Search

The article discusses how the rehabilitation process in Hurricane Katrina-affected areas can help the construction unions. As building trade unions rush humanitarian supplies and millions of dollars in relief funds to members and families left homeless by Hurricane Katrina, they also are thinking about rebuilding communities in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama devastated by the storm. The construction unions also see the rebuilding as a marketing and organizing opportunity in a region where organized labor historically does not have a strong presence. INSET: Employment Hits Record High.

The article highlights efforts of General President Joseph J. Hunt, head of the ironworkers' union for improving the state of his union. Hunt occasionally is mistaken for the former president and will sometimes play along with his staff when they have a little fun with the autograph seekers. But Hunt has a bigger mission, revitalizing a union that has been rocked by scandal and seen its market share slide along with almost every other building trade union. To achieve these goals Hunt has launched the Ironworker-Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT), a labor-management joint trust which Hunt calls critical to the future of our union and our industry. Hunt is a leader willing to take chances to improve the state of his union.

Focuses on the move of construction union organizers to sign up open shop craftworkers in order to organize a contractor. How the union places open shop workers; Terms of the four-year collective bargaining agreement of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers; Purpose of the union for organizing the Superior Air Conditioning Inc. INSET: Unemployment Slumps.

The article reports that for the second time in five years, Edward C. Sullivan and Joseph Maloney have been elected president and secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations' (AFL-CIO's) Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD). Five years later, as BCTD marks its 67th convention in Boston, the department again faces challenges with the loss of two of its 15 member unions. Since the teamsters' union withdrew from the AFL-CIO last month and the carpenters' union confirmed that it would not reaffiliate, there are two fewer unions in the BCTD.

The article reports that with less than two weeks between the end of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) convention and the start of the Building and Construction Trades Dept. (BCTD) conclave, BCTD leaders are meeting to reshape resolutions that will be considered following the departure of the teamsters and carpenters. The teamsters, along with the service employees union, withdrew from the AFL-CIO on July 25, the first day of the labor federation's 50th constitutional convention in Chicago. The departure of two of the federation's largest unions and a convention boycott by two other unions that represent food and commercial workers and hotel and textile employees overshadowed the first two days of the meetings.

This article presents information related to nonunion training by the trade unions. The AFL-CIO's Building and Construction Trades Dept. has thrown down the gauntlet, putting the nonunion Associated Builders and Contractors on notice that its apprentice programs are under attack, including possible legal action, for what the labor unions assert are "flawed and failing programs." The unions are calling for an immediate investigation into poor performing programs and a requirement that they maintain a certain graduation rate by craft. The view was held that it was likely that building trade councils or other state-level union groups would pursue legal action to block ABC's apprentice programs.

An unusual forum of owners, contractors and labor leaders has joined forces to make changes on union projects that ultimately could increase union market share and please owners and contractors by limiting extended overtime, absenteeism and work disruptions. After more than a year of negotiation, the Construction Users Roundtable Tripartite (CURT) Initiative Report was issued earlier this month. Since January 2003, CURT owners met extensively with top officials from five contractor groups, the AFL-CIO's Building and Construction Trades Department. CURT members collectively spend more than $95 billion each year on construction and maintenance projects. They championed the project because of growing concern that capital, talent and effort on construction projects were not being used effectively.

Discusses the withdrawal of the carpenters' union in from the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). Unanimity of the union's board in disaffiliating from the AFL-CIO; Withdrawal of the carpenters from activities sponsored by the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department; Differences between AFL-CIO head John Sweeney and carpenters' union president Douglas McCarron.

Reports on the unionization drive of the Building and Construction Trades Department in Seattle, Washington as part of its project in the cross-craft effort. Reasons for the emergence of the Seattle metropolitan area as a likely candidate for the drive; Outline of the program workbook; Director of the organizing project.

Reports on L. Gerald Carlisle's campaign for presidency of the International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen against president John T. Joyce. Theme of campaign; Joyce's statement on charges of disenfranchising members and travel overspending; Carlisle's plans for the union.

This article focuses on membership of the Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD) of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). Machinists' President R. Thomas Buffenbarger has approached BCTD seeking affiliation. The AFL-CIO's Metal Trades Department also is exploring affiliation with BCTD. The machinists' union also is a member of the Metal Trades Department. At their regular monthly meeting on September 7, BCTD's general board of presidents discussed the machinists' bid to affiliate.

The article reports that military veterans in eleven U.S. states, who want to enter a union construction apprenticeship program through the Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) recruitment plan, now get to move to the front of the applicant line. And more states are expected shortly. Eleven governors have signed agreements with H2H officials granting "direct entry" for those applicants into union apprentice programs that have an opening and where a "match" is made. So far, Indiana, Ohio, Connecticut, West Virginia, Illinois, Washington, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Iowa, New Hampshire and Vermont have signed on.

The article focuses on a plan by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) that would allow locals from national unions that disaffiliated from the labor federation to continue participating in central labor bodies. The plan is creating its own controversy. Proposed Solidarity Charters, now under consideration by the AFL-CIO Executive Council, could enable local affiliates of the carpenters, teamsters and two other unions to continue participating in building trade councils, central labor councils and state federations.

The article reports that the U.S. Senate has yet to confirm two candidates for seats on the five-member National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). NLRB has been down two members since December 2004. One case in that backlog stems from a 2002 Supreme Court ruling involving BE&K Construction Co., Birmingham, Alabama. The justices rejected the labor relation board's standard for finding retaliatory motive in a non-meritorious case and directed the board to issue a new standard for employer lawsuits against labor unions.

This article reports that the leaders of five large labor unions unhappy with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization leadership have formed the Change to Win Coalition to address the urgent need for a large-scale, coordinated effort to rebuild the U.S. labor movement in the face of globalization. Uniting the five unions, which represent a variety of industries including construction, is the goal of expanding organizing efforts and growing market share. Each of the five member unions; laborers, teamsters, service employees, food and commercial workers, and hospitality and textile workers separately submitted proposals for change to the labor federation's leaders

This article reports that AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney is under fire once again. The embattled labor chief appeared to have appeased union presidents seeking drastic changes in organizing, political action and labor federation operations — or Sweeney's ouster. But new revelations that the AFL-CIO is in financial trouble, coupled with new challenges from a group of disenchanted union leaders, could spell trouble for Sweeney's July reelection bid. Sweeney's administration has been plagued for years, hitting a low point in 2001 when the carpenters' union withdrew its 520,000 members from the AFL-CIO over leadership differences with Sweeney.

This article focuses on a trust which is to fund to compensate workers with asbestos-related illness. Just days into the 109th Congress, new Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter unveiled a draft bill on Jan. 11 that would set up a trust fund to compensate workers with asbestos-related illness. Lawmakers have tried unsuccessfully for years to create such a fund, seeking to end thousands of lawsuits that have left hundreds of firms bankrupt. But debate over the size of that trust fund, and other contentious issues, continues. During negotiations last year, key senators agreed on $140 billion. Labor unions want more. Specter's draft does not specify an amount for the fund.

This article presents information on Teamsters' union President James Hoffa's new proposal to reorganize the AFL-CIO. The showdown could come at the labor federation's July convention and election. Hoffa's proposal, made on December 8, follows one from the Service Employees International Union. Hoffa's union is part of the AFL-CIO's Building and Construction Trades Department Hoffa proposes rebating half of the per capita tax each union pays to the AFL-CIO to affiliates that have a serious organizing plan in their core industries. Hoffa argues that the AFL-CIO should speed the consolidation process and not wait for overpowering economic and political forces to produce mergers because it is in the interest of the broader goals of the labor movement.

The article reports that New plumbers' union General President William P. Hite wants to put the financially troubled union "back on track" and focus on basics such as organizing and training. The union's general executive board confirmed President William P. Hite as president on December 4. Hite succeeds Martin J. Maddaloni, who announced his departure after questions were raised over certain investments from the union's general fund and pension funds. Joining Hite on the new leadership team are Patrick R. Perno as general secretary-treasurer and Stephen F. Kelly as assistant general president. Hite says he plans to continue the union's successful organizing program, including an aggressive run at industrial work in the recently formed Gulf Coast District Council. An important recruitment tool is the union's$ 100-million annual training budget, says Hite.

This article reports that bruised by Republican election victories in the White House, Senate and House, leaders of building trades unions and environmental groups realize they will face an even more difficult time on regulatory and legislative issues in 2005 and beyond. While unions and" greens" will continue to push for initiatives they lobbied for during President George W. Bush's first term, it is far more likely that organized labor and environmentalists will devote their time, energy and resources to" play defense," to ensure that policies they oppose don't become law. John Walke, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council's clean air program, predicts the administration will try to make further cuts in enforcement budgets of EPA and the Justice Department Environmentalists will oppose opening Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration as part of an energy bill. INSET: What They'll Have To Fight For.

With the Democratic Convention behind them, labor leaders are turning their attention— and their union dollars— to grassroots efforts to register voters and boost turnout on election day, Nov. 2. The laborers and other building trades unions have some of the most active grassroots programs, which have been building from previous election cycles, Don Kaniewski, legislative and political director of the laborers' union believes. Support for the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage law and ensuring workers' rights to organize a union are two key topics that labor leaders point to. One of the most important tissues in this election will be health care, says a building trades union source.

Relations between union painters and carpenters have soured again as the two trades contest the right to represent workers who perform wall finishing work, most recently in Iowa and Nebraska. The international painters' union claims it successfully fended off the international carpenters' union in three recent votes at small drywall firms in Des Moines and Omaha, with two more elections set July 22 in Ankeny, Iowa, and again in Omaha. The contests put a dent in what had seemed to be improved relations between the internationals and their leaders, painters' union President James A. Williams and carpenters' President Douglas McCarron.

The selection of U.S. Senator John R. Edwards, for the vice presidential slot on the Democratic presidential ticket headed by Senator John F. Kerry is being greeted enthusiastically by construction union leaders who are pouring time and resources into the November election with the goal of winning back the White House. Rick Diegel, political director for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, notes that though Edwards has only been in the Senate for six years, he has a more than 90% voting record on labor issues. In response to an AFL-CIO questionnaire, Edwards says he supports raising the minimum wage to $6.65 per hour from the current $5.15. The candidate also says he opposes efforts to roll back the federal Davis-Bacon prevailing wage law.

Only a year ago, Ullico Inc. was mired in scandal and losses. But the union-owned insurance and investment company has managed to turn things around under the leadership of Chairman Terence M. O'Sullivan and has reported its first quarterly profit in three years. The company provides competitively priced insurance and financial services for multi-employer trust funds, labor unions and the rank-and-file. But Ullico's litany of troubles included a controversial corporate stock program for insiders that landed Ullico under a congressional and legal microscope.

The U.S. Senate opened debate on April 19 on a reworked proposal to create a $124-billion fund to compensate those ailing from asbestos exposure. The bill aims to bypass costly litigation and has the support of the White House. But interest groups representing business, labor, attorneys and environmentalists are split on the bill. Lawmakers are divided about the measure, making its chances for passage this year uncertain. Labor unions, industry officials and others have met to resolve controversial issues, including fund startup and flexible borrowing authority.

A long-running jurisdictional dispute between bricklayers and cement masons in the U.S. that was settled in February 2004 by a federal arbitration panel may not yet have closed the door on the unions' conflict. The panel concluded that future disputes between the bricklayers' union and the operative plasterers and cement masons' union should be resolved in favor of the work assignment of the involved employer. The panel also ruled that reinstatement of a map system that divides up the labor market would not resolve the battle. Bricklayers' union president John J. Flynn argues that the ruling effectively ensures that competing jurisdictional claims for plaster and cement masonry will continue unabated, with both unions free to pursue concrete and plaster work without limitation.

The U.S. House and Senate lawmakers soon will begin trying to work out a compromise to fix problems in the pension system. But there are sharp differences between the bills that cleared each chamber. The Senate version has provisions to help multi-employer pension plans. Many construction groups and labor unions support the Senate measure, passed on January 28, that provides temporary help for multi-employer plans still ailing from declines in stock-market investment values over the past few years. The Senate bill also provides temporary relief for single-employer plans, changing the interest rate companies use to calculate their pension payments.

The rocky relationship between the carpenters' union in the U.S. and the AFL-CIO has been smoothed somewhat, at least for now, at a meeting of top leaders. At its Executive Council meeting in Chicago, Illinois, on August 6, 2003, the AFL-CIO agreed to postpone indefinitely any action against carpenters regarding reafilliation with the labor federation, and the union's continuing relationship with the Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD). The controversy stems from the February 2002 decision by carpenters' union President Douglas J. McCarron to withdraw from the AFL-CIO because of philosophical differences with its leadership. Although the union wanted to retain its affiliation with the BCTD, the AFL-CIO constitution clearly stated that only affiliated unions could be department members.

Reports on the condition put forward by Carpenters' Union president Douglas J. McCarron for reaffiliation of his union with AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department. Opposition by AFL-CIO president to the Carpenters rejoining the Building and Construction Trades Department without reaffiliating with the AFL-CIO.

Reports on the intention of Carpenters Union president Douglas J. McCarron to return the union to the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) Building and Construction Trades Department. Role of the department's changed approach to jurisdiction in McCarron's decision; Response of BCTD president to McCaron's letter; Likelihood of McCarron joining the AFL-CIO.

Reports the indignation of the National Construction Trades on the construction of Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas. Assessment of the project labor agreement; Protection of the union contracts; Insistence of the library board.

Reports the organizing order of Edwin D. Hill, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers to its electrical workers in the U.S. Enforcement of organizing rules; Assertion of promoting the rank of union contractors; Relationship between union and the customers.

Reports the conflict between carpenter's union and the head of the AFL-CIO's Building and Construction Trades Department. Source of the conflict; Withdrawal of the union from the AFLO-CIO; Conditions stated by the union before returning to the department.

Reports the action of AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trade Department on the union of carpenters to reaffiliate at levels during the meeting in Florida. Relationship between the carpenters and building trades; Doubts on the reaffiliation of the carpenters; Reasons for the withdrawal of carpenters from the organization.

Reports on the defection of the carpenter's union from the American Federation of Labor & Congress of Industrial Organizations and discusses its implications for the United States-based federation's Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD). Reason for the defection; Effect of the defection on the financial position of the BCTD; Outlook for the BCTD Heavy and Highway Division following the defection.

Reports on the United States government's finalization of four presidential orders that organized labor opposes at a time when unions are struggling to retain and expand their membership. Apparent beginning of the fight between President George W. Bush and labor, which supported Vice President Al Gore's presidential bid; Sharp reactions on a ban on project labor agreements for federally funded construction projects.

Reports developments in the construction industry in the United States as of February 2001. Provision of tax reduction proposal of President George Bush; Plan of the carpenters' union to pull out from AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trade Department; Prohibition of project labor agreement on federally funded construction project.

Offers a look at the leadership strategies of Terrence M. O'Sullivan as the general president of the laborers' union. Ways in which technology changes union practices; Work experience of O'Sullivan; Priorities; Techniques to attract new members.

Focuses on the meeting held by the official of the United States Department of Justice and laborers' union to decide the oversight agreement with the union. Details on the original three-year plan; Comments from Michael Bearse, general counsel for the laborers.

Announces the retirement of Arthur A. Coia as general president of a laborers' union in the construction industry. Information on his successor Terence M. O'Sullivan; Education and career background of O'Sullivan; Achievements of Coia in the labor sector.

Looks at the apprenticeship program in the United States sponsored by the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, an educational trust of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Electrical Contractors Association members. Purpose of the program; Benefits that can be derived by union electrical workers; Cost of training; Remarks from A.J. Pearson, executive director for the program.

Reveals that the Roofers' Union has signed a contract with contractor Willis Roofing, after a pressure that included a lawsuit against homebuilders that hire the nonunion firm. Information on Willis Roofing; Details on the contract; Other lawsuits dropped by the union; Remarks from John Martini, union's executive vice president.

Focuses on the efforts of John J. Flynn to organize and train bricklayers' union in the United States. Background on the membership record of Flynn with the bricklayers' union; Decline in bricklayers' union membership; Need for improvement in the work conditions on bricklayers.

Reports that the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations' Building and Construction Trades Department is putting together a labor-management coalition. Purpose of the coalition; Number of construction unions in the coalition; United States lobbying strategy of the building trade-unions.

Reports that Laborers General President Arthur A. Coia was cleared from several internal disciplinary charges alleging ties to organized crime. Comments from Peter Vaira, the hearing officer; Fine imposed on Coia for violating the union's ethics code; Details on the charges.

Focuses on the oversight agreement between the laborers' union and the United States Department of Justice, under which the union is supposed to rid itself of organized crime influence. Details on the agreement; Reason for removing individuals from the union's ranks; Information on the internal reform effort of the union.

Focuses on dismissal of a lawsuit filed by BE&K against a carpenters' union in July 1998. Ruling of the United States National Labor Relations Board on the case of BE&K over the 1989 riot; Details on the demonstration of union workers on June 30, 1998 protesting the use of a nonunion contractor by a transportation agency.

Presents information on the launch of the Building Trades Organizing Project (BTOP), developed by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). When the project was launched; Comments by Bob Ozinga, director of the BTOP; Anticipated advantages of the program `Milestones to Organizing'; How the program is expected to assist building and construction councils.

Reports on the union reorganization plan formulated by Carpenter's Union president Douglas J. McCarron. Philosophy in running the union; Contract rules under the new management; Benefits for union members; Effect of restructuring on organization of new members and contractors.

Profiles Douglas J. McCarron, president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. Efforts of McCarron to restructure and reorganize the union; Craft-wide survey of union, open-shop workers and contractors as an aid in restructuring; McCarron's belief in training as tool in organizing.