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Union Carpenters Support Senator Sherrod Brown at RallyOctober 30, 2024 - 3:56 pm
It’s In Our Hands – 2024 EndorsementsOctober 25, 2024 - 1:26 pm
2025 CMRCC Scholarship Applications OpenOctober 3, 2024 - 1:33 pm
2024 Don Sherry Achievement Award AnnouncedJuly 22, 2024 - 1:57 pm
2024 Scholarship WinnersMay 29, 2024 - 10:29 am
Celebrating Ohio’s 2024 Apprenticeship GraduatesFebruary 20, 2024 - 4:00 pm
Exciting AnnouncementFebruary 19, 2024 - 10:46 am
Allying with carpenters against workers-comp premium cheaters
/0 Comments/in News /by IKORCCWorkers-comp premium scams by employers may steal more money than bogus work injury claims. At least that’s what many experts say. And the problem could be growing. This is especially true in urban centers with deep underground economies.
Firms in the dangerous construction trades are among the largest offenders. The Coalition met recently with a new and unexpected anti-fraud ally: the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. It’s the voice of organized labor in the building trades. Premium-avoidance schemes leave workers exposed without state-required benefits. Federal, state and local governments also lose untold millions in unpaid taxes.
Shady businesses lowball their workforce and payroll size — two important factors in setting comp premiums. The firms misclassify workers as subcontractors, then pay them in cash under the table. A dishonest employer illegally can duck hundreds of thousands of dollars in workers-comp premiums and taxes in a year.
Workers also are cheated out of workers-comp benefits, wages, overtime, unemployment benefits and Social Security. Honest employers lose business because cheaters use the illicit savings to underbid them for contracts. And, workers comp insurers lose premiums.
The Coalition’s recent meeting with the carpenters union revealed disturbing examples of premium-avoidance schemes: A building at the University of Connecticut … Florida hospital … construction at the Atlanta airport … and a building at the Walter Reed military hospital complex in suburban Washington, D.C.
The carpenters’ proposals for comp insurers show how partnerships can help move anti-fraud efforts forward more decisively:
Workers-comp insurers already do much of this, yet premium cons remain virulent. What’s needed is stepped-up alertness and action by all parties. This becomes a force-multiplier that identifies more schemes, and boosts the entire anti-fraud effort.
Fraud fighters and their allies must team up to educate state policymakers about stopping costly comp scams — premium avoidance and false injury claims. Fraud fighters can speed up progress by enlisting non-traditional allies such as the carpenters union. The more influential allies that join anti-fraud efforts, the stronger our efforts against comp scams will become.
Source: Fraud Wire
Graphic: Fraud Wire
Image: Bernard Pollack
Louisville Open House Competition Winners
/0 Comments/in News /by IKORCCCongratuations to our 2017 Louisville winners! Millwright: Casey Adams (Local 1076), General Carpentry: Henry Schultz-Eggenspiller (Local 175), Interior Systems: Jonathan “Kyle” Watkins (Local 1650).
Newburgh Open House Competition Winners
/0 Comments/in News /by IKORCCCongratuations on our 2017 Newburgh open house apprenticeship competition winners! Millwright: Mario Leachman (Local 1076), General Carpentry: Matt Hoogsteen (Local 224), Interior Systems: Adam Kinney (Local 224).
IKORCC “Pinpoints” what it means to have dedication with annual pin banquet
/0 Comments/in News /by IKORCCAs an annual tradition, members of the Carpenters Local #1485 of LaPorte, Indiana gathered at Blue Chip Casino to recognize years of service, leadership, and economic accomplishments.
“I like this event because it is a chance for us to come together to honor our members and their service to our union and to our brotherhood. It shows what this union means to our members and it gives them a chance to come and share with each other one night a year,” said President John Carr.
Following dinner and music, guests were treated to a presentation given by Carr on payroll fraud as well as apprenticeship.
Payroll fraud is prevalent in the wood framing and drywall industry, creating upwards of a 30% disadvantage to law abiding contractors. According to Carr, Indiana is losing more than $150 million annually in state tax revenues.
“Worker misclassification is an epidemic in our communities that must be addressed with strict enforcement. We have to do something at the local level to protect all law abiding local contractors who employ local skilled tradesman,” Carr said.
The United Brotherhood of Carpenters has also taken notice to the rise of apprenticeships. With over 7,000 registered apprentices, Indiana is one of the top states in the country in terms of apprenticeship opportunity.
Carr said, “We are the only organization that is effectively training and preparing carpenters for the future. We are building job site leaders and investing in our greatest resource, our members, who are also our contractor’s greatest resource.”
Following Carr’s presentation, his wife Angie took the podium to discuss United for Carpenters (U4C), a group of carpenters’ spouses that spend their time teaching children and grandchildren of the 1485 group. They focus on core values that children will be able to use throughout their life, whether they are following in the footsteps of their family and becoming carpenters or pursuing a different career path. The group also educates children on the union and what their parent’s careers entail.
“We are here to make an impact and to make an impact you need a lot of supporters. What you need to remember is your biggest supporter is your family,” said Angie Carr.
The group has recently been recognized by the UBC office in Greenwood and they will be used as a pilot to expand the group for the whole Brotherhood.
Awards followed next, with Bert Cook of the Greater La Porte Economic Development Corporation being the first recipient. Cook was recognized for his “unwavering commitment to the city of La Porte.”
“It’s always a great honor to be acknowledged for any professional work you have done, but especially by this group,” said Cook. “We work together so often on so many important projects that have such a great impact on our community that for them to acknowledge me in that way is especially humbling. I think it is a testament to what can be accomplished when we work in partnership with one another and how we can move our communities forward.”
The next award was given to a member who has left their legacy for others to strive for. Dave Tharp, Midwest District Vice-President of the UBC, was given the Legacy Award.
After being thanked for his commitment to the union, Tharp said, “I started my apprenticeship back in 1978 and the training the council gave me was skills that I’ve been living a lifetime with. I’ve had the pleasure of serving many different jobs, not only as a carpenter but as a representative through the years and it has just been very good for me. I have a son that is also in the trade and he certainly wouldn’t have followed in my footsteps if it hadn’t been good for me.”
Other awards of the evening included the Peter J. McGuire Award given to John Dudek for his dedication to service as a mentor, teacher, leader, and brother. For 64 years of service to Carpenters Local 1485, James L. Principe was recognized. Tom Dermody, state representative, was given a leadership award as well.
The evening concluded with recognition for milestone years of service, with members receiving pins.
Check out the photos!
Source: La Porte County Life
IKORCC Training Ensures Excellence From All Members
/0 Comments/in News /by IKORCCThe right people doing the right thing are directly correlated with the amount of training they receive. For the hardworking men and women of the carpentry brotherhood, training never ends.
Training is required on a yearly basis due to the constantly changing environment that carpentry represents. Every year new rules, equipment and technology enter the field requiring everyone to be up to date on the latest trends.
“It’s not just us who go to training but everyone,” says IKORCC Senior Manager Thomas Dorsey. “There is always something new to learn or something that is updated that we all have to be aware and knowledgeable of.”
Every year carpenters from across the country make a visit to Las Vegas to visit the Carpenter’s International Center. This million square foot, over 300 room facility is considered the hub of all things IKORCC and provides state-of-the-art training facilities and classrooms to ensure that both new and current generations of carpenters are properly prepared to face all challenges in the field.
“The IKORCC pays to have us fly down to the center for training,” says IKORCC Dorsey. “Just as they pay to create yearly up-to-date textbooks for students, they are always ensuring that those wanting to follow the carpentry path are knowledgeable, have plenty of learning materials in front of them and above all, are always prepared to enter the workforce to the best of their ability.”
Along with carpentry and construction skills, the ITC is also equipped to teach classes for specialty areas. While courses for interior systems and commercial work are offered, plenty of certified courses such as gas- and steam turbine installation are also offered.
“There are plenty of speciality courses offered for those learning and refining their craft but there’s even more offered on top of that,” says Dorsey. “There are courses designed to teach project management, productivity and communication, all of which essential skills for carpenters and leaders to remain successful in their field.
The ITC is not only an investment for the IKORCC but for every carpenter who works within the field of carpentry. In this ever changing field it’s more important to stay up to date and knowledgeable in order to provide only the best when it comes to building the places we live, work and enjoy.
Source: ValpoLife.com