Finding Common Ground

As we continue our negotiations with the New York City District Council of Carpenters our objective is simple. Find a common ground to combat the erosion of union market share in New York City and the surrounding boroughs. Negotiating Collective Bargaining Agreements is seldom simple and often a long drawn process.

The current atmosphere between the building trades, owners and developers along with construction managers, general contractors as well as numerous private institutions, has had a significant impact on finding common ground for our signatory contractors. Our entire customer base has elected to build with either signatory or non-signatory contractors and has had a monumental paradigm shift not seen in generations in our market. I still believe we all have a common goal in doing what we believe is the right thing to do, however con-cessions required to salvage what’s left of union carpentry contractors must be considered to ensure our survival.

Negotiations will continue and surely will test the resolve amongst our leadership to avoid extinction of the last union strong hold in America. Should our elected officials fail with tax reform, the race to the bottom will be like watching buzz light year, speed racer and the road runner competing to the finish line that reads THE END.

Have a safe and happy upcoming holiday season.

-Michael Weber