Metropolitan Regional Council

of Philadelphia & Vicinity

UNITED BROTHERHOOD OF CARPENTERS

AND JOINERS OF AMERICA

1803 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia Pa. 19130

Trades that are part of the Carpenters Union

General Carpentry - Interior Systems - Cabinetmaking/Millwork

Floorlaying - Millwrighting - Piledriving - Lathing - Drapery

Edward C. Coryell 

 Executive Secretary-Treasurer / Business Manager

Contents

• Current Topics                                                                Photo Gallery                          

• Important Dates                                                 Contact Information                    

• Biographical                                                  Be An Active Member                        

• Boycott List                                                                     Related Pages/Links                                 

• Comments and Suggestions                               Signatory Mill/Cabinet Shops  

• Regional Reports    

                    Issue - June 2009

• Current Topics   

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ATTENTION  MEMBERS

Please Fax, call or e-mail Senator Specter ASAP

We need him to vote in favor of the " EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT"

For best results Fax Letters to ( 215-228-1229 or 215-597-0406 )

Phone ( 202-224-4254 or 215-597-7200

Web page / address:    http://specter.senate.gov

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Click For More Information  > >   

Starting December 30, 2008 the Transportation Security Administration will require all workers t have a TWIC card

The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) is a vital security measure that will ensure individuals who pose a threat do not gain unescorted access to secure areas of the nation's maritime transportation system.

TWIC was established by Congress through the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) and is administered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Coast Guard. TWICs are tamper-resistant biometric credentials that will be issued to workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of ports, vessels, outer continental shelf facilities and all credentialed merchant mariners. It is anticipated that more than 1 million workers including longshoremen, truckers, port employees and others will be required to obtain a TWIC.

Many facilities, all that are adjacent to water ( refineries, Penns Landing, Aker shipyard, etc ) in our area  will require a TWIC card. Members are encouraged to apply and receive a card ASAP. You may miss out on Work Opportunities without this card.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ANNUITY INTEREST RATE FOR VESTED PARTICIPANTS

 Your Annuity Account will earn a 1.5% Annual Rate of Return for the Plan Year May 1, 2009 through April 30, 2010. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Important Notice

    Coordination of Benefits is a very significant aspect of Health Benefit Coverage.  It determines the order of        responsibility for benefits in situations where a participant has coverage under more than one plan.  In order for the Fund Office to keep their records current, it is important that the Coordination of Benefits Questionnaire that was   forwarded to the entire Membership in February be completed and returned to the Health and Welfare Fund Office.  If you have misplaced the original questionnaire you can down load it from the Benefit Funds new website, at www.philacarpenterfunds.org. Go to the Medical Screen on the home page and then the Coordination of Benefits screen, to find the form.   If this option is not available to you there will be a second mailing sometime this summer for those Members who did not complete and return the first questionnaire. You can also call the Fund Office and request the questionnaire.  A Members failure to return this questionnaire may jeopardize their health coverage.  In order to safe guard your benefit coverage, please take the time to complete this questionnaire and return it to the Fund Office.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MAJOR JOBS IN PROGRESS

The Council has received many requests from our Membership for the  

"Jobs In Progress" information to be put on our Web Site. Here it is.   

• Major Jobs In Progress     

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• UBC ID NUMBER TO REPLACE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER FOR MEMBERSHIP IDENTIFICATION

• Pennsylvania Voter Registration   ( If you are not registered to vote, you can do so here )

• Carpenters Union PENNSYLVANIA License Plate Is Now Available. Great Gift Idea. ( Click Here )

• UBC Helmets To Hardhats Program - For  honorably discharged military personnel

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         In order to remind our Members of certain obligations that they have as a Member of this 

                    Council and of  the Brotherhood, we have listed below some of the main rules that should be 

                    followed in the course of their everyday employment as a Union Carpenter. 

• You must pay your Union Dues for 3 months in advance, to get your Work Card for the next Calendar Quarter.

• If your Union Dues are not paid, you cannot work.  You will lose your right to vote and run for election as an Officer in your Union.

• If your Union Dues are not paid for 6 months, you are automatically suspended from the Union by the computer at the Union’s International Headquarters. You will also lose your Benefits.

• The first man on the job must call the job into the Council Office at 215-569-1634 to report the JOB START.

• On your first day on the job, it is your responsibility to check-in with the Steward for the project, and show him your Work Card.  Your Steward must call the Council Office for a permit to work any overtime or weekends.  You cannot work Overtime without a Permit, and without being paid the Overtime Rate and your Benefits.  You would be guilty of fraud if you work for less than your Rate and your Benefit payments.  The Steward must also Report your regular and overtime work hours to the H & W to protect your Benefit eligibility.  This is an important Report that your Steward must mail to H & W every month. If there is no Steward on the job, call that information into the Council Office at 215-569-1634.

• Change of Address or Phone:  Notify your Financial Secretary and the Health and Welfare Office. If you are an Apprentice, also contact the Apprentice Training Center at 215-824-2300.

•  It is the responsibility of all Members to attend Union Meetings.  This is where questions are answered concerning work, benefits, contracts, your employers or any of your other concerns about your Union or your employment.  Report any violation of the Contract to your Council Representative.  Volunteer for Handbilling and Picketline activities.

• Our Council has no Hiring Hall.  We have open solicitation for work for all our Members.  When laid-off from an employer, call your Council Representative, if you are an apprentice, also contact the Apprentice Training Center at 215-824-2300.   Leave your name and phone number to get information on any available employment opportunity.  Continue to solicit work with Union employers only.  Let your Representative know if you obtain employment on your own.  It’s your obligation to make certain that an employer has a Contract with our Council.

• Notify the Health and Welfare Office of any change in marital status, dependents, change in beneficiary, your sickness or injury, etc.  Notify the H & W of any shortage in your Hours Worked by using the Return Postcard to give them your correct Hours.

• Do not stop doing any work because another Trade is claiming it.  Only your Council Representative can tell you what to do in a jurisdictional matter.

• To expand your Employment opportunities, you should attend our Journeyman Training classes to increase your skills.  

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• JURISDICTION -  OVERHEAD DOORS --It’s Our Work-- 

        Maintaining our Trade’s Work Jurisdiction is very important, and it’s also every Member’s duty and responsibility, particularly our Stewards and the Foremen. Many Members and Officials have worked extremely hard, through extensive legal proceedings, picketlines, strikes, and sometimes physical confrontations, to secure and maintain our Work Jurisdiction. We cannot and will not allow Contractors to assign our work to other Trades.  Recently, we contacted our General Contractors & Construction Managers advising them of the CARPENTERS JURISDICTION; the complete installation of all types of overhead doors, including but not limited to, Rolling and Roll-up steel, sectional, vertical lift, Bi-parting, canopy, multi-sectional, sliding, swinging, high speed, folding doors and security doors, regardless of their materials or composition, method or manner of installation, attachment or connection, plus the opening and closing devices and machinery for the operation of all types of these doors, including all the miscellaneous steel parts and attachments pertaining to the installation of these doors, as well as all related dock equipment such as dock levelers, bumpers, seals, shelters, and restraints, is the work jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Regional Council United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America.

      It is every Member’s responsibility to help police our Work Jurisdiction. Please contact the Job Steward or Foreman (or contact the Council office) if you believe some other Trade is doing our work.

     

   

  JURISDICTION -  STANDING SEAM METAL ROOFING --It’s Our Work--   

      The Metropolitan Regional Council received a very favorable NLRB decision against the Sheet Metal Workers pertaining to the installation of standing seam metal roofing, soffit, fascia, and related trim. The Sheet Metal Workers were trying to claim the work and force our contractors to use their members.

      This is a great decision in our Councils favor that awards this work to our Members throughout our entire territorial jurisdiction. 

      REMEMBER, do not get off any work or stop working unless told to do so by a CARPENTER REPRESENTATIVE.

        JURISDICTION -  Hardware on doors --It’s Our Work--            

            The installation of hardware on doors is, and always has been, performed at the job site by Carpenters / Members represented by the             Council. IT IS THE POLICY OF THIS COUNCIL THAT NO DOOR WILL BE HUNG THAT ARRIVES ON THE JOB WITH              PRE-INSTALLED HARDWARE. Our Members are asked to please inform the job Steward and contact the 

Council office immediately if doors arrive at the  job site with  pre-installed hardware. Thank you.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Important  Notice

It is very important that changes in address, phone numbers, dependents, martial status, deaths, etc…. be forwarded to the Benefit Funds office promptly. Many important documents are being returned or are inaccurate because the Benefit Funds do not have the correct, most recent information. Please make this a priority. Thank You.

REMEMBER - Save all your medical / medicine receipts for your Unreimbursed Medical / Dental, Dependent Care Reimbursement Benefit. Every year these receipts must be sent in to the Benefit Fund office with your claim form. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FILL YOUR NEXT PRESCRIPTION 

WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR HOUSE

Medco

It's easy to fill a prescription at Medco. Just visit www.Medco.com, or call the toll free number 

( 1-800- 939-2146 ) and receive your prescription in the mail Using www.Medco.com also gives you the

 option of receiving refill reminders via e-mail, a great way to make sure you never run out of 

medication again. If you need assistance please contact your Benefit Funds office at ( 215-568-0430 )

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• DID YOU KNOW ......?    that your H & W Fund offers a prescription mail-order service at your local Rite-Aid pharmacy. It is called Retail Maintenance ( or Walk in Mail-order).  You receive the higher mail-order discount, no dispensing fee, and a 90-day supply. Just ask your doctor for a 90-day maintenance prescription, and "walk-in" to any Rite Aid pharmacy for a better discount.

   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 WORKING  FOR  CASH

  DEFRAUDING THE FUNDS 

CHEATING YOUR UNION

 BROTHERS AND SISTERS

 CHEATING YOURSELF &

YOUR FAMILY 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• IFCA supports the Certificate Program at Drexel University. Sign onto their web site at www.ifcassociation.com to get a copy of their guidelines, qualification criteria, and an application. If you have any questions, give Kim Clerkin a call at 610-225-1050.

• Your Savings Plan through Dreyfus Retirement Services can now be accessed through the Internet. With just a click of a button you can now obtain, current fund information, retirement planning tips, and participant account access and transaction capabilities. We have added a Link to Dreyfus on this Web Page.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Regarding Payment of Local Union Dues 

Members are responsible to pay their Local Union Dues on or before the 1^st of each month and, to carry on their person to all job sites, proof that their dues have been paid. 

Stewards are responsible to check all work cards or dues books to ensure that all Members are paid up to date. 

The Metropolitan Regional Council’s Work Rule #7 states, “The Steward of the job shall not permit anyone to start work on a permit or card that is two weeks or more overdue”. 

Please be advised that Work Rule #7 will be strictly enforced.

Important Dates

Back to Top

Contact Information

Electronic mail address Metropolitan Regional Council Web address www.philacarpenter.org			Metropolitan Regional Council     of Philadelphia & Vicinity 1803 Spring Garden Street Philadelphia, Pa 19130
Office phone 215-569-1634 Fax Number 215-569-0263

Back to Top

Related Pages / Links

Back to Top

Biographical Information

        The Metropolitan Regional Council of Philadelphia & Vicinity  was originally chartered on June 22, 1898 by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. At that time, it was formed by the first Carpenter Local Unions organized in Philadelphia: Local Union 8, chartered in 1881 and Local Union 122, chartered in 1886. Our Council is now the parent body and the Headquarters for all our 18 Locals with a geographical jurisdiction of  8  counties in the Southeastern section of the State of Pennsylvania, the entire state of Delaware, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. 

  Pennsylvania Counties: Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery, Chester, Bucks, Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon. 

                                                                   Delaware Counties: New Castle, Kent, Sussex. 

   Maryland Counties: Cecil, Kent, Queen Annes, Talbot. Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset, Worcester.

         Since its formation in 1898, our Council has grown from its two original Locals with 200 Members, to 17 Locals representing 12,800 Members. 

        One of the proud historical facts of our Council is that Peter J. McGuire was a member of our Local Union 8. Brother McGuire is recognized as the founder of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, the co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, and for establishing Labor Day as a National Holiday.

        For the over 125 years, our Council has fought for shorter hours, higher wages, and better working conditions. Through these efforts, our Member's work-hours and work-week have been shortened from Six Days and 60-Hour Week to the standard Five Days and 40-Hour Week. Our wages have been increased from $0.12 per hour to our current wage and fringe package rate of  $60.10 per hour.

Council Officers

Council Representatives

Edward Coryell Jr. - Local 8 - Phila. County				Noel Orr  - Local 465 - Chester County
Robert Burns - Local 122 - Phila. County				Guy Pigliacelli - Local 1050 - Phila. County
Michael Wells - Local 845 - Delaware County				Gerald Coughlin - Local 1856 - Phila. County
Mike Jacobs  - Local 1462 - Bucks County				Chris Johnson  - Local 359 - Mill/Cabinet Shops
Michael Galio - Local 600 - Lehigh Valley				Patrick McGinley - Local 1823 - Floor Layers
Dave Gannon - Local 1595 - Mont. County				Mark Durkalec - Local 1073 - Residential
Rich Kelly - Local 1906 & 1545  - Millwrights				Joseph Durham - LU 626 - Delaware State
Vic Rovani - Local 454 - Piledrivers				John Brown - Local 2012 - E. Shore MD

Back to Top

Boycott List  ( updated 06/01/2009 )

We would like to inform our Union Members and their families and 

everyone who supports Union Labor that these establishments do not

support Union Labor and choose to use contractors who 

DESTROY our Wages and Benefit Standards

Back to Top

Be An Active Member

• Attend Your Local Union Meetings

• Volunteer For Charity Work

• Join Your Local's Volunteer Organizing Committee ( VOC )

• Volunteer For Handbilling & Picketline Campaigns

• VOTE In  Every Election

Back to Top         

Comments and Suggestions

Please send us mail telling us what you think about this page and how we might improve it.

Back to Top

Look For The Union Label

Protect Union Jobs And Conditions

Property of the Metropolitan Regional Council
Last revised: June 04, 2009.