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MEM OR A ND UM
DATE: TO: FROM: RE: March 13, 2012 The Membership NYC Carpenters Rank-and-File Organized VOTE NO! ON CONTRACTS

On March 9, the NYC District Council of Carpenters mailed out ballots to affected members of the Union, for ratification of tentative collective bargaining agreements. The American Arbitration Association is conducting this vote, and must receive replies no later than 8:00 A.M., TUESDAY MARCH 27, 2012. NYC Carpenters Rank-and-File Organized is strongly urging members to vote and VOTE NO! on ratification of the tentative agreements (T.A.), sending a message for the bosses to renegotiate. First and most importantly, if ratified, the tentative agreements will bring five (5) years of labor strife and volatility. The bosses froze our wage-and-benefit package during the last two (2) years, and this freeze continues through year one (1) of the T.A. With contractually guaranteed cost-of-living raises taken back by the employers in the past, we stand to give them away in the future as well. The increases for each of the tentative agreements final (4) years are not guaranteed! Additionally, the most favored nation clause of the T.A. grants bosses the power to negotiate more advantageous terms for an individual contractor, allowing every Company in on the deal, with 20%+ pay-cuts and unprecedented work rule concessions. Other major problems in the T.A. include elimination of requirement for Union hiring and manning ratios for those employers who become Full Mobility Employers. It is expected that while all members of employer Associations enjoy this privilege, the Union will lose presence in the workplace and ability to enforce agreements. That means hardworking, conscientious Union members shall enjoy less and diminished work opportunities. Part of this provision allows the Company to staff two person projects with only Company employees, absent a Steward dispatched from the Union to protect Carpenter rights. The T.A. include establishment of a Labor Management Corporation (law enforcement division within the Union) to provide anti-corruption measures allowing the bosses to restructure our Union and implement Full Mobility. This entity will utilize scanners, surveillance cameras, and a team of private investigators; the total cost to members in assessment is not disclosed, but estimated to be over $10 million a year. We believe the Tentative Agreements to be a negative and self-destructive step for labor, our Union and our industry. If the T.A. are voted down, both parties will be required to return to the bargaining table, to negotiate new agreements. It has taken almost a year to get to this point. There is no indication how long renegotiation would take; but it is evident that the expired contracts we are working under now are more preferable than the T.A. we are voting on. The resulting continued uncertainty, as bargained, is not good for labor, or management of the industry. Stable and certain agreements are good for our industry and Union; they provide equitable work, and wellbeing for Members and families. VOTE NO! and renegotiate! Please note that NYC Carpenters Rank-and-File Organized is expressing its objective views and beliefs and is conveying its opinion regarding the new tentative collective bargaining agreements. Regardless of whether you do, or dont, agree with our recommendation for a no vote, please inform yourself and vote; all of us will be affected by the terms of any ratified contract.

VIEW TENTATIVE AGREEMENTS: nycdistrictcouncil.com

NOTICE: Local 157 Elections are scheduled for 6am-7pm Thursday, March 22, at NYC District Council, 395 Hudson Street, 2nd Floor (Clarkson Street entrance.) Positions to be voted on are: Executive Committee Member, two Delegates, and two Trial Committee Members. At 7pm, following Elections, a regular Local 157 Meeting will be convened at the same location.