wholeblog home


McCarron's map

 
Dear Committee members:

It has been 6 weeks since I�ve announced my candidacy for General President and I have been able to make some positive headway. I�ve been to the west coast and to the Chicago Council twice. I�ve talked to many, many brothers and sisters along the way. There is definitely a need for our quest. The pattern is; if you are a rank and file member then you are embracing my actions and if you are a paid staffer you are totally against my actions. I�ve had paid staffers that I�ve known for years that are fearful of my phone call because the call will show up on there phone bill. I�ve talked to many staffers at home and even the honest ones are positive that change is needed.

I have discovered areas that have been devastated so bad in the last 5 years that these areas are not even sending Delegates to the convention because they say they cannot afford the trip. Together we can change the heavy handed autocrat that has turned our organization into a corporate Union.

Just recently the boys at the international are bragging about a PLA for the ADM plant in Clinton, Iowa. The contractor is Weitz out of Des Moines, Iowa (already a union contractor). I have first hand experience with this facility and have relatives working at the site for ADM. Weitz is already Union and our International gave the farm away on this project. Again exposing our reputation as a union that raids work, and cuts wages for jobs. This is a shame and now they are bragging about their input on this project. Weitz already had this project way before the International got involved but Jim Sabliska (VP for the Central District) is acting like he negotiated this deal.

On top of the ADM site our big brother has also eliminated the PHMMA Agreement (Power House Modification Maintenance Agreement) on June 1, 2005 and replaced it with the Presidents Agreement. A huge step backwards especially for the Millwrights who rely heavily on outages for their members in the Illinois and Iowa area. As you might know that MAC sits on the board for Newburg Perini who has the contracts for these plants that the International has just gutted. Looks like MAC is going to make sure that Newburg Perini (The Venture, the name they go by in the EXELON Plants) is going to have control over who is working on these plants, no longer can the Unions refer 100% of the workers to these sites, matter of fact The Venture can bring in NON UNION supervision and workers, also all The Venture has to do is call this work �SPECIALTY WORK� and it can all go non union.

The Presidents Agreement severely undermines the solid unionism that the state of Illinois has fought for. What I cannot understand is I thought we were out of the Building Trades and now all of a sudden we are in when it comes to MAC cutting deals for his Company that he represents as a Board member.

MAC and the boys are continuing to harm all areas in the USA and Canada, we cannot afford another 5 years.

Please be on the look out for brave brothers and sisters that want to join up with Scott Brineman (WEST COAST VP candidate) myself as the GP for a slate. We need people to step forward soon.

Fraternally yours,

Tom Lewandowski ���

wholeblogXport permalink# ... 0 comments

 
Elect Brineman VP--Home page
Brothers and Sisters,

I am asking for your support of my candidacy for Western District Vice President of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters.

I stand for open communication, accountability and the basic democratic principles upon which the Union was founded. I am a firm believer in the original vision of Founding Father P.J. McGuire and feel that we have strayed far to the right of his intent and purpose. McGuire believed that everyone should belong to a Union and that the members would be able to share in the wealth that they were producing. He also believed that Union membership brought autonomy over oneself and pride in what one did. These factors would lead to more time available for participation with family and community. The rank and file members have been disenfranchised and are losing hope of having any control over their lives. In order to re-involve the membership we must return the vote to the individual, we must return some autonomy to the locals, and we must get involved with our local communities and remind them that the carpenters are here to stay.

The current leadership of the UBC is not representing the true concerns of the membership but instead is doing whatever it can to mold us into a corporate commodity to be sold to the lowest bidder. They have done their best to fashion the "re-organized" UBC along the lines of corporate America. We are a multi-billion dollar industry which can and should wield incredible industry and political clout for the benefit of the rank and file member. We are not a Union for the sole benefit of the contractors.

The current leadership is very short sighted and needs to broaden its scope and vision. The world we live in is getting smaller all the time and the resources we have are becoming more limited. The UBC needs to look at the ways that we as an organization can promote sustainability not only for ourselves and our industry but society as a whole. We are but a small piece of the overall scheme of things, and need to work in unison for the betterment of our craft. New environmental regulations and alternative energy sources are creating growth industries that could yield millions of hours of carpenter work. We need to look ahead with that kind of vision.

I am developing my campaign and am in need of financial support in order to run it effectively. If you agree with me that we need a change of vision at the leadership level of the Union then please support my candidacy. Thank you.

In Brotherhood & Solidarity,

T. Scott Brineman

wholeblogXport permalink# ... 0 comments