Winter 2015 Newsletter - Carpenters Industrial Council

Vol. 78, No.1
Portland, Oregon
Winter 2015
Kentucky Sisters in the Brotherhood
Taking Action with
Community Service
in Louisville
The CIC Kentucky Chapter of
Sisters in the Brotherhood committee consists of Local 2501
members Becky Wilson (chairperson), Tammy Goatley (secretary), Lynn Witt Votaw (treasurer), Shannon Portor, Sandy
Billingslea, and Sonia Greiner;
Rita Hayden of the Louisville
construction Carpenters; and
community service activists Kim
Eddre and her daughter Rodnesha Malone.
Witt Votaw, Portor and
Greiner will attend the International UBC Sisters in The Brotherhood National Conference in
January at the UBC International
Training Center in Las Vegas, NV.
THE ‘BEDZ FOR KIDZ’ PROJECT
Kentucky Sisters in the Brotherhood are leading a “Bedz 4
Kidz” project, involving Local
2501, our Brothers and Sisters in
WHAT’S
INSIDE?
Regional Reports
• Eastern
See Page 3
• Western See Pages 2, 4-5
• Midwestern See Pages 7-9
• Southern See Pages 10-11
Local 1155 President Stands
Up for Walmart Workers
See Page 2
Union Tough CIC Members
at Rodeos and Roller Derby
See Page 4
Congress Eliminates
Financial Regulations
See Page 7
Bargaining Begins at Royal
Oak
See Page 10
Local 2346 Builds Power
for Contract Negotiations
See Page 11
the Construction Carpenters,
and the Local United Autoworkers Union. Members of Local
2501 include housing code enforcement officers who inspect
houses throughout the Louisville
Metro area.
“As a City of Louisville Metro
code enforcement officer doing
Section 8 housing inspections
every day, I see so many kids laying on blankets on the floor,
without a bed mattress and bed
frame, but we will change this
for as many as we can. I am very
passionate about our ‘Bedz for
Kidz’ project,” says Wilson.
HELPING FAMILIES
On December 13, 2014, members of the Kentucky Sisters in
the Brotherhood brought Christmas food, fixings and presents to
a low-income mother in Louisville struggling with cancer. The
Kentucky SIB committee also
gave $100 gift cards from unionized Kroger Supermarkets to two
other single mothers who have
three kids each, so they had food
for Christmas.
The SIB committee also went
to a homeless shelter, dropping
off slightly used clothes and
coats and canned goods that Local 2501 union members and
management at Anderson Wood
Products had been collecting.
This project was headed up by
union officer and Anderson
Wood employee Sonia Greiner.
“I love helping people,” says
Greiner. “Our service projects get
union members together and
that makes the union stronger.”
“Our Local 2501 has also do-
Some members of CIC Kentucky Sisters in the Brotherhood (SIB) committee. From Left to Right:
Tammy Goatley (secretary); Lynn Witt Votaw; Sandra Billingslea; CIC Council Representative Dottie
Shoff; Shannon Porter; Becky Wilson (chair person).
nated $100 a month to Kentucky
Sisters in the Brotherhood,
which is great,” said Wilson. “And
we are planning a golf scramble
fundraiser, too, so we can raise
funds for the Bedz 4 Kidz and
other projects.”
are a good thing. Code enforcement officers are known for giving out citations and fines for
code violations, which is part of
our job. Hopefully, our community service projects will show
that we are committed to helping the community.”
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Kentucky SIB committee had
City of Louisville Metro Councilwoman Mary Ann Butler join
them for a luncheon in November. Councilwoman Butler
talked about the needs of people
in District 13, and SIB members
talked about mutual concerns,
about their community service
projects, and about the benefits
of trade unionism for women
How Do Unions Appeal to Younger Workers?
By Denny Scott
When Doug DeVilbiss submitted an application for an education grant from the CIC Education
Charitable Foundation he included an essay on what unions
could do to appeal to younger
workers. Doug offered some interesting observations so we
thought we would share them
with readers of the Union Register.
DeVilbiss was a union member
for 25 years, Treasurer of Local
2190, and worked in the Techline
USA plant in Madison, Wisconsin
until it closed in June 2014. He is
now enrolled in an accounting
program at the Madison Area
Technology College. He wrote:
In addition to higher wages,
unions made possible the shorter
work day, paid leave and a future
and how the union provides for
a better work environment with
more fairness and equity on the
job.
“We believe in giving back to
the union and to the community,” said Wilson. “These political and community connections
to look forward to after retirement.
Since their inception unions have
made it possible for workers to
spend less time working and more
time with family and loved ones. I
feel younger workers need to experience the joys of life outside of
work. Unfortunately, when a person works for a nonunion business they may be expected to put
in twelve hours a day or more.
Younger workers are looking for
more balance between working
time and leisure time — without a
dramatic drop in income.
Paid leave is important to every
worker but hourly employees are
currently required to jump
through hoops to get time off
work. FMLA is an example — a
(Turn to Page 7 )
2015 CARPENTERS INDUSTRIAL COUNCIL
CONVENTION CALL
To All Local Unions and Council Delegates,
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
We hereby notify you that the Carpenters Industrial Council
has scheduled a convention for Monday, May 18, 2015 at 9:00
AM and until the conclusion of business Wednesday, May 20,
2015 at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, 8439 NE
Columbia Blvd, Portland, OR 97220.
SPECIAL BUSINESS
Along with other Council business, on Monday, May 18, 2015,
we will be conducting nominations for the following officers
and/or Executive Committee members: President, four (4) Regional Vice Presidents, Executive Secretary Treasurer, four (4)
Regional Trustees, four (4) Regional At-Large Members, Warden
and Conductor. Elections, if required, will be held on Wednesday
morning May 20, 2015. All positions shall be elected for fouryear terms.
Additionally, the person elected to the position of Executive
Secretary Treasurer will, pursuant to Section 8(J) of Council Bylaws, be deemed an elected delegate from the Council to conventions or meetings of the United Brotherhood and any other
State or local Councils, organizations, conferences or meetings
that the Council may participate in or become affiliated with.
We will also be voting on any proposed revisions to the
Council Bylaws.
UNION REGISTER
2 • WINTER 2015
Fast Food Workers Joined By Walmart Clerks and
Other Low Wage Workers Strike in Record 190 Cities
By David Moberg
Two years after fast food workers in New York walked out of stores
and restaurants throughout the city to demand $15 an hour and a
union, their movement has grown and changed dramatically. That
was evident on December 4, 2014, when fast food workers in approximately 190 cities went out on strike, according to organizers—
the largest number so far.
In addition, since the “Fight for 15” came at a time of continuing
decline in real wages for most Americans, the workers’ demands
have triggered new, broad-based campaigns that are winning much
higher minimum wages than anyone dreamed possible in many
states and localities.
The workers’ reliance on direct action, including civil disobedi-
Local 1155 President Stands up
to Support Walmart Workers
in their Struggle for Justice
Local 1155
President Jeremy
Goodin at protest
at Walmart Store
in North Vernon,
Indiana, on Black
Friday.
“As usual on Black Friday, Wal-Mart stores across the country
were drawing crowds in search of deals, but not everyone that
showed up came to shop. At over 1600 Wal-Mart stores, union
members from various trades along with other community
members gathered in record numbers. They came to show solidarity with Wal-Mart workers who are all too often victims of
unfair treatment, low wages, and no benefits,” says Local 1155
president Jeremy Goodin. Brother Goodin co-organized and
participated in a Wal-Mart protest action at the North Vernon,
Indiana store.
When asked why he got involved Jeremy says, “I have been
following this issue closely for the last few years. I have been
able to hear firsthand what’s happening on the front lines of
this fight thanks to UFCW organizer Angela Williamson who
has inspired many other workers and activists to get involved.
After contacting Angela and checking the link she provided, I
saw that there was an action scheduled for the Wal-Mart in my
hometown. I think one of the things that makes this action
special is that it was organized by Kathleen Quillen (an IWW
representative), myself (a CIC local union president), and a
UFCW organizer, who all worked together to organize this
event.”
“Three unions in solidarity with a common goal and that’s
what it’s going to take to combat such a huge company like
Wal-Mart. There are more than 4,000 Wal-Mart stores across
this country and they employ about 1.3 million workers.”
“Wal-Mart’s policies have a negative impact on everyone, not
just Wal-Mart employees. For example, U.S. taxpayers are subsidizing Walmart’s poverty wages to the tune of $6.2 billion a
year—that’s in public assistance including food stamps, Medicaid and subsidized housing. Wal-Mart is not just mistreating
their workforce, they are robbing all of us in America and it is
up to all of us to hold them accountable for their corporate
greed and abuse of workers rights,” explains Goodin.
ence that started last year and has been part of
many protests and strikes since, has also inspired
workers from other industries to join in, especially
low-wage service workers who are largely interchangeable in the job market.
For example, according to organizers, as workers went out on strike at the super-sized “Rock ‘n
Roll McDonald’s” in downtown Chicago during
December 4th protest actions, a convenience store
clerk at a nearby BP station who had witnessed
such protests before walked off his job and joined
the fast food workers. Around the country, organizers said that burger cooks and cashiers were
joined not only by convenience store workers but
also home care aides, airport workers, dollar store
and Walmart clerks, federal contract workers and
even some adjunct professors.
The tone of the protests has changed in some
ways, as well. While many workers are still reluctant to join in the fight for fear of losing their job,
unstable and low-paying though it may be, the
campaign’s success in using community support
to keep strikers from losing their jobs “set the tone
for workers …that management would have to
deal with the community,” says New York City’s
Fast Food Forward organizing director Kendall
Fells. (The campaign has different names in different cities, such as “Fast Food Forward” in New York
and “Fight for 15” in Chicago.)
Protestors seem almost as likely to emphasize
having a union as to focus on the obviously popular goal of winning pay increases to $15 an hour
(and 40-hour weeks). Most important, they seem
to feel more hopeful and powerful. Dora Peña, a
56-year old grandmother who has worked eight
years at a Chicago McDonald’s still complains that
“it’s impossible to make it on the pay we get.”
Indeed, fast food workers rely on $7 billion a
year in federal assistance to survive (effectively a
taxpayer subsidy to companies that are extremely
profitable and that pay top executives 1,200 times
as much as average workers).
But she also told the crowd of 200 strikers in
downtown Chicago on Thursday, December 4th,
“We’re here today because we’re winning. Fight for
15 has won concrete victories!”
Besides the indirect increases in minimum
wages, workers have raised pay in their stores, improved allocation of hours of work and reversed
managerial discipline of workers.
So far the campaign has assumed that if workers
could be “put in motion, then something good
would come of it,” as one organizer said. At the
very least, the public knows who fast food workers
are now. “They’ve gone from invisible to invincible,” Fells says.
Fast Food Workers and Walmart Clerks have
done it in part by “re-inventing the strike,” he says.
“When there’s no way of getting everyone involved,
the mini-strike is designed to bring attention to
workers and who they are.”
Now the campaign’s top strategists are moving
ahead a step, trying to develop a “theory of how to
win” on a grand scale, in the words of one organizer. Rather than having contracts for each store or
even each franchisee, the fast food movement
might strike a deal covering a leading corporation,
such as McDonald’s, then try to spread it to the
whole industry or even a broader sector of the
economy.
One crucial development occurred earlier this
year when the National Labor Relations Board
general counsel ruled that McDonald’s Corporation was a joint employer of store workers along
with the franchisee. That could make the corporation legally responsible for obeying wage laws and
for being a party to collective bargaining agreements, and would open up the corporation’s deep
pockets for pay and benefit increases.
As the campaign grows and hurts McDonald’s
brand image, it may be cheaper for the company
to settle fairly with workers than to lose customer
respect. In its Securities and Exchange Commission filings this year, McDonald’s acknowledged
that the protests could be financially damaging.
What would a union look like? First, Fells says,
“It will be impossible to go through elections at all
these individual stores. The labor movement is going to have to think of something new and fresh.
The Fast Food Forward Way is direct action.”
Union recognition by direct action once was common, and it is more likely to lay the basis for worker
involvement in the union than an election.
But the other side of the vision—agreements
that cover an industry—are much more common in Europe than in the United States.
Fast food workers can revive a long, if somewhat ancient, history of winning recognition
by direct action, but they may have to be more
inventive to create a workable industry-wide
standard for fast food workers. It’s a tribute to
the movement, though, that after just two
years of organizing, the question is now open
for debate.
ABOUT THIS AUTHOR: Guest writer David
Moberg is a senior editor of In These Times
magazine and regularly reports on labor issues. www.inthesetimes.com .
Trick or Treat — Local 2761 at the center
of community life in McCleary, Washington
Unions are a good thing. Even kids know that. At
least they do in McCleary, WA. Some media outlets
may be trying to scare America about big, bad
unions and paint union members like we are the
boogey man, but a local union has been reaching
out to their community, sweetening their
neighbors’ view about unions.
Local 2761 is a labor union people know and
respect in McCleary. The Local has done numerous
community service projects over the years.
The Local also has begun delighting children and
their parents with a Halloween Trick or Treat event.
Union members advertised the event with fliers
door-to-door in the neighborhood near the union
hall. On October 23, union member Dave McKeen
and his daughter, Haile-Anne, dressed up in full
costume as an elaborate skeleton sporting a top hat
and Astrid, the Viking from “How to Train Your
Dragon.”
Children and their parents were entertained
while union officers Cheryl Lewis, Violet Legacy,
Richard Rodrick, and President Vincelle Calica
handed out full size candy bars. Once word got out,
over 350 kids came by the union hall to join in the
fun.
“It was great to see so many families and have
them come by. There is a lot of anti-union
propaganda out there with some news media and
the Tea Party. But events like this give us the
opportunity to talk with people face-to-face in our
small city to show them that union people are good
people, and explain that we are here for workers’
rights,” said Vincelle Calica, a 26 year member.
“They need to know that unions are not something
to be afraid of.”
UNION REGISTER
WINTER 2015 • 3
Local Union officers give away poinsettia plants. Each year these are given away at the end of the dinner. From
Left to Right: Recording Secretary James Butler; retired union officer Ronald Winn; Local 3130 President Kelvin
David; and CIC Delegate from 3130, Linda Cooler.
Local 3130 Annual Retirees’ Dinner
The second Wednesday in December at noon has
been the retiree’s annual Christmas dinner for Local
3130 for as long as most folks can remember. This
event started in the early 1970s and has continued as
an annual event that so many have enjoyed over the
years. An opportunity to get together with their second family: their Union brothers and sisters that they
worked with side by side, some for multiple decades.
Each year new faces showed up as they entered retirement.
The dinner came at a difficult time, because in late
2014 Panlom, the current owner of the plant, made the
unfortunate decision to close and with that decision
put over two-hundred out of work, ending production
at a facility that had been in operation over eightyyears.
The December Retirees’ Dinner gathering wasn’t a
sad occasion though. Everyone expressed thanks of all
the years and prosperity the plant brought. Many remembered that the plant had come close to closure
several times over the years most recently in 2003
when the union members voted a small concession in
an effort to keep it going. They remembered the fun
times along with times that required loyal union members working together to help one another and protect
their rights. Many commented how much the Union
had done for them over the years.
A special remembrance was held for the passing of
Richard “Doc” Doctor and other members lost. Not
only had he been a leader of the local union, Brother
Doctor had been very involved in the retiree’s dinner.
“I still feel he is here by my side” CIC Delegate Linda
Cooler said. “Doc always made the coffee and this year
I had to do it, so if it’s not as good as usual it’s my fault.”
“While many members, officers and stewards of local 3130 take part in making the dinner a success, a
special thanks goes out to Linda. In recent years she
has been the unofficial retirees’ dinner chairperson,
leading the way for all the arrangements, setup and
scheduling. This year’s dinner was better than the last
and 3130 members have already decided that an unofficial gathering will still be held in December 2015 in
a tradition that will continue on,” says Council Representative Jason Weitzel.
Union members greet Mrs. Gwen Doctor (Right), widow of
union leader Richard Doctor.
Notice to U.S. Corporations: Raising Wages is Good for Business
To improve worker productivity and profits American corporations should increase
wages of their hourly workers.
In their recent book, House of Debt, Atif
Mian, an economist from Princeton, and
Amir Sufi, a finance professor from the University of Chicago, argue that the people
who needed help during the financial crisis
were not financial institutions but the economically vulnerable households to whom
they lent. Falling demand and the lack of
consumer spending was the root cause of
the 2008 recession and what’s needed now
to fully recover from this lingering recession
is growth in real wages.
The writers looked back at the early 1900s
when Henry Ford gave a huge boost to the
American middle class by more than doubling workers’ daily pay to $5. Ford didn’t do
this because he felt generous towards his
employees. He did it out of self-interest. He
realized that Ford workers would become
more productive, and they would also buy
more Ford cars with their new wages. It
worked, as Ford’s car production grew by
nearly 20%.
Today too many companies look at the
rank and file’s wages as an expense item to
be minimized while capital distributions to
corporate executives and shareholders soar
to the heavens. Corporate executives constantly defend high pay for their senior man-
Residential Housing Construction Equals
Jobs and Hours for CIC Members
By Jerry King
The amount of building products that
CIC members help produce is driven in
the broadest sense by the demand for residential housing and commercial buildings. Construction activity drives orders
in our plants for lumber, engineered
beams, plywood, particle boards, windows and doors, cabinets and finished interior goods etc. Higher demand for
these products leans towards an increase
in the profits of the companies we work
for and can grease the wheel towards
wage and benefit gains at the bargaining
table. What is the forecast for this critical
segment of our national and particular la-
bor economy?
Annual residential housing starts
plunged 33 percent in 2008, to 549,000.
The most recent tally indicates a slow
steady improvement in the important
single-family housing market. Single family homes use more of our wood products
per household than multifamily. Think
about a stand-alone traditional house vs.
an apartment with shared walls floors,
ceilings and roofs. Building permits for
new single-family home reached approximately 631,000 units in 2014 and are projected to reach 804,000 in 2015. This is still
low by historical standards although the
trend is going slowly in our direction af-
agement as a cost-effective way to keep
good talent and reward performance. So,
this book very pointedly asks, “Why doesn’t
the same thinking apply to employees at the
other end of the pay scale?”
Most companies have not done an analysis of absenteeism and turnover rates to determine what might be saved with a significant wage increase. Instead, many pay
below-poverty wages because they can.
And for shareholders taking a long view,
there would be more benefit by shifting a
larger portion of corporate profits to lowerincome workers, who will spend the money
instead of just plowing it back into the stock
market. Current federal minimum wage is
only $7.25 per hour, just $15,080 annually.
The authors point out that for companies
selling goods and services to low and middle income families, boosting wages is a nobrainer. The higher income will be spent on
consumer goods. What’s needed, Mian and
Sufi, say is for one large company like WalMart to take the lead. Many analysts have
concluded that raising wages for Wal-Mart
workers would not hurt shareholders.
There is a heated debate throughout the
country about raising the minimum wage.
It would be far better, these business writers
point out, for companies to take the initiative and raise wages based on their own enlightened self-interest.
ter the housing market collapse in 2008.
This upturn mirrors modest income
and employment gains in the broader
economy. Household formation and
homebuilding interest is buoyed when
people have a sense of job security and
rising household incomes. The great recession continues to impact the housing
market as working-age adults are forced
to rent apartments rather than purchase
homes. The economic recovery pattern
we are in correlates to the pace and type
of construction activity.
Multi-family housing or apartment
construction is reacting to some of the
headwinds people face in purchasing a
single family home. Interest rates rose
from very low levels a year ago and mortgage loans have strict approval criteria
many cannot meet. In addition in some
areas housing supply has begun to decrease and prices have risen. The result is
more people look to rent rather than buy.
Building permits for multi-family
housing are running at double digit increases over last year. In 2013 one-third
of residential construction was for rental
units. This is the highest percentage since
records were begun in 1974. The number
of multi-family housing starts is still low
by historically standards and the high ratio reflects the low number of single-family housing starts. Never-the-less increasing sales of the building materials going
towards the rental market are good for
our members.
The big-picture look at trends in residential housing are important yet only
serve as a backdrop to the particular economic and company specific information
for each employer. Understanding the
markets, sales, capital expenditures, input
costs, and the competitive environment
that exists for the owners and managers
we bargain with is an important analytical skill for you and your negotiating
committee.
UNION REGISTER
4 • WINTER 2015
Balance: The Key to Barrel Racing and Life
Melody
Payne
operates
a shovel
in the
Boise
Cascade
log yard
at Elgin,
OR.
For Melody Payne,
school, she got involved in
barrel racing and travelteam roping for about 15
ing to rodeos is more
years and then found her
than just a hobby; it’s a
way back to barrel racing.
way of life. Melody is the
Today, from April to Octofinancial secretary for
ber, you can find Melody
Local 2851 in La Grande,
traveling the Pacific NorthOregon, a position she
west with her horses partichas held since 2009.
ipating at rodeos, still barWhile working for Boise
rel racing and riding in
Cascade for more than
parades.
30 years, she has continAlong with rodeos and
ued to be involved in lowork there are her duties of
cal rodeos either barrel
financial secretary for Local
racing or team roping.
2851. She began her inMelody began her
volvement with the union
love affair with the Melody Payne, Financial Secretary of Local 2851 in La when President Bill Roulet
rodeo lifestyle at an Grande, OR, raises horses and competes in rodeo barrel of Local 2910 asked her to
early age. She was raised racing every year between April and October. She has help out as financial secrein Baker, Oregon, where been involved with rodeo since she was a teen.
tary. When Local 2910
there were many activimerged with Local 2851 in
ties for kids whose families had horses. She began rid- 2009, she continued in the same position. When asked
ing horses at age 8. Being somewhat shy, Melody why she became an officer she said, “To be a strong
bonded quickly with her first horse, Goldie. She rode union, members need to be involved. Having a union
Goldie at many events including the Baker Count Fair and a contract in place helps the company and the emParade, Hells Canyon Jr. Rodeo and at the Haines ployees when issues arise. The contract gives us a
Stampede. In her teen years she was a member of the process to deal with differences that is fair to both
Hells Canyon Jr. Rodeo Court and the Haines Stam- sides.” President Mike Moran of Local 2851 says,
pede Court.
“Melody is an invaluable asset to our local. She can alShe began barrel racing in high school. She found ways be counted on to get the job done and is comthe challenge of training and bonding with her horse to mitted to being there for her brothers and sisters.”
compete very satisfying to her. “To train and bond with
Whether you see Melody riding her horse in the
your animal to race around barrels at break-neck speed arena or maneuvering her shovel in the log yard, she
is daunting. A level of trust must be there. After all it’s will have a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye
just you and your horse,” said Melody. After high and you will know life is good for Melody Payne.
Officer of Local 2767 Skates for
Centralia, WA. RollerDerby Team
The first time Tara Coleman saw live roller derby was
in 2010. She was instantly mesmerized. “I knew there
and then I had to try this sport, but it took two years to
build up the nerve to attend the first introduction/training session,” said Coleman. “I was hooked from the very
start. The skaters doing the training were welcoming, full
of fun and treated everyone like family, even if they did
call new skaters fresh meat. I just fell in love with this
rowdy sport that empowered women of every size, age,
background and ethnicity,” Coleman added.
Tara started skating at age six. In fact, the roller rink at
JB Lewis-McChord military base was, in many ways, her
baby sitter. Her mom worked at the base and would take
Tara to the rink at noon every day, then pick her up at 5
p.m. “During the summer months I was skating five
hours a day, five days a week and when I was home I
couldn’t wait to get back to the roller rink.”
The training program for roller derby takes about four
months and the main focus is safety. “They teach you
how to fall so you won’t injure yourself and we practiced
jumping over cones so we can avoid fallen skaters and
crashing ourselves,” commented Coleman. Blocking with
your body is a central part of competition in roller bouts
and the rules are specific about what zones of an opponent’s body that can and cannot be blocked. The legal
blocking zone is from the shoulders to just above the
knees. A block to the head, face, back or below the knees
sends the offender to the penalty box.
“The biggest adjustment for me was the rule forbidding the use of your hands. It takes a lot of practice to
keep your hands at your side,” said Coleman.
Once passing the skill test, administered by a veteran
of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, Tara was
ready to join the Rainy City Roller Dolls based in Centralia, Washington and begin practicing and participating in competitive bouts. Tara is now entering her second year of competitive roller derby.
There are five skaters on each team in 60 minute
bouts. There are two halves which are broken down into
two minute “jams.” A designated jammer from each
team (with a star on her helmet) starts at
the back of the pack and when the whistle
blows they must push through the pack to
the front. Then, after an initial qualifying
lap, the jammers from both teams attempt
to pass opposing skaters. A point is earned
for each player passed on the opposing
team. Of course, the opposing team is
blocking and maneuvering in the pack to
prevent the other team’s jammer from
passing them while, at the same time, trying to open holes for their jammer. It is the
only sport in which offense and defense are
played simultaneously. Tara is usually a
blocker in the pack but from time to time
has been a jammer sprinting out ahead to
score points.
Tara’s official roller derby name, Taranormal Smacktivity, came to her in a
dream. These names are registered and no
two skaters can have the same name. The
teams also carry creative names, like ColeTara Coleman, second from left in blue, skates for the Rainy City Roller
man’s Rainy City Roller Dolls. Other teams
Dolls roller derby team in Centralia, WA. She is shown above blocking to
in the same league are the Marauding Molslow the pack so that her team’s jammer can pass one or more of the
lies and the Oly Rollers.
opposing skaters to score points.
Photo Courtesy of Yaplescape Photography. Tara
Coleman, with the official roller derby name Taranormal Smacktivity, works at the ALTA cedar sawmill
in Morton, WA which makes a variety of cedar fencing. She is active in Local 2767 and has served on the
Executive Board for six years as a Trustee and is now
serving as Recording Secretary.
The competitive bouts run from January to June. In
the off season the team prepares new skaters for tryouts,
conducts scrimmages and also participates in service
projects as part of their commitment to the community
— and to publicize roller derby.
Tara has two young daughters, Kortni Lee, 13, and
Trista Jo, 10. They love to skate and Tara explains that
skating has become an important family activity that
keeps her close to her daughters.
Coleman has worked at ALTA Forest Products in Morton, Washington for 10 years. The sawmill is the nation’s
leading producer of western red cedar, most of which is
sawn into fencing. “It is a great place to work and the
people here are just awesome. I guess they are like my
extended family — just like the team members of the
Rainy City Roller Dolls,” observed Coleman.
She has served for six years on the Local Union 2767
Executive Board, first as a Trustee and now as Recording
Secretary. In fact, she commented that the skater-owned
roller derby league she is a part of is run very much like a
democratic local union.
UNION REGISTER
WINTER 2015 • 5
1st row - Roger Bissonnette, Ken Devasier, Cal Welborn, Local 2949 Business Agent, Neal Meyers, and Norman Lee. 2nd row - Randy Fouts, Paul Marks, and Jerry King, CIC Council Representative.
50-YEAR MEMBERS
Local 2949 Annual Awards Ceremony
a union member with 55
In November, Local 2949 held
years of membership, as well as
their annual Awards Ceremony
three union members with 50
at the Fairgrounds. It was well atyears of service.
tended by both active members
“It was a good turnout,” says
working for Roseburg Forest
Local 2949 President Ralph
Products and by retirees. The
Moore, a 31-year employee of
event is a time for retirees to visit
Roseburg Forest Products. “It is
with and reconnect with former
great to see our old-timers!
co-workers. After the Service
There was a big strike in 1989
Awards were presented, the at55-Year
and a lot of these retirees were
tendees were treated to a nice
Member Loris
real leaders in that contract fight.
luncheon. The Local Union had
Dunnihoo
It sure is great talking with them.
several of the former Business
This banquet is a long-standing tradiAgents in attendance, also.
Local 2949 presented awards and pins tion and we love it. I became a steward
in 1990, following that 1989 strike. A lot
to members with 20 years of service and
above at five year intervals. A Local 2949 of these old-timers really mentored me
member with 60 years of service was not and taught me.”
“Without the union, management
able to attend, but union officers had the
would run all over you!” explains Kenaward and pin delivered to him at his
neth Beglau, 68, retired member of Local
home. Those receiving awards included
2949. Beglau went to work at Roseburg
in 1969 and worked a variety of
different jobs in the mills over the
years, working for many years on
the spreaders. He retired in 2008,
with 40 years of work at the company. Brother Beglau also served
RALPH
RICHARD
JOAN
10 years as both union steward
LITTLE
BARKER
COMBS
and union trustee at Local 2949.
“What the union can do for you
union, we would be lost.”
depends on you. You have got to stay in“Local 2949 has some really dedicated
volved in it,” says Beglau. “I’ll tell you
union
members,” adds Local 2949 Presisomething, this company doesn’t give
dent Ralph Moore. “Our retirees are part
you anything. The union negotiates it.
of our union family.”
We’ve fought for all the pay and benefits
“It’s always instructive to be around
you got in that contract. We bargained to
our
retired members and retired staff, to
get those things and some of those nehear the stories, and to try to absorb
gotiations were not easy! It’s not just
their wisdom,” says CIC Council Repregiven to you. This contract, people have
sentative Jerry King. “The union is
fought for it. And it’s not just money; it’s
stronger
because of these retirees. They
about your rights, too. We’ve had some
continue to contribute and support their
good union leaders, and union memunion brothers and sisters in the plant.”
bers who understand that without our
CORRECTION:
Deceased
Union Leader
John Frazer was
former President of Local
2784, not Local
2949 as mistakenly reported in
the Fall 2014
edition of The
Union Register.
John was a great union leader and
continued to be active and support
the union after his retirement.
Local 2761 Supports Union Brothers and Sisters
at Royal Oak and Local Community in McCleary, WA.
Local 2761 at their December quarterly membership meeting voted to make
some donations, including $500 to the
workers at Royal Oak, $250 to the McCleary Community Food Bank, and $250
for the McCleary School PTA’s “Giving
Tree Program,” a program distributing
Local 2767 Donates to
Support Workers at
Royal Oak Fighting for
First Contract
At a 2767 Local Union
monthly union meeting, the members
voted to donate $500
to the folks at Royal
Oak after hearing the
story of how the company is treating them after they organized. Local 2767
in Morton, Washington includes members that work at Alta Wood Products,
Morton General Hospital, Interstate Trucking, and Murray Pacific (Westfork
Timber). Pictured left to right are: Local 2767 Recording Secretary Tara Reddington-Coleman; Financial Secretary Barbara Perkins; Vice President Tony
Lyons; and President John Nelson. They hope their newest brothers and sisters at Royal Oak had a very Merry Christmas and will have a Happy New
Year!
toys for underprivileged children,
through the schools in McCleary.
“Workers at Royal Oak are in a different state and local union, but they are
part of our Council,” says 2761 President
Vincelle Calica. “We felt the need to support them. My message to our Brothers
and Sisters at Royal Oak is: it’s always important to remain positive and stay
united. Most important, remember:
you’re not alone.”
In the past year, the Local has really
stepped up their community service
work. The kick-off was the Halloween
treats for children, then there were the
food bank collections and donations set
up at Simpson Door in McCleary where
the Local collected thirty gallons of food
they turned in right before Thanksgiving,
and at Master Millwork in Puyallup,
where union members collected nearly
fifty gallons of food which was distributed
at Christmas. Union members at Master
Millwork are also considering a toy drive
for needy children.
“Our union does a lot to support the
community,” says Sheryl Lewis.
From Left to Right: Lloyd Mott, Vincelle Calica, Bob Sailor, Steve Legacy, Violet
Legacy, Sheryl Lewis, and Rich Roderick.
UNION REGISTER
6 • WINTER 2015
Lane Barnes Hired as Carpenters Industrial Council Organizer
The CIC is happy to welcome the
newest member of the CIC full-time
staff, Brother Lane Barnes.
“To me, the union is all about having
dignity and self-respect on the job. I am
excited to be working full-time for the
union. This is an opportunity to change
lives for the better of fellow Brothers and
Sisters out in the workplace,” says Lane
Barnes.
“Lane is a valuable addition to the CIC
staff. His organizing experience, strong
communication skills, and work ethic
bring a lot to the table,” says CIC Executive Secretary Treasurer Tony Hadley.
Brother Barnes first joined the labor
movement over twenty years ago as a
union construction worker and worked
at a lot of union plants, doing pipefitting
and rigging in chemical plants, oil refineries, and paper mills, travelling from
state to state. And for a few years, he was
a supervisor on construction and plant
maintenance projects.
“As a supervisor, I saw that union
craftsmen and women knew their business. I didn’t have to babysit them. They
took great pride in their work,” explains
Barnes.
Eventually, Lane decided to take a
break from all that construction industry travel and settle down in a regular
steady factory job as a skilled millwright
and boiler operator. He was hired in to a
non-union chip mill, not far from home
in Fairbank, Arkansas. But at that plant,
he could see workers were not being
Lane Barnes, newest addition to the
CIC Staff “I want to encourage other
rank-and-file union members to get involved in your local union and volunteer,” says Barnes. “Volunteer for the
CIC on organizing campaigns, if you
have the opportunity!”
treated fairly and were not receiving the
benefits and pay they deserved. So when
a union organizing drive started at that
plant, he became an outspoken union
leader in the plant during that union organizing drive. Despite company threats
and intimidation, workers at that mill
stuck together and did win union recog-
nition through a National Labor Relations Board election.
“Winning the union representation at
the chip mill was a pretty rough process,
but we won the election by a landslide
of votes and addressed a lot of workplace safety issues that had been a problem,” recalls Brother Barnes.
“As a rank-and-file member, I continued to volunteer on several union organizing campaigns and was part of a
winning campaign to organize the
union at a C-Pack conversion mill where
they converted huge paper rolls down to
smaller sized paper for envelopes and
printer paper. Helping other workers
win the union and the dignity and respect they deserve was such a great feeling!”
Eventually, Brother Barnes decided to
leave the chip mill and went to work in
2004 as maintenance and boiler operator with CIC-represented employees at
a West Fraser sawmill in Huttig,
Arkansas. At Local 2346 in Huttig, Barnes
served as a steward, then Trustee, Delegate to the CIC, Delegate to the UBC
Convention, Vice President, eventually
President of the local union, and Chief
Steward.
Back in 2010 Lane had the opportunity to attend a UBC 3-Day Evaluation,
a process of exercises and role plays
where union staff from other Carpenters
Regional Councils and the International
Union coach participants on union or-
ganizing and evaluate their ability for
doing the work.
“The 3-Day was a great experience
and I knew I wanted to do more organizing work. Instructor Jerry Alander was
a big influence on me and was very encouraging. After the 3-Day, I did volunteer work for the CIC on a few campaigns and I loved it.”
In January, 2012, Lane was hired in as
maintenance millwright and loader to
non-union Royal Oak plant in Leslie,
Arkansas. Along with CIC Council Representative Cliff Kerce, Barnes was a key
leader in helping workers win union
recognition at that charcoal mill. (See
previous article “Union Organizing Victory in Arkansas” in Fall 2014 edition of
The Union Register).
“I want to encourage other rank-andfile union members to get involved in
your local union and volunteer. Volunteer for the CIC on organizing campaigns, if you have the opportunity,”
says Barnes.
“It is so exciting to be part of working
people winning rights on the job for the
first time through the union, and it feels
good knowing that by growing the
union, you are helping build our power
to negotiate all over the country,” says
Barnes. “There is strength in numbers. If
more members volunteer to help nonunion people form the union at other
plants, we will win more, which builds
our strength, and that helps everybody!”
Chinese Labor Organizers Imprisoned Without Due Process
Amnesty International reports on arbitrary arrests of Chinese Labor Organizer Wu Guijun who has been “detained”
in prison for one year—even though
Chinese judicial authorities have yet to
sentence him for any crime.
Wu Guijun is a labor organizer in
Guangdong Province. According to information from Civil Rights & Livelihood
Watch (CRLW), he has been detained for
one year and put on trial four times
without a verdict. Court hearings were
held in 2014 from February 17 to May 12.
Wu, charged with “gathering a crowd to
disrupt social order,” is being detained
at Baoan District Detention Center in
Shenzhen. In other words, he had gathered a crowd of workers to protest terrible exploitation and working conditions
and to prepare for a strike.
The previous year, in May of 2013, Wu
Guijun was among nearly 300 employees of Diweixin, a Hong Kong-owned
furniture manufacturer, who began a
strike in Shenzhen when their company
refused to offer fair severance pay after
beginning to relocate its factory. During
the strike, Wu represented his fellow
workers, helping with legal consultations and negotiations with the company. On May 23, police detained
dozens of workers, including Wu. All
were later released except for Wu, who
had worked at Diweixin for nine years,
and has been active in defending labor
rights since 2006.
According to Amnesty International,
there are “widespread human rights violations in China. An estimated 500,000
people are currently enduring punitive
detention without charge or trial, and
millions are unable to access the legal
system to seek redress for their grievances. Harassment, surveillance, house
arrest, and imprisonment of human
rights defenders are on the rise, and censorship of the Internet and other media
has grown.”
With Job Losses in Every State
Growing U.S. Trade Deficit with China Cost 3.2 Million Jobs Between 2001 and 2013
By Robert E. Scott and Will Kimball
Economic Policy Institute
Since China entered the World Trade Organization
in 2001, the massive growth of trade between China
and the United States has had a dramatic and negative effect on U.S. workers and the domestic economy.
Specifically, a growing U.S. goods trade deficit with
China has the United States piling up foreign debt, losing export capacity, and losing jobs, especially in the
vital but under-siege manufacturing sector. Growth in
the U.S. goods trade deficit with China between 2001
and 2013 eliminated or displaced 3.2 million U.S. jobs,
2.4 million (three-fourths) of which were in manufacturing.
These lost manufacturing jobs account for about
two-thirds of all U.S. manufacturing jobs lost or displaced between December, 2001 and December 2013.
Many of the hardest-hit congressional districts were
in California, Texas, Oregon, Massachusetts, and Min-
nesota.
In percentage terms, the jobs lost or displaced due
to the growing goods trade deficit with China in the 10
hardest-hit states ranged from 2.44 percent to 3.67
percent of the total state employment: Oregon (62,700
jobs lost), California (564,200 jobs), New Hampshire
(22,700 jobs), Minnesota (83,300 jobs), Massachusetts
(97,200 jobs), North Carolina (119,600 jobs), Texas
(304,700 jobs), Rhode Island (13,200 jobs), Vermont
(8,200 jobs), and Idaho (16,700 jobs).
Further, the jobs impact of the U.S. trade deficit
with China is not limited to job loss and displacement
and the associated direct wages losses. Competition
with low wage workers from less-developed countries
such as China has driven down wages for workers in
U.S. manufacturing and reduced the wages and bargaining power of similar, non-college-educated workers throughout the economy, as previous EPI research
has shown.
The U.S. trade deficit with China has increased
since China entered into the World Trade Organization
(WTO). Proponents of China’s entry into the World
Trade Organization (WTO) frequently claimed that it
would create jobs in the United States, increase U.S.
exports, and improve the trade deficit with China.
However, as a result of China’s currency manipulation and other trade-distorting practices, including extensive subsidies, legal and illegal barriers to imports,
dumping, and suppression of wages and labor rights,
the envisioned flow of U.S. exports to China did not
occur.
As a result, China’s exports to the United States in
2013 were almost four times greater than U.S. exports
to China. These trade figures make the China trade relationship with the United States’ the most imbalanced by far. Overall, the U.S. goods trade deficit with
China rose from $84.1 billion in 2001, the year China
entered the WTO, to $324.2 billion in 2013.
UNION REGISTER
WINTER 2015 • 7
Congress Eliminates Rules to Protect Public from Another Financial Meltdown
Who owns Congress? Who has inordinate influence at the White House?
Judging from the provision quietly inserted into the December Omnibus spending bill to weaken the Dodd-Frank Act, it is
clear that Wall Street bankers have more
power than working people, more than
Main Street citizens and surely more sway
than the common sense collective wisdom
of doing the right thing to protect taxpayers
and the nation’s financial system. The measure was meant to protect against future financial meltdowns and federal bailouts. Citigroup and JP Morgan Chase are the banks
most often mentioned as the institutions behind the stealth move to gut Dodd-Frank.
The Frank-Dodd Act was passed in 2008
in the wake of financial disasters hitting Wall
Street banks and the taxpayer bailout due
mostly to the sale of securities and other financial instruments called derivatives that
were sold at prices far above their true
worth. A derivative is something created by
a Wall Street whiz kid and, stated simply, it is
a financial security based not on its own intrinsic value but, rather, on the value of another asset. Think of a prime rib sandwich
with homemade bread in a beautiful wrapping tied with a gold colored ribbon. It literally makes you drool but when taking the
first bite you discover that it isn’t prime rib
at all but, instead, a piece of beef fat, a mix
of drywall and wood chips slathered with
smoke infused manure. You paid $15.50 for
the sandwich and everyone is standing in
line to buy one but the world suddenly realizes that it isn’t worth even 50 cents. The
sandwich was priced as though it was prime
rib but, in actuality, it only had fat and liquid
smoke to mimic prime rib.
Before 2008 derivatives were used a lot in
the home mortgage market due to the boom
in the market and rapidly rising home
prices. Home lenders were being pushed to
issue risky mortgage loans and these loans
were resold to investment firms that then
combined them into newly issued securities
containing hundreds or thousands of these
questionable loans. They were marketed all
over the globe as high value stable home
loans that guaranteed a high investment return year in and year out. Of course when
one of the investors unwrapped the sandwich and bit into it they discovered that it
wasn’t prime rib at all but, instead, drywall
and wood chips with a manure spread.
The 2008 Dodd-Frank Act effectively
eliminated these high-risk securities by prohibiting federal insurance coverage for derivatives. In December 2014, when the
House of Representatives and the Senate
(with quiet White House consent) moved the
2015 spending bill forward which included
the provision to reverse the insurance application to derivatives, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) scorched her colleagues and the
White House saying, “This is an example of
the worst of government by favoring the rich
and powerful and allowing Wall Street to
gamble with taxpayer money---and be
bailed out by taxpayers for bad or fraudulent
investments.” Closely related to derivatives
was the “swap” which allowed banks, when
recognizing that home mortgage derivatives
were virtually worthless, to swap them for a
safer interest bearing security. Of course this
practice only made matters worse by
spreading the toxic derivatives around to
more institutions and more people. The
Congress also lifted prohibitions against
these kinds of swap transactions.
So, as the economy improves, the country is set up for another boom, bust and financial failure. It is as though the politicians
learned nothing at all from the financial disaster of 2008 and the long recession that followed. That can only be described as gross
irresponsibility or an example of caving in to
greedy banking interests.
...How Do Unions Appeal to Younger Workers?
(From Page 1)
good idea but it has a limited application and there are too many
rules and barriers to make proper
use of it. I think unions should
push for legislation that would
give hourly workers paid leave. It
is reasonable to think in terms of
five days of paid personal leave a
year through legislation. It has begun to be recognized in public
employment and now it is time to
move it into the private sector.
Young individuals in a
nonunion workplace are usually
afraid to ask for time off. As a result, younger workers don’t get to
experience the joy of taking time
away from the job to care for a
family member, see a doctor or to
care for themselves without fear of
losing their job.
Retirement is another area
where unions could do a lot to
teach young workers about the
necessity of saving, starting at an
early age and how to invest the
funds in the 401(k) to insure they
will have adequate funds to retire
at age 65. I would even suggest
that unions take a look at devoting
a portion of the dues collected to
individual retirement accounts for
members. Perhaps the union
could match a worker’s contribution up to some maximum level.
This would encourage all workers
to join the union and if the union
contributed a portion of dues to a
retirement account I think that
would entice younger workers get
more actively involved with investment education and all the
other activities of the union.
I was active in my union for
twenty years and I may have in the
beginning felt that the union wasn’t investing enough in its mem-
bers, but I realize now that if it
weren’t for my union I would not
have the benefits I have. Younger
people need to be educated on
just what a union can do with their
active support.
It turns out that Doug is not the
only person thinking about
younger workers and how to improve working conditions for
them. In June 2014, a White House
Summit on Working Families dealt
with several of the issues raised by
DeVilbiss.
This summit, attended by many
union leaders from throughout
the country, concluded that workplace policies needed to be
changed to allow much-needed
flexibility when inevitable workfamily conflicts arise. This, the
summit report stated, is of particular concern to women who are
disproportionately care givers.
The report called for expansion
and added flexibility to paid leave
policies. In addition, the White
House report drew attention to the
need for workforce flexibility that
would offer adjusted hours and
put in place regular and predictable shifts. The report also
pointed out that this country
needs better options for child care
but comes up short on how to accomplish this goal. Should employers be required to pick up
some of the cost? Should employers adopt more “family friendly”
policies by financially contributing nearby child care facilities?
Should the government provide
direct assistance to certain categories of workers who must have
regular and reliable child care in
order to maintain their job?
Finally, the report advocated
equal pay for women and an increase in the minimum wage. It
also underscored the need to im-
prove training programs and promotion pathways for workers.
Admittedly this is a very large
agenda that cannot be accomplished overnight. But Representatives Miller (D-CA) and Delauro
(D-CT) have made a start with introduction of the Schedules that
Work Act. This bill would help
families succeed by:
• Allowing workers to request a
flexible schedule without fear of
retaliation;
• Requiring a process that
helps employers consider these
requests;
• Mandating that workers in
retail, food service and cleaning
fields would receive their schedules at least two weeks in advance
and they would be paid for at
least four hours of work if they report to work when scheduled but
sent home early;
• Providing an extra hour of
pay if a worker has split shifts in
the same day.
What’s interesting about this list
is that most of the items already
appear in labor-management collective bargaining contracts.
When workers are denied union
representation or harassed when
attempting to organize they will
logically turn to a legislative fix.
One obvious thing missing from
the list is the right to organize
which would give workers the opportunity to negotiate the best
policies for scheduling, advance
notice, flexible shifts and report
pay for their unique circumstances. This would help all workers, including women and
younger workers alike.
Local 2501 Christmas Party
Members of Local 2501 decided to put on a Christmas celebration last
December. Local 2501 employees from both the City of Louisville and
Anderson Wood Products and Pellets attended, many bringing their
family members, with over 150 people in attendance. The feast
included pulled pork barbeque, meat balls, chicken wings, pickles, and
all the fixings. There were door prizes for adults and for the kids. Santa
Claus showed up with enough gifts for all good little boys and girls —
children of Carpenters Union members — and they each got a photo
taken with Santa. “Some newer members of Local 2501 were not that
familiar with the union and this party really strengthened their
connections with the organization,” said Katie Davis, administrative
employee at City of Louisville Metro Alcohol Beverage Control Division.
City employees voted to join the union three years ago. “We had fun!”
Davis continued. “And we talked union, too — about negotiations,
grievances, standing up for each other. Coming together like this
socially really strengthens that bond between us. It makes the union
feel more like a family.”
UNION REGISTER
8 • WINTER 2015
Sons of Local 2501 Chief Steward
Show Their Union Pride at School Event
Local 2930 Ratifies New Contract
With Masterbrand Cabinets
On November 11, 2014, union members of Local 2930 ratified a new threeyear contract with Masterbrand Cabinets.
Terms of the agreement include across-the-board pay increases of 2% effective January 5, 2015; 2.75% effective November 16, 2015; and 2.75% effective November 21, 2016. The employer annual lump sum 401(K) contribution for employees vested in the defined benefit pension will be $300
annually. The employer match to the 401(K) retirement plan will also increase
to 50 cents per $1 an employee puts in — up to 6% of the employee’s annual
pay. The union won contract language improvements so that if the company
cancels a temporary plant shutdown, the company must notify employees
no later than the end of the shift two days prior. Also, the company must provide all employees with a minimum of one week notice prior to a temporary
plant shutdown.
The union also won new contract language for “Request for Plant Transfer.”
Employees now have the same trial period they would have if they had bid for
a different job. If an employee turns down an offer for a position transfer, their
transfer request is considered void/closed and they aren’t prohibited from requesting another transfer for the next year. This new union contract language
strengthens an employee’s choice of shift and gives workers more of a voice in
job assignments.
Regarding the attendance policy, the company agreed to allow an employee the choice of utilizing one available vacation day to avoid an additional occurrence on the third consecutive day of a documented two days for
one point absence.
The new contract increases the number of days that an employee has to
provide a voluntary layoff form to Human Resources to five days. Under the
previous contract, employees had only three days. In addition, the company
agreed to an additional union communication board in the plant, to continue and improve communication with union membership.
“The Bargaining Committee stood strong and every decision they made
was based on what does our membership need and want,” says CIC Council
Representative Harry Alfrey. “The Bargaining Committee and the Information Volunteers worked together to keep workers aware and informed during
negotiations. Every member of the union is important. The picnic and informational meeting helped spread the word that active union members make
the union strong.”
The Halloween party for their elementary
school was just around the corner, and all
the boys and girls were dressing up in costumes. Union leader Rob Schell and his wife
asked their sons Mitchell, age nine, and
William, age five, what they wanted to dress
up as for the party.
“We want to dress up like our Poppy and
be a union worker!” they said.
Brother Schell is a highly skilled welder
and barge builder at Yager Industries in
Owensboro, Kentucky, and is a long-time
Chief Steward and union leader.
“As Chief Steward, I get phone calls at
home and the boys hear me talking to union
members about their grievances. The boys
ask me questions about the union and I explain how the union makes sure everybody’s rights are protected and makes the
company be fair,” explains Brother Schell.
“I’ve explained to them how the union is
able to make the workplace safer, too. They
even come to union meetings with me,
sometimes, whenever they can.”
The boys attended their school party
decked out with hard hats covered in union
stickers, gloves, and safety vests. Their
teachers and fellow students were impressed.
“They had a lot of compliments on their
costumes,” smiles Schell.
It’s clear they have a positive role model
to look up to.
Local 766 Members Ratify
New Contract with Lloyd Lumber
Local 766 members working at Lloyd Lumber ratified a one year agreement, with a twenty-cent across-the-board wage increase. The company
agreed to pay an additional ten cents per hour towards the health benefits.
In addition, another paid Holiday was added to the contract. Lloyd Lumber
Company is located in Mankato, Minnesota and makes wood trusses for
both the residential and commercial construction industries.
Members on the negotiation committee included Justin Marth and Carl
Schatz.
“I think the contract settlement was good. We got most of what we were
asking for. The value of the union is the power to be able to negotiate these
things,” says Brother Justin Marth.
“I thank the bargaining committee for their good work,” says CIC Business Representative Don Kern.
Indiana Member Trains and Races Sled Dogs
Racing sled dogs is more exciting
than driving race cars. This is how
Roscoe Bland summed up the reason he
got into raising Samoyed and Husky
puppies and training them for racing. “I
am 55 years old and it is amazing to be
on the back of a sled, balancing on two
inch runners, feeling those dogs pulling
with all their energy and responding to
your voice commands.”
Bland, a three year member of Local
2133 in Corydon, IN, works in the maintenance department at Daramic. This
company manufactures separators and
other internal parts for automotive and
industrial batteries. Bland often leaves
his shift at midnight and returns home
to harness up the sled dogs to train
them on 120 acres of grass, mud and
sometimes light snow. In addition to
training the dogs he is also maintaining
his fitness in order to participate in racing. The dog team, made up of six dogs,
can pull a sled with weights between 8
and 9 miles per hour. They are able to attain a top speed of 15-20 mph. Bland
runs beside the sled to stay in shape. He
also does sit-ups, crunches and strength
and balance exercises because racing
takes a great deal of physical strength
and stamina. “I’ve always been an
adrenalin junkie and training these dogs
keeps me feeling young,” commented
Bland
Bland’s team of dogs is made up of
two Samoyed, one full blooded Husky
and three dogs that are half Samoyed
and half Husky. He is preparing this
team for the Copper Dog Forty---a forty
two mile race in Calumet, Michigan
February 27-28. This is Bland’s first race
and his goal is to, 1) finish the race and
2), learn from the experience for future
races. His priority will be the welfare of
the dogs and since this is their first race
on snow he will rest the team at 20 or 25
miles. The race is done at night, hence,
the night training in Corydon. Both
Daramic and the Carpenters Industrial
Council have made contributions to
support Bland’s first race. Making the
trip with Bland to help with the dogs are
two friends, Marty Snyder and Lonnie
Martin.
Roscoe Bland and his wife Nancy
started raising these dogs seven years
ago and currently have fifteen dogs
ranging in age from eleven years to
seven months. Their puppies have been
sold all over the United States as family
pets, show dogs and dogs that will be
used in dog sled racing.
Roscoe Bland, a member of Local 2133 in Corydon, IN, prepares his dog sled team
for a training session. He has been raising sled dogs and training them for seven
years and decided to enter his first race — the Copper Dog Forty — with a six-dog
team Feb 27-28 in Calumet, MI. His team is made up of two Samoyed, one Husky
and two dogs that are half Samoyed and half Husky.
UNION REGISTER
WINTER 2015 • 9
Local 1521 Vice President Matt Sayre, left, and President Todd Zimmerman (right)
present a plaque to retiree Bill Rice.
BILL RICE
Local 1521 Honors Retired Union Leader
Local 1521 honored retiree Bill Rice for his years of
service and retirement from Algoma Hardwoods. Bill
was a very strong leader. Within the local union he
held several different positions during his 24 years as
an employee and union member. He was on the medical insurance committee from 1993 through 2006.
Brother Rice also served as local union financial secretary for eight years and as Vice-President for eight
years. Today, though retired, Brother Rice still helps
the local with it’s adopt the highway program and
other community service projects.
“I always tell people that the union is the purest expression of democracy we have in this country. I encourage every union member to participate. Go to
your monthly meeting. Discuss the motions made
and vote. It’s your union! Be part of making decisions.
The more you participate, the stronger the union will
be, and everyone benefits from a strong union,” says
Rice.
“Bottom line is that with the union, you have a say
in your working conditions and compensation. Nonunion workers don’t have that. You are crazy to think
you can just rely on the good will of the employer.
Without unions, we’d be living back in the Dark Ages,
working seven days a week for poverty wages.”
In retirement, Brother Rice is volunteering at a high
school in Southern Door County, Wisconsin and he
also has a small vineyard there and makes his own
wine.
“It’s not great wine, yet, but now that I am retired I’ll
be able to spend more time on it,” says Rice.
He also plans to remain politically active.
“Look at the anti-union Governor Scott Walker and
what he is trying to do to people, attacking our rights
to have strong union representation. I think it’s just
criminal. We need to all register to vote and fight back
against this anti-union attack,” says Rice. “I’m hopeful
that if you look at national polls, the majority is in favor of raising the minimum wage, of legislating paid
sick leave, of improving workers’ rights in the law. We
just need to talk to more working people. We need to
get out there. Don’t be afraid to talk politics.”
“Bill was very involved in the union for many years.
As a union leader, he did a lot to keep medical premiums down and preserve good coverage and benefits,
by serving on the medical insurance committee. He’s
been a role model for a lot of people. He always explained to new hires that they are the union. We’re all
a part of it together. His enthusiasm has inspired
many others to get involved in union leadership over
the years,” says Local 1521 Vice President Matt Sayre.
“We are thankful to Bill for all his service.”
“We could always count on Bill. We appreciate
him,” adds Local 1521 President Todd Zimmerman.
Local 1865 Union Members at Villuame Ratify New Contracts
In October, Local 1865 members at two shops voted
to ratify their contracts. Local 1865 members employed at Villuame Industries — Building Component
Systems Division and at Villuame Industries Box Shop
Division might not work side-by-side under the same
roof, but both shops are owned by the same parent
company. More importantly, workers in each shop are
united through their common union, and now they
are also united with common contract expiration
dates.
“Lining up these separate contracts to expire at the
same time is something we have wanted to do for
years. With separate contract expiration dates in the
past, the employer knew if say at some point we voted
to stop production at our shop, they would still have
cash flow from the other shop,” explains Jim Nelson.
“Now we’ll go into future negotiations with the company knowing that our contracts expire at the same
time. It puts the company on the spot.”
During the 2010 negotiations, Villuame wanted concessions for one of the union shops, but was offering a
freeze at the other. Despite company objections, the
union brought negotiating committee members from
both shops into negotiations over each of the two contracts. The common demands by workers in both
shops were: the same union medical insurance plan,
and the same contract expiration date.
The company resisted at first. But after months and
months of long negotiations, an agreement was
reached and when the next two-year contract was negotiated, the company did not resist and bargained
with both committees until an agreement was
reached. The contracts remained different in wages,
classifications, and hours of work, but members of
both shops had won the same medical plan and the
same contract expiration date.
In October 2014 negotiations, members at both
shops saw contract improvements and brought more
of their two contracts into alignment. The members
working at Building Component Division were able to
get all of their paid holidays back. They also were able
to win a company match to their 401(K) contributions.
Other improvements include a raise of 20 cents each
year of the two-year agreement. They were able to
shorten the progression to top pay scale to a four year
term. The health insurance coverage and rates were
Jimmy Nelson, union steward from Villuame Building Components shop.
Local 1865 member Raul Romero.
fixed for the two year term. Finally, the company
agreed an improvement on vacation, crediting vacation on the employees’ anniversary date, which made
it more equitable for all employees.
The members working at the Box Shop won the
same 401(K) employer match, the anniversary vacation credit, and the same health benefits as the other
shop and a 25 cent increase in wages each of the years
of the agreement. Also, the progression to get to the
top scale was shortened to 18 months.
“The more the negotiation committees were able to
focus on their similarities, we were able to reach agreement on those issues with the employer,” says Donnie
Kern, CIC Business Representative. “The majority of
the members, at both shops, were pleased with the final outcome.”
“We all won some improvements in these negotiations,” says Jim Nelson. “Besides economic gains from
negotiations, with the union, you also know you’ve
also got someone to stick up for you. Management
can’t just push you around. We have a contract that
protects our rights.”
Chris Burnett, union steward from Villuame Box Shop.
UNION REGISTER
10 • WINTER 2015
Local 2509 Approves Two-Year Deal at Gates Lumber
Local Union 2285 Holiday Membership Appreciation Dinner
The Local Union 2285 Holiday Appreciation Dinner is an annual event put on for the membership, by
the local union, before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Plenty of good food is served up by the
Local Union President and Executive Board as the
membership enjoys a time of thanksgiving.
“It all started a few years back,” says Local Union
2285 President Ronnie Storks. “I wanted to do something special for our members before the holidays, so
I brought it to the local Executive Board and they approved of the idea. We have a great time just getting
together and enjoying each other away from the
plant.”
Members in attendance have an opportunity to
win door prizes as well as enjoying a good meal during this special time of fellowship.
Gates Lumber is a family-owned custom millwork company which has been located in Memphis, Tennessee since 1920. They specialize in all
types of wood products which include quality
doors, windows, custom millwork, and molding designed to meet the needs of architects, interior designers, developers, general contractors, remodelers and homeowners. CIC Local 2509 members,
employed with Gates Lumber, provide the professional quality of workmanship and service that
Gate’s customers demand and have come to expect.
Carpenters Industrial Council Local Union 2509
opened up negotiations with Gates Lumber Management on September 4, 2014 at the Gate’s Lumber facility in Memphis, TN.
“The bargaining was pretty straight forward. The
membership wished to keep the benefits that they
currently enjoyed under their collective bargaining
agreement, while making wage improvements
coming out of tough and trying times,” explains CIC
Representative Michael Warren.
“After productive negotiations the union’s negotiating committee had a tentative agreement that
they were willing to take back to the membership
for a vote. The local union 2509 membership rati- Local 2509 Chief Steward and Bargaining Commitfied a new contract settlement.
tee member Terrance Johnson.
Improvements in the two-year agreement include a three percent wage increase in the first year,
two and one half percent wage increase in the second year, improved medical insurance, and lan- rance Johnson.
“The credit for these contract improvements goes
guage improvements regarding vacations.
“I really like the way the Carpenters Industrial to the Local 2509 bargaining committee and the
Council represents our membership. Our repre- unity of the local union membership. The company
sentatives really seem to listen and have the mem- could see that union members were united and they
bership’s best interest at heart as they put forth our meant business. I applaud them for sticking toproposals during negotiations,” says Local 2509 gether to get a fair contract settlement,” says CIC
Chief Steward and Contract Committeeman Ter- Council Representative Michael Warren.
Bargaining Begins at Royal Oak
Royal Oak Union Bargaining Committee: From left to right seated are CIC Executive Secretary Treasurer Tony Hadley; CIC Representative Lane Barnes;
and Royal Oak employees Jesse Greenway, Donald Stapleton, and Travis Vanvleet.
Since workers won a National Labor
Relations Board (NLRB) union recognition election in November at Royal Oak
charcoal in Leslie, Arkansas, the company had a fire in one of two kilns, which
meant a reduction in work hours for employees while the second kiln was being
repaired. Some employees felt that the
company took longer than necessary to
repair the kiln in order to try to “starve
them out,” but workers remain determined to stick together and push for a
union contract.
Knowing they were surviving on reduced hours of work, many stepped up
to support them. Christmas donations
for Royal Oak workers and their families
came from Local Unions 2501, 2761, and
2767, and from CIC staff — over $2,000.
Each Royal Oak employee got a $100 gift
card to buy Christmas dinner, and toys,
puzzles, games, and teddy bears donated
by union members, which meant two to
three toys for each child of Royal Oak
union employees.
“Royal Oak workers are sticking together and staying strong. You can really
see their solidarity and unity in the way
they are looking out for each other. Workers at Royal Oak who were getting fortyhours a week, sacrificed opportunities to
work overtime by asking management to
give those hours to their co-workers who
had not yet got their forty hours,” explains CIC Council Representative Cliff
Kerce. “These folks really look out for
each other.”
Steward Training in El Paso, Texas
I
n October, the CIC gave Stewards Training for Local 1017 stewards at BMC West
in El Paso, Texas. The training included
stewards from both El Paso locations: the
Lomaland St. warehouse and door plant
site; and the Dyer St. truss plant. “This information was helpful. We already have
won some grievances. Now, we know the
union contract better and we have more
tools to protect our rights,” says Ocar Ayala.
From Left to Right: Emanuel Garay, Anthony Ruybe, Cesar Gurolla, Juan Garcia,
Oscar Ayala.
UNION REGISTER
WINTER 2015 • 11
CIC Steward Training for members of Local 2346 in Huttig, Arkansas, from Left to Right: Tony Hadley,
Executive Secretary Treasurer of the CIC; John Gathright, President of Local 2346; Carlos Perry, Steward at
Local 2346; Steve Smart, Chief Steward and Recording Secretary; and Greg Carter, CIC Council
Representative.
LOCAL 2346 BUILDS POWER FOR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS:
New Stewards Strengthen Shop Floor Representation
“We, the members are the Union. We need strong membership to have a voice that will
be heard by management,” says new 2346 steward Carlos Perry, a utility employee with two
years at the company. “We have contract negotiations coming up and we must get our
membership involved and get our membership numbers up in order to get a fair labor
agreement.”
Local Union 2346 members are employed at a high volume sawmill owned by West Fraser
in Huttig, Arkansas. In the “right-to-work” (for less) “open shop” environment, it is a challenge to keep union membership numbers up. But it is a challenge that can be won by having an internal organizing plan in place.
New Chief Steward and Recording Secretary Steven Smart is a Green Stacker Operator
and has been employed at West Fraser for two and a half years.
“I wanted to become a steward to stand up for the workers. The workers need someone
to confront management and address their issues or concerns,” says Brother Smart. “I was
a member at another Union and understand the value of a Union. I also understand the
value of having a steward that is willing to go to management on behalf of the members so
they can be treated fairly.”
Brother Smart has already completed the online steward training and has won some
grievances. And he is signing up co-workers for union membership.
“This is about building power. We need to unite, to come together, because unity is our
strength. The company needs to see that we are united,” says Smart.
Local 2346 member J.T.
Both stewards are members of the local Contract Action Team (CAT). They have been
distributing and collecting surveys and hand billing the workers at the plant
gates to educate them about the Union and remind them about union meetings.
“Everyone working here needs to join
The local union has gained several other new officers recently. New officers
include: Morris Robinson, Vice President; Judy
the Union, so we have a strong Union
Waters, Financial Secretary; Tyre Hinson, Warto protect our rights.”
den; Granville Smith, Trustee; Davidd Stephens,
Trustee; and Johnny Gill, Trustee.
“I look forward to working with these new
“Without the Union contract, there would be no
stewards and local union officers. It is clear that
fair system in job assignments, no job bidding. It
they are committed to making a difference, so
would all be based on supervisor’s favoritism.”
Local 2346 members can win a good contract.
The Council is committed to providing the
“When I first bid on and won a saw filer job,
tools, training, and resources needed to help
management at that time wanted me out so that
them succeed,” says Council Representative
Greg Carter.
the supervisor could put in one of his personal
The Local Union recently completed Barfavorites in my spot. My union steward filed a
gaining Committee Training and held a January
grievance for me and won.”
19th Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Lunch,
grilling over one hundred burgers, in addition
Darrell Goldsby
“Without my Union representation, the supervito other food and refreshments.
sor would have had his way and denied me the
Trustee Johnny Gill
Financial Secretary
opportunity. Thanks to the Union, I got a fair
Judy Waters and
shot, an opportunity to advance myself.”
Trustee Davidd
“If the union wasn’t here, you’d have no job security, says
Stephens
“The Union is something we all need. There are
Wallace. “I joined the union because I didn’t like some
some fair supervisors, but without the Union to
of the things management was doing, how
protect our rights to fair treatment, some superthey were treating peovisors would walk all over people. Without the
ple sometimes. I knew
Union, you have no way to fight against unfair
we needed more people
discipline or unequal treatment.”
in the union to have to
power to straighten out
“Everyone working here needs to join the Union,
some of the superviso we have a strong Union to protect our rights.
sors. If you believe in
There is strength in numbers. That’s what the
fairness and having a
union
is all about. Being part of the Union gives
say on the job, you need
us a voice. The Union is a force for good, a moveto join our union.”
ment for Justice and Fairness.”
RICKY WALLACE,
“The Union is us, the workers in this mill. We
TREASURER & STEWARD
need to stand united.”
—DARRELL GOLDSBY, SAW FILER
UNION REGISTER
12 • WINTER 2015
Council Rep Donates UBC History Items
to Raise Money for Scholarship Fund
By Ray Calica
Last summer, my wife and I ran into a guy panhandling at a rest stop. Rather than turn away, we
decided to take a few minutes to talk with him. I
was surprised to find we had a lot in common.
Like me, Joe had worked many years in a plywood plant that eventually closed. After he lost
that job, he’d gotten one year of retraining under
a dislocated worker program in Washington
State, but it wasn’t enough to kick-start a new career.
Fortunately for me, when the plant I worked in
for 35 years closed, I was able to get full Trade Act
benefits, thanks to our union’s involvement advocating for all of us displaced workers at Local
3099. Unlike the state dislocated worker program
Joe had gone through, the Federal Trade Act gave
me a full two years of paid education. Under the
Trade Act, I was able to keep drawing unemployment for the 99 weeks maximum while in school.
With my wife Vincelle’s support, I finished my
two year college degree.
Even after two years of college retraining, when
I set out looking for an entry level job in 2011, the
job market was terrible. Statistics showed that
there were 13 or more unemployed people applying for every job opening at that time. And in the
field I was going into, the entry level jobs were all
being taken by engineers with masters degrees,
whose jobs were lost during the economic down
turns of 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Joe, the man panhandling, had also looked
hard to find a job after his plant closed during
“The Great Recession,” but he had worse luck
than me. After his brief retraining, he could not
find a job. Despite hundreds of job applications
filled out, no one would call him back for an in-
terview. He wanted to work, but
sad, hungry, no place to call
home, he’d ended up here.
Talking with Joe also made me
realize that even with our improving economy, there are still a
lot of good, decent, hard-working people struggling to get a job
and make it in this economy. It
really made me realize how lucky
I am. Just a few things can make
a big difference. Like having a
union advocating for your full
Trade Act benefits. Like that extra year of retraining.
That is why I feel so strongly
THIS QUILT made up of T-shirts donated by CIC and UBC local unions that will be
about the CIC Education Trust’s
R. Denny Scott Scholarship.
raffled off at the May 18-20, 2015 CIC Convention in Portland, OR. The proceeds of the
What a difference a little extra
raffle will go to the “R. Denny Scott” Education Foundation that awards education grants
assistance paying for further
to members who are dislocated and children of members attending college or a trade
education can make for someschool.
one in their struggle to complete a degree or certification,
to be able to compete in the job market.
That is where Vincelle and I got the idea to find
a way to donate this little piece of our Carpenters
Union labor history to raise money for the CIC
The 41st United Brotherhood of Carpenters
Education Trust R. Denny Scott Scholarship.
These R. Denny Scott scholarships go to help CIC
General Convention will commence on
union members who have lost their jobs, or to
children of CIC members, to help them continue
their education.
August 24, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Beautifully framed is an original McCarron
Team T-shirt from the 1995 UBC General ConYour Local Union will be conducting
vention, which I attended as a UBC Delegate
from my local union. The T-shirt has signatures
UBC Delegate elections to determine who
from most members of the McCarron Team —
General President McCarron, General Vice
will represent your Local Union
President Doug Banes, General Secretary
Treasurer Andris Silins, UBC Southern Disat the Convention.
trict Vice President Danny Maples, and retired UBC Western District Vice President
Mike Draper. The T-shirt is framed along
with UBC delegate and guest badges from
the Convention. It would make a beautiful
display in someone’s living room or den, or
the office of a local union hall. I am donating it to the CIC to be raffled off at the upcoming Carpenters Industrial Council
Convention in May 2015.
My hope is that money raised from this
auction, in support of the CIC Education
Trust, can help to prevent someone in our
union from ending up like Joe. This R.
Denny Scott Scholarship is a dream of
hope for members who have seen their
plant close and need retraining.
Please, buy your tickets for the raffle.
Reminder
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Carpenters Industrial Council
Autographed T-shirt
and UBC Convention
memorabilia donated
by Ray Calica.
ISSN 0274-970X
OFFICIAL LABOR NEWS PUBLICATION published quarterly
for the Carpenters Industrial Council UBC and its Affiliates
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