2016 IKORCC Sisters in the Brotherhood Conference

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The Indiana Kentucky Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters held its first annual Sisters in the Brotherhood Conference on October 13-14, 2016. The IKORCC SIB Chair, Teresa Moore, put together a great conference with special speakers, including Midwest District VP David Tharp, and EST Mark McGriff to name a few.  The conference was a great experience for the sisters and gave them time to network, getting involved, and valuable leadership skills so they can reach their potential in our industry. Topics included politics, Roberts Rules of Order, UBC structure, Mentoring, community service, and Strategic Priorities.


Midwest District Vice President David Tharp
Executive Secretary-Treasurer Mark McGriff

IKORCC Sisters in the Brotherhood Chair Teresa Moore
Dayton, Ohio Mayor Nan Whaley

LeNee Carroll with Building Strong Communities
Steve Hoyt Political Report

Mary Runyon General Superintendent for Shook Construction
Michelle Stallings Mentoring and Retention

Casey Zadarin Roberts Rules Presentation
IKORCC 2016 Sisters in the Brotherhood Conference

Local 200 Veterans Parade

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Members of Local #200 and their families join in celebration of Veterans Day at the Whitehall 2nd Annual Veterans Day parade on 11-12-16

Veterans In Construction Will Want To Save Prevailing Wage Law

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Wednesday, 26 October 2016

Written by

Study says wages will be reduced 7-10 percent if repealed

A repeal of a law going into effect in January will have a severely negative impact on military veterans.

That according to a study done by Midwest Economic Policy Institute (MEPI).

Prevailing wage, which makes sure those in construction get a livable wage on the job, is set to go away for local projects next year.

“Repeal of prevailing wage would actually reduce veterans income by 7-10 percent,” Frank Manzo, the policy director with MEPI, said. “(It) would lower the employer provided health coverage for vets in construction by 11-15 percent.”

Manzo says there is no evidence from other states that have passed this law that money has been saved.

In 2014 there was an estimated 200 veterans in La Crosse County employed as blue collar construction workers and this policy could put veterans in danger in these positions, especially since it cuts apprenticeship.

“Veterans who come home from fighting overseas,” Manzo explained, “now face an increased risk, if they’re working construction, when prevailing wage is repealed, because they’re colleagues are less trained, less invested in their community.”

The study says the law will strip 400 veterans of their health insurance. Over 8 percent of the construction workers in the state are veterans.

Manzo says if you are against prevailing wage being stopped, you should make your voice known at the polls in two weeks.

The move is expected to double the number of veterans living below poverty level.

Get Out To Vote

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Union members who don’t vote elect anti-union officials. Thanks to our many members who continue to show the importance of voting in the upcoming election!

Letter: Apprenticeship programs benefit state

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Posted Sep. 4, 2016 at 8:02 PM

A study released Aug. 24 by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Labor and Employment Relations determined in dollars and cents the actual benefit of apprenticeship programs in Illinois.

These benefits don’t extend solely to those who participate in the apprentice programs but also to the federal, state and local governments that receive the tax revenues and the members of the communities that benefit from increased investment.

According to the study, apprenticeship programs in Illinois “directly provide 2,871 jobs” and “provide $1.25 billion in long-term economic benefits to the state.”

Not only this, but apprenticeship programs educate and prepare the well-trained individuals who provide quality craftsmanship, who take pride in their work and complete it in a time-efficient and cost-effective manner.

The Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters knows that these benefits are important not only to the bottom line, but to the outcome of a project. That’s why the CRCC provides a robust training and apprenticeship program that boasts tens of thousands of highly trained and skilled workers who receive wages and benefits that allow them to support their families and grow their communities.

The study also found that the construction industry is going to keep growing, adding more than 25,000 new jobs in the next decade. Let’s make sure those jobs go to the trained women and men who are not only dedicated to their field, but produce a positive economic impact on our state.

Frank T. Libby

The writer is president/executive secretary-treasurer of Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters

Indiana Interim Study Committee Reviews Payroll Fraud Issue

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Yesterday the Indiana Interim Study Committee on Employment and Labor heard testimony from construction contractors on the issue of#payrollfraud. Contractors asked the Indiana Legislature to consider options to investigate and prosecute businesses who break the law and steal from taxpayers. Stay tuned for actions the legislature takes to stop cheating businesses from robbing taxpayers of $400 million/year and raising costs on law-abiding business.

2015 Omnibus Bill Includes Delay on ‘Cadillac Tax’ So Families with Healthcare in US are Protected for Now

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Members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) and participants in other employer sponsored health care plans in the U.S. can rest a little easier now that implementation of the “Cadillac tax” on those benefits has been delayed until 2020. This provision was included in the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill that was signed into law by President Obama. The House of Representatives passed the bill on a 316-113 vote, while the U.S. Senate passed it 65-33.

It is hoped that this delay in implementing the Cadillac tax, which would impose a 40% excise tax on the portion of group health plan premiums that exceed $10,200 for single coverage and $27,500 for family coverage, will lead to a full repeal down the road.

“When people take a closer look at the so-called Cadillac tax, they see how unfair it is for employers and employees,” said UBC General President Douglas J. McCarron. “We have been working hard with law makers and this two-year delay helps us on our way to a full repeal.”

Read this article here.

EXCLUSIVE: Attorney General’s office recovers nearly $5.7M in owed pay for New York low-wage workers

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ALBANY — State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office recovered nearly $5.7 million in owed pay and damages for more than 3,300 low-wage workers since last Labor Day, the Daily News has learned.

The recoveries are included in a third annual Labor Day report Schneiderman’s office is set to release Monday.

The recovered wages by Schneiderman’s Labor Bureau went to fast-food employees, home health aides, taxi drivers, restaurant employees and construction workers.

“As Attorney General, I remain steadfastly committed to ensuring that workers are paid for the work they do, that their pay lifts them out of poverty, and that undue obstacles aren’t placed in their path to job security and economic advancement,” Schneiderman said.

Read the full article here.

Ashland contractor cited $117K over police station project wages

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SAM BONACCI

Ashland subcontractor On-Time Construction Services, Inc. and its owner Jonatas Vicente De Brito Barcelos have been cited $117,082 in restitution and penalties for intentionally violating the Massachusetts prevailing wage law and failing to submit true and accurate payroll records, Attorney General Maura Healey announced Monday.

The allegations stem from a project at the Acushnet Police Station for which On-Time was a subcontractor, according to a release from the AG’s office that began an investigation last July into the situation.

The investigation revealed that at various times between March and August of last year, On-Time failed to pay three workers the correct prevailing wage rate, according to the AG’s office. One worker was not paid any wages until after the investigation commenced. On-Time also certified on a weekly basis to the awarding authority that its workers were paid the prevailing wage rate even though they were not. Under the Massachusetts Prevailing Wage Law, contractors and subcontractors engaged in public construction projects must pay their employees a special minimum wage, according to the AG’s office.

Since the investigation began, On-Time has paid $78,987 in restitution to the employees.

Click here for the full article.

GETTING GOLDEN RECOGNITION

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Allan Bramlett was recently recognized with a gold card for 50 years of membership and service to the Brotherhood of Carpenters, Muncie Carpenters Local 1016. That service area includes Henry County.

Local Rep. Roy Loveless was in town recently to congratulate Bramlett on the milestone. The recognition was anything but routine for Loveless. “Allan’s been a mentor to numerous people,” said Loveless, adding that Bramlett got him his first job. “He gave me my start. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.”

A New Castle resident since 2001, Bramlett continues to be involved in the community. He has an extensive list of memberships and service work in Delaware County in carpenters’ related organizations as well as business and community organizations.

At 75, his Henry County involvements include Board member of the Henry County Visitors Bureau, board member of Henry County Economic Development Corp., Vice Chair of Henry County Democrat Central Committee and Treasurer of Henry County Democrat Club.

He was a journeyman carpenter with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters in the Muncie area from 1966-75; business representative of United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Eastern Indiana Area, from 1975-98; campaign manager for Congressional Candidate, District 2 Indiana from April through December of 1998; interim director of the Muncie Urban Enterprise Association from 1999-2003 and Building Trades Coordinator for B.E.S.T. through Ball State University, 1999-2003.

As business rep, he had more than 400 members. His task was to secure jobs for those in the nine counties he represented and to place carpenters and negotiate contracts.

“The fulfillment is securing decent working conditions and benefits for those people you represent,” says Bramlett.

He says of his career, “It’s been rewarding. I’ve made a good living, gotten along well with membership and people in general. It’s rewarding to secure jobs for people.”

When he hired in, Bramlett’s hourly salary was $3.15 in 1966. In 1998 when he retired, a journeyman’s wage was $19 an hour.

Bramlett is married to Betty J. Bramlett and they have four children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His wife is a Henry County native.