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Reform Groups Build Pressure on Carpenter Leadership by Nick Robinson, Labor Notes
Concerns are mounting inside the Carpenters over International President Doug McCarron's controversial restructuring plan and other initiatives. Rank-and-file opposition has started to gel over moves by the International-moves, members say, have undermined democracy inside the union.

Since 1996, McCarron has merged numerous locals and consolidated them into regional and district councils headed by an Executive Secretary-Treasurer (EST) with the ability to hire and fire officers, negotiate contracts, and collect an hourly work-tax. Locals vote for District Council delegates, who then elect the highly powerful EST.

In some regions, members have waged highly effective campaigns, such as British Columbia, where last November members disaffiliated and literally turned out the lights and left (in a video widely circulated among reformers) when McCarron refused them the right vote on changes. When a rank-and-file slate won the executive board in Atlanta's Local 225, they were made to vote two more times, and then trusteed.

Other members simply leave because McCarron's emphasis on flexibility, job training, and restructuring parallel to contractors' regional structure hasn't benefited the membership. "They act as the union human resources department for construction contractors," said Cliff Willmeng of Chicago's Local 1.

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Whitehouse news release
Remarks by the President in a Conversation on Homeownership
Phoenix Carpenters Training Center
Phoenix, Arizona
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thanks a lot. Thank you all very much. I appreciate Doug McCarron's leadership in terms of making sure people have the skills necessary to work in the jobs of the 21st century. Actually, you look like you're dressed the way a President should be -- (laughter) -- and I'm dressed like a carpenter. (Laughter.) Which isn't all that bad a deal.

I want to thank you for having me here. I appreciate Mike McCarron for opening up this facility. Thank you, Mike, for inviting us. (Applause.) He invited us here so we can have a discussion on job training skills and home ownership.

Bush speaks about homes in Phoenix visit
Bush also reached out again to Douglas J. McCarron, the leader of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. Unions usually align with Democrats, and Bush has sought to split that alliance, inviting McCarron to several of his events.


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