By organizing, carpenters gain a stronger collective voice in the industry. When we work together in a union, we can negotiate with employers from a position that allows us to improve our standard of living. That means decent wages, health benefits, training programs, a pension and an annuity. It also allows us to negotiate better work rules such as safety and overtime. Then carpenters and their families can thrive in the industry and retire with dignity after a career in construction.
Facts show that in construction market areas where a majority of the workers are unionized, workers enjoy higher wages and better benefits. That's because contractors must negotiate with workers as a group. If a group controls the supply of its labor, workers are in a stronger position to establish their wages and benefits in that market area.
Without a Union, workers are forced to negotiate individually with the boss. Each time you go to another employer, you must begin the process all over again. When a majority of workers are not organized, the competition for jobs has a downward pressure on everyone’s wages, because companies are profit-driven, and they want to pay less.
At some times, in some markets, union contractors need more workers and the union will take in additional members. At other times, existing union members are not working and there is more of a need to organize work and contractors.
Often, when workers want to become union members, organizers will have them talk to the rest of the crew of the company they are already working for. By getting a majority of the crew together, they can talk to or demand that the contractor sign a union agreement.
In this way, the workers can become union members, the contractor has become a union contractor, and the work will be done under the terms and conditions of a union contract.
Unions and workers organize in two ways: bottom-up and/or top-down. Though the method of organizing is different for each, the objective is the same; securing better wages and working conditions for carpenters.
Unfortunately, that is not always the way it works. Often contractors will resist the wishes of their employees to become union. They may try to intimidate workers on an individual basis or attempt to make an example of one of the leaders by laying them off. When an employer does not want his company to become union, employees may petition the National Labor Relations Board for an election. It is the mission of the NLRB to protect the rights of both employers and employees in their relationships.
The National Labor Relations Act outlines the
rights of workers in Section 7;
Employees shall have the right to
self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to
bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to
engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective
bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, and shall also have the
right to refrain from any or all such activities except to the extent that
such right may be affected by an agreement requiring membership in a labor
organization as a condition of employment as authorized in section
8(a)(3).
Section 8(a)(1)
It shall be an unfair labor practice for an
employer to interfere with, restrain or coerce employees in the exercise
of rights guaranteed by section 7.
Section 8(a)(3)
Forbids an employer to discriminate against
employees in regard to hire or tenure of employment or any term or
condition of employment or to encourage or discourage membership in any labor
organization.
Talking to contractors means more than convincing them to sign an agreement. It is a chance to show contractors that the union can be a valuable partner. If our union contractors are not successful, union carpenters lose out.
Dependable, skilled workers
When a contractor signs a union agreement, they gain access to a pool of qualified workers. No more want ads, walk-ups or
questionable referrals for someone's brother or cousin. A call to the
Hall,
and experienced, skilled carpenters are dispatched.
The Carpenters Union also offers skills upgrade, safety and certification courses to members. With our modern facilities the industry training that is in demand is available and conveniently scheduled.
Becoming a union contractor also means having the ability to offer company employees industry-leading benefit programs, such as health care, a pension plan and a guaranteed annuity....all at a price affordable to the Employer.