Or click on the thumbnail to open in your browser!

St Louis Powercast (Ep 4)

2011-01-16T22:42:53Z

St Louis Powercast Episode 4

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

President Edwin Hill

Available now on iTunes!

Please read IBEW President Edwin Hill's Bio (Wikipedia) to learn more about this progressive labor leader. God Bless President Hill!

Also, please read AFL-CIO President RichTrumka Bio (Wikipedia)

[cincopa AsMAVY6GiHrN]

Fire from the floor!

2011-01-18T00:25:00Z

Fighting for a voice in Albany

Local 370 members seek democracy in the face of International influence!

"Perhaps the IBEW should reconsider the strength of the UBC as an adversary. For the sake of all union labor, the IBEW members, and even the UBC rank-and-file, I would hope the IBEW would reconsider its position and move to crush McCarron and Nelson."

Brother Richard Dorrough

< Click on the thumbnail to see what is happening in Albany New York as UBC Local 370 brothers and sisters stand to be counted! (Once this document is expanded it can be pulled to any size by clicking-and-dragging on the lower corner)

Carpenters Local 370 Albany New York

Administrator: There is the mistaken belief within the St Louis labor community that IBEW Local One sat idly by and allowed Nelson to establish his phony group he calls "57", but as has been published here in the last paragraph of the Jurisdiction tab nothing could be further from the truth. Nelson has manipulated the local media and used them as a platform for his attack on the IBEW. Even some IBEW members may perceive our public response as long overdue, but it should be understood that good trade unionists utilize every means possible before beginning a public information campaign. Brother Dorroughs comments below are strong, direct, and convey the frustrations of many within the UBC and the organized labor community at large. Terry Nelson should know and it should be stated that the day will NEVER arrive when the IBEW will accept his phony group. And with the help of our International Organization this powerful, unyielding stance is spreading through the country.

Local 57 Facts understands the courage it takes to stand up for what you believe in and we salute brother Dorrough and all the carpenters who seek to return the UBCJA to the lofty heights it once held within the organized labor community. Brother Dorrough offered the following two comments this evening, again through the Disqus comment system used by our site. We invite all carpenters to share their concerns here! We want Robert Dorrough to know that he never ceased to be our brother in solidarity!

Brother Richard Dorrough on Doug McCarron and Terry Nelson

Did we not join a union to stop working in fear? Did we not seek out the brotherhood that is unionism? McCarron and his councils are abusing the rank-and-file in ways that make the anti-union employer look like a boyscout. Rank-and-file union carpenters are leaving McCarrons UBC in droves and the ones who do not quit are thrown out. Since it seems to be all about market share when will someone ask, "where are they now?" Where are these good union brothers and sisters thrown aside by the UBC? The UBC apprenticeship program has a 65% drop-out rate. Why? Because when they find out the reality of UBC membership they find they just jumped from the frying pan into the fire!

I sent this to David Adkins after he said he was going to partner with Nelson:

Brother Adkins,
I just read the statement you gave below and no offense intended, but are you out of your mind? "
â€œGiven the choice between making the UBC (United Brotherhood of Carpenters) business partners or business adversaries, I would choose to make them partners and will pursue that course of action,â€ Adkins said."
Are you conceding the right of Douglas McCarron and a clown such as Terry Nelson to steal the work of your fellow IBEW brothers and sisters? Are you willing to partner with this scourge and blight on organized labor? Are you shaking hands with Nelson who has made statements against union labor and called his own members a detriment to contractors? I am surprised his own membership has not run him out of the UBC! Nelson is an arrogant, loud mouth, delusional jackass! How can you partner with any such organization that has clear intentions to raid and steal the work of all trades and appoint itself the "king of labor"?
I fail to understand how you could have any other mission, but to drive the UBC out of the electrical business and shut down Local 57 and any future attempts by the UBC and Nelson to steal the work of your members. The worst possible thing the IBEW could do is to do business with Nelson and to make a deal that allows them to continue on their path of raiding. The IBEW must, for the sake of all union labor and IBEW members, crush this attempt by the UBC and Nelson to raid the IBEW. If you do not who do you think will be next?

The IBEW has not only a responsibility to its members, but a duty to the future of all union labor. McCarron left the AFL-CIO for the sole purpose of raiding other trades and for McCarron to chase his delusion of a new union power with himself installed as its leader. One of his first moves was to raid the tapers and painters in New York and create a tapers local to steal their work. He was soundly beaten by the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) using his own 'representation vote ploy' against him and had to fold up his new tapers local union as a result. How can the IBEWs mission be anything but the same action taken by the tapers and painters?
I am a UBC member and have been for 22 years. I have watched the UBC destroyed under McCarron and his appointed council of fools such as Nelson. Our locals have been decimated; Our democratic rights trampled and spit out; Our funds have been seized against our will and given to council jackass' such as Nelson; Our funds have been lost, stolen and mismanaged by McCarrons councils while the UBC International did nothing; And our market share is in the toilet and dropping daily. In the NYC Council over 27 officers have been indicted, fired, suspended or mysteriously retired due to connections to organized crime, grand theft, and in many cases sheer stupidity. As we speak the NYC District Council is in trusteeship under a consent decree by the federal Government. For 20 years, despite a multitude of letters and cries for help from the membership, McCarron did nothing while these indicted, admitted council thieves robbed the membership blind. Not only did McCarron do nothing, but he supported and empowered these thieves. The ONLY reason McCarron has acted now is because the US Attorneys Office indicted 9 of McCarron's appointees and presented irrefutable evidence of their guilt. 8 of the 9 inducted have all plead guilty. They have admitted that while Mccarron supported them and ignored the cries for help from the membership, they were indeed the low life thieves as charged.
The Empire Council who controls the other half of NY State is also under trusteeship for financial irregularities. They lost over $160 million to Madoff; All officers have been fired and all trustees removed from the funds. Again McCarron ignored the cries for help and evidence from the membership for years. The chairman of the Empire Council Welfare and Trustee on the NYC Council funds is one of the indicted and has been identified as a member of the Genovese crime family. This information has been in the public media for years, yet McCarron and his council have done nothing - not an investigation - nothing! Only now that they are under scrutiny from the US Attorneys Office (and the DOL has received hundreds of complaints form members) has McCarron acted.
Tell me Mr. Adkins, are these the kind of partners you would let loose on your IBEW members? Is this the kind of criminal enterprise you would rather have as a partner? One would think your duty to protect your members and your duty to union labor as a whole would dictate that Nelson and the UBC can ONLY be an adversary and never a partner. We in the UBC are victimized by pompous, arrogant windbags such as Nelson and other McCarron hand picked cronies. Our members are demoralized, disgusted, fed up, and are leaving the UBC in alarming numbers. Is this the future you want for IBEW members?? This is the reality of the "partner" you are choosing to pursue. How could the IBEW even consider doing business with this blight on organized labor? McCarron does not have the support of the membership - just the opposite - members all around the country are educating themselves and joining together to fight the oppression of McCarron and his cronies. The only reason McCarron is still in power is because after the election each local officer becomes a paid shill for the Councils and will do as they are told or risk losing their triple pensions and ridiculous salaries. Well, have a look for yourself - many of McCarrons council appointees are headed to prison, his locals are in turmoil, and the membership is revolting. Perhaps the IBEW should reconsider the strength of the UBC as an adversary. For the sake of all union labor, the IBEW members and even the UBC rank-and-file I would hope the IBEW would reconsider its position and move to crush McCarron and Nelson.

In Solidarity,
Brother Richard Dorrough
22 Year Member Carpenters Local 370
Albany NY