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Director's Report
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Richard
E. Tolson
Director
e-mail |
Brothers & Sisters:
Happy New Year! As 2009 has closed, my hope for all of us in 2010
is increased opportunity. Given the opportunity I know our membership
can complete any challenge. With the standard the BAC has set, the
apprentice and upgrade training we offer, and the proven reliability
of our craftworkers, I know our members are ready, willing, and
able to build the future of this state and our nation.
The November 2009 election has brought a new Governor to New Jersey.
Although your Union endorsed the incumbent, we have begun to establish
our relationship with the new Governor to find common ground to
protect workers rights in New Jersey. Gov. Christie's background
is in law enforcement. We will call on him to enforce the prevailing
wage laws, unemployment and tax laws, as well as safety in the construction
industry throughout the state. We also expect him to recognize the
consequences of allowing unscrupulous contractors from taking advantage
of undocumented workers and violate all the laws of the state. Our
contractors must be given level playing field to compete. We look
forward to having an Ironworker as Senate president. Senator Steve
Sweeney along with his Labor colleagues in the Assembly have vowed
to make sure workers rights remain a priority in New Jersey. To
do that we must have an understanding and aggressive Commissioner
of Labor. Contact your senators and assembly members and let them
know you want a Commissioner of Labor who understands what the word
"Labor" means!
As your Union prepared for 2010, we made sure we are aware of where
the job opportunities will be. Working with IMI, we have identified
high rise residential, mixed use development, transit villages and
school construction as the markets we will focus on. A new initiative
of public/private partnerships looks to take effect on college campuses
throughout the state. Additionally, new products and our ability
to understand and install them will go a long way to generating
hours for our members. Synthetic stone, terra cotta cladding, and
acoustical plaster, are just a few of the products we have identified
and are pursuing claiming jurisdiction and installation. As these
products and others are identified, training will be provided so
as they are specified on projects we are prepared to do the installation.
Your Unions leadership continues discussions with our signatory
contractor associations to maintain our contractual obligations
and keep our unionized industry viable in the future. We are being
creative in targeting markets we have little presence in today.
Chain hotels, 4 stories and below, chain restaurants, some banks,
and of course chain drug stores continue to be a challenge. Between
legislation and flexibility on our part, we look to change that
in 2010.
Although faced with many challenges, the officers and staff of the
ADC and our Locals 2, 4, 5 have accomplished much in 2009. Faced
with the worst financial crisis in generations, our pension plans
remained in tact with no existing credit reductions and future service
protected as much as possible under the law. As our nation grapples
with health care, our fund has protected our benefit levels, extended
self pay eligibility, maintained healthy reserves for our future
and limited contributions as other trades approach 10, 12 and 15
dollars per hour. Due to the scrutiny of Secretary/Treasurer Capo,
our budget remains as lean as possible while still providing the
level of service our membership is accustomed to and deserves. Although
some changes have taken place, the representatives of all locals
have continued to step up and accomplish more with less. We have
all learned to work more efficiently. Through staff suggestions
and cooperation, coupled with the work of Brother Capo and Nick
D'Orazio, internally your Union has cut cost on office supplies,
telephones and insurances.
2010 will indeed present many challenges. Our greatest effort will
continue to be creating more hours for our members. We are committed
to work with the most legitimate contractors in the industry and
supply them with the most well trained, productive, and reliable
craftworkers. We may well shrink before we grow, but, I believe
we will be a stronger Union because of it. We ask for, and welcome,
your suggestions and support as we progress through this New Year.
Let us stay united as a Union and an industry so we can build a
better tomorrow, today!
As always, I am honored to be in a position of leadership for the
members of the BAC/ ADC of New Jersey and Delaware. |
In Solidarity,
Richard E.
Tolson
Director, BACADC
of NJ |
Secretary/Treasurer
Report
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John
F. Capo
Secretary/Treasurer
e-mail |
Brothers & Sisters:
"Elections have consequences." I am not sure who the
original author of the statement is, but no truer words were ever
spoken. While contemplating a topic for this newsletter, I received
an email containing Governor Christie's 2010 subcommittee reports
with recommendations to improve and/or shrink state government.
I immediately clicked onto the Labor and Workforce Development
Committee report. After review I knew "faster than when an
apprentice knows he is due for a raise" that I had not only
found something to write about, but also something I could educate
the membership about.
The first page contains the Department of Labor mission statement:
"With a commitment to the highest standard of customer service,
we will ensure the opportunity for employment at fair wages in
a safe environment; enhance the quality of the States labor force
and labor market activities; stimulate economic growth; promote
labor management harmony; and administrate income support services
to unemployed or disabled workers."
It is a very important and noble mission statement, but like most
things in life, I am sure there is room for improvements or changes
in the department. In the twenty page report, topics range from
Unemployment Insurance, Worker's Comp, Organization and Staffing,
to Wage and Hour compliance. The Wage and Hour Division of the
Department of Labor, which is important to the construction industry,
monitors prevailing wages on government jobs and all other aspects
of employees being paid fairly and employers complying with the
applicable laws.
Before I get into the findings and recommendations of the report,
it is important to note the subcommittee appointed by Governor
Christie to review the Department of "Labor" does not
have one person from "Labor" on the committee. The ten
appointees are entirely from business or other government agencies.
Apparently the Governor feels a Department set up years ago to
ensure that workers are treated fairly should be reviewed solely
by a committee of business people and Government. Talk about the
fox guarding the henhouse. Elections have consequences.
As unsettling as this may be, it gets worse. The committee feels
that a name change would help the Department. They feel the word
"Labor" gives the Department a negative perception.
What's their choice? The New Jersey Department of Business and
Employment. That Department already exists under the Department
of Commerce, which was merged into the Economic Development Authority.
A Department created to ensure workers are treated fairly should
now have the word business in it? Can the report get any worse?
The answer is YES. Elections have consequences.
Other recommendations by the committee are;
1. Whoever is chosen the next Commissioner of Labor should
have a "business background" and "no connections
to organized labor."
2. The Wage and Hour division is "perceived by employers
as oppressive" and "assesses large fines" in a
"heavy banded manner" against employers who violate
or break the law. They recommend the fines should be reduced and
not be so severe.
What else would a committee of business ( people recommend in
reviewing fines that are imposed against them?
3. That misclassification of "Independent Contractors"
in the construction industry could be a simple "clerical
error" and there should be no penalty.
A clerical error? This borders on an out right lie. Many times
contractors will list employees as "Independent Contractors"
to circumvent prevailing wage, worker's comp, taxes, and immigration
laws. This puts our contractors at a competitive disadvantage,
which limits your work opportunities.
4. That prevailing wage compliance audits, on contractors
should be investigated as they come up randomly or with "empirical
evidence", not by "certain outside groups" meaning
Building Trades Unions.
So even if we know that contractors have cheated in the past on
prevailing wage, and the workers on the job tell us they are not
receiving prevailing wage, we cannot call the Department of Labor
to investigate.
I do not want to totally dismiss the entire report. There were
some good ideas on fiscal responsibility in the Department. But
having a few committee members representing labor, organized or
not, would have given the report a little more credibility. Instead,
it appears to be just another anti-union^ anti-labor, pro-business
hatchet job. The ADC has been cautiously giving the new Governor
an opportunity that his administration would take steps to ensure
all New Jersey residents benefit from the changes. This report
certainly is not a step in the right direction for labor.
When we as leaders of the ADC encourage you to first exercise
your right to vote, and second inform you on issues and candidates
that affect your ability to receive the wages and benefits we
have negotiated for, it is because of reports like this. There
are people against organized labor and what we stand for. It is
part of our responsibility as leaders to not tell you how to vote
but what is at stake and possible results. Elections have consequences. |
Fraternally,
John F. Capo
Secretary/Treasurer |
Office
Administrator Report
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Nicholas
D'Orazio
Office Administrator
e-mail |
Dear Brothers & Sisters,
As most of you are aware, delinquency notices have been going
out the 1st of every month.
As per the letter, you have until the 15th of the month to pay
your dues. If you are in jeopardy of being dropped for non-payment,
your letter will be stamped Final Notice. We do understand that
the work situation is tough right now. If you are unable to send
the full amount, try to send at least one month to avoid being
dropped.
In the event you are dropped for non-payment of dues and have
to reinstate your membership the fines are as follows;
One to six months from the date of being dropped the reinstatement
fee is $115.00 plus the amount you owe in dues to bring yourself
current.
Seven to twelve months from the date of being dropped the reinstatement
fee is $215.00 plus the amount you owe in dues to bring yourself
current.
Attention all Shop Stewards. It is your duty as a shop steward
to be checking all BAC Members dues cards on the job site. If
someone is not current in their dues, please notify your Field
Representative or send the member to the appropriate office to
get current.
Additionally, if you are planning to move or changing your telephone
number, please notify your Local Union office of the change. Your
Local Union office will notify your local fund office, BAC Health
Fund, International Union and International Pension Fund on your
behalf with the changes.
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Fraternally,
Nick D'Orazio
Office Administrator |
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