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Richard E. Tolson
Director
e-mail |
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John F. Capo
Secretary/Treasurer
e-mail |
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Nicholas D'Orazio
Office Administrator
e-mail |
Principle Officers
Joint Message
Brothers & Sisters:
Over the past year we have witnessed a massive increase in the cost
of gasoline, food cost have gone up, the economy in general has
slowed, the housing industry is non-existent and undocumented workers
are in abundance throughout our jurisdiction. All of these factors
have lead to fewer opportunities for you, our members. It has been
about 10 years since we have seen work slow down so much. It is
in times like this that we are asked more often, “What is
the union doing for me?” We want to take this opportunity
to detail what your leadership and all the field staff do on a daily
basis.
Since the creation of the ADC, four members of the staff have retired,
all of which were not replaced. We have hired some organizers and
we receive reimbursement from the International through our organizing
plan for one of those salaries. We are doing more with less and
show you on a quarterly report how we have decreased cost by being
more efficient. The staff we do have are responsible for many things.
Besides the obvious of securing jobs and placing our members on
those jobs, your representatives attend Building Trades meetings,
school, zoning and planning board meetings at night. They additionally
attend political functions on countless nights. To some I am sure
this is perceived as glamorous, but to our families it is time away
from home. We accept it as part of our job to create opportunities
for our members.
We mentioned in the second paragraph our organizing efforts. Annually
we prepare a report to the International to be reimbursed twenty-five
cents on the dollar for organizing. We have successfully done this
since the ADC’s creation. Quarterly reports are also filed
to complete the process. Through the efforts of all the field staff,
since June of 2006 we have organized 24 contractors which have created
over 100,000 man hours to date. With contractors unwilling to sign,
various approaches have been utilized with picket lines being the
most obvious. Although many members have participated, far fewer
have not. Coming from a time when members picketed to fight for
their jobs, to a time when we actually pay members to picket, it
is unimaginable that members will not come out and protest for their
jobs but blame the union for a lack of work. Through our efforts
to befriend supportive politicians, we have established an ally
with the NJ Department of Labor. Your reps have filed over two dozen
complaints with the DOL with charges ranging from wage violations,
misclassification of workers, dry saw cutting violations and hindering
an investigation. We have also been able to obtain an award of $10,000.00
for a member for an unfair labor practice charge. Your reps work
with the NJDOL, the USDOL, OSHA, the US Justice Dept., and the National
Labor Relations Board to protect your interests, wages, and safety
on the job.
Your ADC has established apprentice programs for all three locals.
With two apprentice coordinators and two training sites, we continue
to offer the best training to the “best hands in the business”.
Between our three locals we have over 200 apprentices carrying on
the crafts of our organization. To apprentices and journeyman we
offer all craft training plus, swing scaffold, blueprint reading,
estimating, construction math, grout certification, ACI concrete
certification, welding, OSHA 30, first aid/CPR, scaffold safety,
steward training, respirator fit testing as well as CPWR Hazwoper
training. A major addition to our apprentice program is the work
Dave Kensler and Bill DiRenzis have done to be included in the the
state’s college accreditation program. This is a program where
successful apprentices are given college credits for their completion.
If as many journeyman took advantage of the additional training
that is available as the apprentices do, more job opportunities
would become available.
Your union has also made great strides in the improvement and protection
of your fringe benefits. Gary Mercandante, the Health Fund administrator,
has included a section elsewhere in the newsletter to explain all
your leadership has done to maintain and improve your health care.
We have also initiated an ongoing audit policy for all contractors
to make sure they are up to date and accurate in their reports.
Over the past two years we have brought the residential members
into the New Jersey health plan, expanded the health care for Local
#2 members to include the five Southeastern counties of Pennsylvania,
and included an organizing portion to recruit new members. Our pensions
and annuity funds are closely monitored to secure your retirement
for the future. We have consolidated collection procedures of all
funds to ensure your money is coming in when it should and to reduce
cost to the participants.
Through the cooperation of our Labor/Management partners, the BCA
of NJ as well as the MC of NJ, we negotiated a new four and a half
year agreement with an $11.50 increase over that time. We also negotiated
a 75¢ compensation for shop stewards. This is a first in our
organization. Most of the training described above must be obtained
by the end of the agreement to continue that compensation. The new
agreement also includes a 15% overtime increase after 10 hours of
work.We have also initiated a PCC/Restoration committee with the
contractors to expand our market share in that industry and create
more hours for our members.
Your union has a first class newsletter to communicate with you
and keep you up to date. We also have a web site for all members
to access. The address is www.bacadcnj.com with links to each Local’s
web site. Through our annual golf outing we offer college scholarships
to our members children. Your Union is here for you.
Your leadership meets regularly to brainstorm new ways to generate
hours for our members. You are always our primary concern. With
IMI we stay on the cutting edge to secure opportunity for new products
on the market. With the support of our International we fight daily
to maintain our craft jurisdictions. So as you can see, you have
unlimited opportunity to be a part of a formidable union. You have
every chance to improve your skills and ability to be employed.
Clearly your representatives are working far more hours than they
are compensated for. It has always been that way. As your principal
officers, we are accountable for all that goes on in this organization,
good and bad, success and failure. That is our responsibility. We
all must ask ourselves, what am I accountable for, what am I responsible
for?
So with all this being said, in the words of President John F. Kennedy,
“...ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you
can do for your country.” The same applies to your Union.
The fight against all the non-union elements is all of ours. The
struggle of labor has existed since our beginning. Some issues have
changed, but the fight continues. If you are not part of the solution,
you are part of the problem. Together we can always improve and
grow stronger. That is your Union’s goal.
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In Solidarity,
Richard E.
Tolson
Director, BACADC
of NJ |
John F. Capo
Secretary-Treasurer |
Office
Administrator Report
Dear
Brothers & Sisters,
As many of you are aware, delinquency letters have been going
out on a monthly basis. I cannot stress to you enough the importance
of keeping your dues current. As stated in the International Constitution,
“Any member or apprentice becoming in arrears for dues for
two (2) months shall stand suspended without notice, and any member
or apprentice in arrears for dues for three (3) months shall cease
to be a member of this Union without notice.” Protect your
benefits, keep your dues current. If you do receive a notice, payments
are due by the 15th of the month.
Another issue of importance I would like to address is making sure
you call your Local’s Out Of Work List when you get laid off.
Local No. 4 members are to call (800) 421-5624 and the members of
Locals 2 and 5 are to call (800) 835-5565. As important as it is
to put your name on the list, it is just as important to take your
name off the list when you go back to work. I hope everyone has
a wonderful and safe summer.
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Fraternally,
Nick D'Orazio
Office Administrator
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