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Honorable Richard M. Ber U
United States District
500 Pearl Street DOC U M l(NT
New York, NY 10007 ELECTRONICALLY
29,2013
DOC . ________
DATE FiLED: '-fltlt'S.
Dear Judge Berman:
I am a Delegate and shop steward in the New York City District Council of Carpenters.
understand that you have a very difficult decision to make, and that judgment is going to have a
sweeping effect on the carpenters union as we know it.
When I was running for the position of delegate to local 157, it was not uncommon for
those running to have to publicly state at union meetings what their position was on full
mobility. The delegates to the various locals were elected by the members of their respective
locals, knowing what the position was of the persons they were voting for. The Wall and
Ceiling contract was passed as per the By-laws, by men and women chosen by the membership.
For others to take a contrary position is unfair and inaccurate.
Before the initial meeting of the newly elected delegates, we studied several of the
contracts. This training session lasted 3 days, and several of the contracts were studied from
cover to cover. The delegates voiced their concerns about wording and their displeasure with
provisions such as the Favored Nations Clause. I do not understand how anyone can say that
nobody knew what was contained in the contract, after going through three days of
comprehensive training on the contracts.
When the contract was voted on by the membership via mail in ballot, the Wall and
Ceiling CBA with a full mobility provision was rejected. I was one of the very few people who
mailed in my ballot, and I voted to reject the contract. I have to say that I do support full
mobility and I believe many more carpenters will be employed if it were in place. The reason I
rejected the contract was strictly due to the lack of financial compensation. Many members
felt the same as me, and it is not fair for a select few to say that the contract was turned down
strictly because of full mobility.
Unfortunately the hard working men and women of this union do not want to come
forward and publicly say that they support full mobility because the will be scorned and
denigrated on websites and chat rooms. There is even a website where an anonymous person
wishes cancer upon those who support full mobility. The hard working men and women no
longer attend union meetings because they accomplish nothing, and their opinions are not
respected. Several of the people, who are petitioning the court, have run numerous times to
be a delegate, failing handsomely each time they tried. This is not a mark on their integrity as
men Simply that the rank and file members do not subscribe to their way of thinking or beliefs.
Case 1:90-cv-05722-RMB-THK Document 1291 Filed 04/01/13 Page 1 of 2
In conclusion, I am asking you to please allow the decision of the delegate body to stand
as we voted. The delegate body is representative of the membership and I feel we acted for
those whom we represent.
Good luck in your making your decision. Regardless of the outcome I know it will be
with the best intentions for The New York City District Council of Carpenters. Thank you for
allowing me to be heard.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Donnelly
U.B.C.2281-8076
red24662@verizon.net
?Ult.....,
Richard M. Bennan. U.S.OJ.
Case 1:90-cv-05722-RMB-THK Document 1291 Filed 04/01/13 Page 2 of 2