New York, NY – The New York City & Vicinity District Council of Carpenters [NYCDCC], an affiliate of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America [UBC], is composed of nine distinct craft locals, four general carpentry craft locals and five specialized craft locals with varying geographical jurisdictions.
LaborPress had a chance to speak with Rubén Colón, NYCDCC Area Standards Council Representative, to learn more about the union and its organizing strategies.
LP: How many members does the NYCDCC represent?
RC: The NYCDCC represents a total of approximately 20,000 members.
LP: How does the union bring in its members?
RC: There are several ways to join the NYC Carpenters Union — General Carpentry Craft Apprenticeship Recruitment, once a year depending on economic factors; Specialty Craft Apprenticeship Recruitment, every second Wednesday of the month as needed; Journey-Person entry via company request subject to approval of the executive secretary-treasurer; and/or via organizing effort, drive, or bottom up campaign subject to approval of the executive secretary-treasurer. We also recruit potential apprentices directly from various pre-apprenticeship programs.
LP: What are some of the strategies around successful organizing?
RC: The NYCDCC uses various organizing strategies — from traditional bottom-up organizing vía NLRB [National Labor Relations Board] processes and lobbying local & state elected officials for labor friendly legislation — to more non-traditional tactics like aiding law and labor enforcement agencies in investigating wage & tax fraud. We’ve also been experimenting with incorporating Community Based Organizations [CBOs] in efforts for local hiring, further diversifying our union and increasing market share. We’re also becoming more actively involved in the New York City Uniformed Land Use Review Procedure [ULURP] where initial decisions on development are made.
LP: What is the thinking and philosophy behind organizing?
RC: Ideally, we’d like to recruit any and all construction workers that primarily swing a hammer for a living [i.e. carpenters]. All workers deserve a voice, wages on which they can raise a family, employer paid medical benefits, and dignity & security in retirement.
LP: How difficult is it to organize minority and/or immigrant workers who are facing dangers on the job; and what are the issues they and you face in this effort?
RC: [It’s] a complex problem, and yes, they do face danger. While I can’t give exact numbers, it’s safe to say a large number of undocumented immigrant workers are exploited on a daily basis on nonunion construction sites. Statistically, a majority of construction fatalities in NYC happen to immigrant construction workers often of Latino descent on nonunion construction sites. Sadly, on average, about a dozen die every year in NYC.
Aside from the expected language barriers hindering organizing efforts, is the fact that so many are undocumented. They fear being exposed to federal authorities by their employers. They are often threatened with losing their jobs, even though such practices constitute an unfair labor practice. The problem is so pervasive that they’re often not paid overtime, are shorted hours, even stiffed on their last week’s pay — often simply chalking it up to a calculated loss, eventually moving on to the next predatory contractor. On the union side, it complicates recruitment as government oversight ensures enforcement by government agencies. Whether by design or simply as fate would have it, depending on who you ask, such oversight and enforcement rarely occurs on the nonunion side of the industry.
As a union, we have certain principles we hold dear. As we like to say, “an injury to one [worker] is an injury to all [workers]”. We find ourselves torn between pushing for predatory nonunion contractors to be held to the same legal standards as our signatory contractors — yet, we don’t want to harm/injure another worker by having them lose their job, a difficult line to navigate while holding yourself to a higher ideal. At some point, we must come to a reckoning — do we push for full enforcement, whatever the costs, moral or otherwise? Or do we push for a relaxation of standards among the organized trades so that we can truly organize undocumented workers? As it stands now, many remain unorganizable by way of direct recruitment into the union.
4 thoughts on “Union Organizers Face Tough Challenges, NYC Carpenters Field Rep Says”
The picture is overt :
The private sector trade union has long been screaming for a balance of order/fairness and right representation.
The Qs that LP posed to Colon were all legit and more important than the Qs, were the answers- Colon’s replies were all convincing.
In my opinion, the 3rd. Q from LP raised my eyebrow. Why, because the union private sector organizers have long expressed their valid indignation toward the clear/smelly and immoderate ignorant ways of the non- union sector.ie., worker exploitation- this shouldn’t be allowed! And to add more topping to the cake, the NLRB/ legislators must wake up from their sleepwalking, and HEAR THE OUTRAGE of the organizers- Carpenters/ Laborers from the cement and concrete workers local 20/18a/6a[*this– particular –union —doesn’t —ever –cross —the —line.And ad a member of local 20, I know that not—crossing—-the—line, is a perspicuity that sets precedence to the following:
a. Solidarity is no monkey business!
b. Soliday is the only way to put no good contractors to the ground.
c. Without solidarity, the union falls.]
Hamilton pagan
LiUNA
Steward of the Cement And Concrete Workers Local Union 20
GOD BLESS America
The picture is overt :
The private sector trade union has long been screaming for a balance of order/fairness and right representation.
The Qs that LP posed to Colon were all legit and more important than the Qs, were the answers- Colon’s replies were all convincing.
In my opinion, the 3rd. Q from LP raised my eyebrow. Why, because the union private sector organizers have long expressed their valid indignation toward the clear/smelly and immoderate ignorant ways of the non- union sector.ie., worker exploitation- this shouldn’t be allowed! And to add more topping to the cake, the NLRB/ legislators must wake up from their sleepwalking, and HEAR THE OUTRAGE of the organizers- Carpenters/ Laborers from the cement and concrete workers local 20/18a/6a[*this– particular –union —doesn’t —ever –cross —the —line.And as a member of local 20, I know that not—crossing—-the—line, is a perspicuity that sets precedence to the following:
a. Solidarity is no monkey business!
b. Soliday is the only way to put no good contractors to the ground.
c. Without solidarity, the union falls.]
Hamilton pagan
LiUNA
Steward of the Cement And Concrete Workers Local Union 20
GOD BLESS America
The picture is overt :
The private sector trade union has long been screaming for a balance of order/fairness and right representation.
This was a good read – The Qs that LP posed to Colon were all legit and more important than the Qs, were the answers- Colon’s replies were all convincing.
In my opinion, the 3rd. Q from LP raised my eyebrow. Why, because the union private sector organizers have long expressed their valid indignation toward the clear/smelly and immoderate ignorant ways of the non- union private sector.ie., worker exploitation/greed and wage theft- this shouldn’t be allowed under any circumstances. And to add more topping to the cake, the NLRB/ legislators must wake up from their sleepwalking, and HEAR THE OUTRAGE from the organizers, that are here to represent justice and to teach the public about what is wrong with the system.
The carpenters/ Laborers from the cement and concrete workers local 20/18a/6a[*this– particular –union —doesn’t —ever –cross —the —line. And as a member of local 20, I know the meaningful principal of, NOT—crossing—-the—line ! This principal is a perspicuity that sets precedence to the following core :
a. Solidarity is no monkey business! b. Solidary is the only way to put no good contractors to the ground. c. Without solidarity, the union falls.] are trying their best to keep the ways of closed shop.
The non-union private sector is out of control. The NLRB seems to be snoring and legislators are too busy being influenced with dirty money – huge/wealthy union-busting campaigns/peoples. ie., This is not good -WE NEED elected officials to promote labor laws that keep greed/exploitation under water.
Hamilton pagan
LiUNA
Steward of the Cement And Concrete Workers Local Union 20
GOD BLESS America
oraginize and educate,organize and win more fair market share jobs for all our members,more funds coming into our union funds,its a win,win for all of us.elect union friendly officials,also,get good union protection laws on our sides,our members laways are up on the certifications,its about time they start checking the nonunion side,too much gets put to the side,thats why careless accidents are occuring all around the 5 boros.enact strong finds to the scab contractors that allow workers work without proper certifications,we need a fair level playing field,we,all as members have to turn over more jobs to get our marketshare back,its our fight,to take it back,with our strageties to be effective as possible to move forward with gains,more jobs,more opportunities,more hours into our funds.