"What happened to the millions of dollars in MRC and local union funds when the locals and MRC were disbanded?"
$108 million to be exact."No its not about the money its about forced mergers to help our members"
Douglas 'The Ice Cream Shitter" McCarron.
So where is the $108 million?
After stealing the funds it was not all dispersed to the other councils(affiliates). They put it in the hands of Eastern District Rat MIkey"Cheap Suits"Capelli. Why move it to a middle man to disperse. So Capelli disperses the $108 million by giving $61 million to the Northeast Council,$36 Million to the Keystone Council and $5 million to the Eastern MIllwrights Council for a total of $102 million. WTF!! You say. That only totals $102 million you say. Where is the other $6 million you say. The rat Capelli stole it. Maybe he plans to hold week long meetings in Hawaii like Spencer.
The Eastern District VP Office which is as worthless as teets on a bull went from $559,000 in net assets to $6.69 million in net assets by stealing $6 million from the Philly seizure.Why does Capelli need $6 million. What does the Eastern District do besides screw the members with Hawaiian meetings. Doesn't Capelli like Spencer before him just prance around like a peacock but is worthless.Sort of like that old time wrestler Gorgeous George.
NO! Seriously. Its not about seizing the merged Locals and Councils bank accounts..
Now FYI. Ballantyne just announced that because of the Laufenberg and Philly Convention Center Lawsuits the funds will be running at a deficit.. Maybe Capelli can give back the $6 million Dougy let him steal.
Is that Mrs Capelli the new employee at the International.Is that Jr Capelli employee at the Jersey Council?So if true you got 4 McCarrons and one NOT my girlfriend..Three Capellis.Two Drapers.Two McDonalds and a f... ing partridge in a pear tree.
Carpenter takeover in Philadelphia raises questions about democracy and accountability
A working carpenter
On February 3, long-time Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Philadelphia Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters (MRC), Ed Coryell, Sr., was booted by the Carpenters’ International from his $385,000/year post. The United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) stepped in early in the morning, firing business agents and organizers, who have to now reapply for their jobs, and dissolving existing locals.
The MRC, which had formerly included Southeastern PA, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia, was broken up with most of the region merged with the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters (NRCC) and other locals put in the Pittsburgh-based Council. Philadelphia-area locals were consolidated into new, larger, local unions. For example, Local 8, founded in 1881, was folded into the new Local 158 along with Locals 37, 1050, 1856, and 1073.
John Ballantyne, EST of the NRCC released a statement, “Our commitment to our members remains the same: to ensure openness, transparency and accountability in Council operations while representing the best interests of our membership.”
Rank and file carpenters are left wondering why this happened. Without a clear explanation from either the International or the NRCC, the motivation remains unclear. Some cite previous problems at the Philadelphia Convention Center, where the Carpenters were locked out after failing to meet a deadline for an agreement. Ed Coryell, Jr., his father’s heir apparent at the MRC, was blamed for this snafu.
.Where do the members fit in?
Questions remain regarding the coup on Spring Garden Street. Why was the Metropolitan Council disbanded by the UBC and why were the members not consulted about this merger? What happened to the millions of dollars in MRC and local union funds when the locals and MRC were disbanded? Why is there no direct election of officers from BA’s up to the office of General President? Why has Doug McCarron never faced a real election?
Carpenters’ Incorporated
Douglas J. McCarron’s restructuring of the union, since he rose to the office of General President in 1995, has been carried out in a top-down fashion. Rank and file carpenters lost their right to vote for Business Agents and on contracts. McCarron has formed larger regional councils and consolidated locals all over the country. McCarron also withdrew the UBC from the AFL-CIO, joining the ill-fated Change to Win for a short time, and promised to build the UBC as a “wall-to-wall” union, indicating his willingness to raid the jurisdictions of other construction unions. McCarron’s rise to the top followed years of corruption at the top of the union and the ousting of a succession of General Presidents under a cloud of suspicion.
Race and the building trades
The Building Trades have traditionally been identified with racial exclusion and discrimination, acting in effect as white labor trusts. Black and Latino/a and women construction workers have faced systematic discrimination, not only in attaining union membership but also in the hiring hall after gaining union status. In Philadelphia, during the “Great Recession,” construction workers of color, and women tradespeople, have fought for fair hiring at Temple University, where large projects have been populated by mostly white and suburban workers.
In the early 1960s, the NAACP led demonstrations against Jim Crow practices in the building trades and the exclusion of Black tradesmen from jobs in the city. This struggle reached its height in a fight to integrate the site of a new junior high school in North Philadelphia. NAACP pickets, which included many Black tradespeople, blocked the work-site gates demanding the hiring of minority workers. Pickets were met with violence from white union workers and cops. After two weeks of picketing, building trades unions and contractors met with the NAACP and the AFL-CIO Human Rights Committee to iron out an agreement.
“By the time the meeting came to an end, Moore (NAACP head Cecil B. Moore) believed that the contractors had agreed to hire a Black plumber, a steamfitter and two electricians onto the Strawberry mansion site. On Tuesday morning, however, Moore and NAACP pickets found not a desegregated workforce, but rather a significantly larger police presence with orders . . . to insure that workers were able to enter the site.” (Up South, Civil Rights and Black Power in Philadelphia, by Matthew J. Countryman)
Despite promises from the unions, the overwhelmingly white male composition of building site crews persists to this day.
This long-term history of racial discrimination is reflected in the stance some in the trades have taken in relation to the movement for Black Lives. While the San Francisco Labor Council has taken a stand in solidarity with the movement to stop police violence, the trades have blocked with the reactionary cop union in opposing the SF Labor Council resolution.
What kind of trade unionism?
McCarron runs Carpenters, Inc. as a business union. The members have no say in the day-to-day life of the union and often feel disconnected from the UBC. Employers, large and small, are referred to as our “partners,” but quite often our “partners” do everything they can to screw us over in terms of jobsite working conditions, work hours, and wages. Instead of fighting for social justice, building solidarity and fighting for our class, the UBC is isolated and organized in terms of the narrow self-interest of a few members. This narrow business-unionist outlook hurts the UBC ranks in the long term as employers seize every opportunity to undermine pensions, wages and working conditions.
A fighting UBC would be struggling for a $15 hourly minimum wage and working to stop the attacks on public employees and other labor unionists. A fighting union would be working for the reconstruction of our cities on a sustainable basis instead of linking our fates to the richest developers. Instead of endorsing corporate shill Hillary Clinton, the union could be leading the charge for working class political independence. Of course, remaking the UBC requires democratic involvement of the members and accountability of the leaders from top to the bottom. This means fighting for the return of our right to vote on contracts and for all leadership positions from BAs to the General President.
$108 million to be exact."No its not about the money its about forced mergers to help our members"
Douglas 'The Ice Cream Shitter" McCarron.
So where is the $108 million?
After stealing the funds it was not all dispersed to the other councils(affiliates). They put it in the hands of Eastern District Rat MIkey"Cheap Suits"Capelli. Why move it to a middle man to disperse. So Capelli disperses the $108 million by giving $61 million to the Northeast Council,$36 Million to the Keystone Council and $5 million to the Eastern MIllwrights Council for a total of $102 million. WTF!! You say. That only totals $102 million you say. Where is the other $6 million you say. The rat Capelli stole it. Maybe he plans to hold week long meetings in Hawaii like Spencer.
The Eastern District VP Office which is as worthless as teets on a bull went from $559,000 in net assets to $6.69 million in net assets by stealing $6 million from the Philly seizure.Why does Capelli need $6 million. What does the Eastern District do besides screw the members with Hawaiian meetings. Doesn't Capelli like Spencer before him just prance around like a peacock but is worthless.Sort of like that old time wrestler Gorgeous George.
NO! Seriously. Its not about seizing the merged Locals and Councils bank accounts..
Now FYI. Ballantyne just announced that because of the Laufenberg and Philly Convention Center Lawsuits the funds will be running at a deficit.. Maybe Capelli can give back the $6 million Dougy let him steal.
Is that Mrs Capelli the new employee at the International.Is that Jr Capelli employee at the Jersey Council?So if true you got 4 McCarrons and one NOT my girlfriend..Three Capellis.Two Drapers.Two McDonalds and a f... ing partridge in a pear tree.
Carpenter takeover in Philadelphia raises questions about democracy and accountability
A working carpenter
On February 3, long-time Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Philadelphia Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters (MRC), Ed Coryell, Sr., was booted by the Carpenters’ International from his $385,000/year post. The United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) stepped in early in the morning, firing business agents and organizers, who have to now reapply for their jobs, and dissolving existing locals.
The MRC, which had formerly included Southeastern PA, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia, was broken up with most of the region merged with the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters (NRCC) and other locals put in the Pittsburgh-based Council. Philadelphia-area locals were consolidated into new, larger, local unions. For example, Local 8, founded in 1881, was folded into the new Local 158 along with Locals 37, 1050, 1856, and 1073.
John Ballantyne, EST of the NRCC released a statement, “Our commitment to our members remains the same: to ensure openness, transparency and accountability in Council operations while representing the best interests of our membership.”
Rank and file carpenters are left wondering why this happened. Without a clear explanation from either the International or the NRCC, the motivation remains unclear. Some cite previous problems at the Philadelphia Convention Center, where the Carpenters were locked out after failing to meet a deadline for an agreement. Ed Coryell, Jr., his father’s heir apparent at the MRC, was blamed for this snafu.
.Where do the members fit in?
Questions remain regarding the coup on Spring Garden Street. Why was the Metropolitan Council disbanded by the UBC and why were the members not consulted about this merger? What happened to the millions of dollars in MRC and local union funds when the locals and MRC were disbanded? Why is there no direct election of officers from BA’s up to the office of General President? Why has Doug McCarron never faced a real election?
Carpenters’ Incorporated
Douglas J. McCarron’s restructuring of the union, since he rose to the office of General President in 1995, has been carried out in a top-down fashion. Rank and file carpenters lost their right to vote for Business Agents and on contracts. McCarron has formed larger regional councils and consolidated locals all over the country. McCarron also withdrew the UBC from the AFL-CIO, joining the ill-fated Change to Win for a short time, and promised to build the UBC as a “wall-to-wall” union, indicating his willingness to raid the jurisdictions of other construction unions. McCarron’s rise to the top followed years of corruption at the top of the union and the ousting of a succession of General Presidents under a cloud of suspicion.
Race and the building trades
The Building Trades have traditionally been identified with racial exclusion and discrimination, acting in effect as white labor trusts. Black and Latino/a and women construction workers have faced systematic discrimination, not only in attaining union membership but also in the hiring hall after gaining union status. In Philadelphia, during the “Great Recession,” construction workers of color, and women tradespeople, have fought for fair hiring at Temple University, where large projects have been populated by mostly white and suburban workers.
In the early 1960s, the NAACP led demonstrations against Jim Crow practices in the building trades and the exclusion of Black tradesmen from jobs in the city. This struggle reached its height in a fight to integrate the site of a new junior high school in North Philadelphia. NAACP pickets, which included many Black tradespeople, blocked the work-site gates demanding the hiring of minority workers. Pickets were met with violence from white union workers and cops. After two weeks of picketing, building trades unions and contractors met with the NAACP and the AFL-CIO Human Rights Committee to iron out an agreement.
“By the time the meeting came to an end, Moore (NAACP head Cecil B. Moore) believed that the contractors had agreed to hire a Black plumber, a steamfitter and two electricians onto the Strawberry mansion site. On Tuesday morning, however, Moore and NAACP pickets found not a desegregated workforce, but rather a significantly larger police presence with orders . . . to insure that workers were able to enter the site.” (Up South, Civil Rights and Black Power in Philadelphia, by Matthew J. Countryman)
Despite promises from the unions, the overwhelmingly white male composition of building site crews persists to this day.
This long-term history of racial discrimination is reflected in the stance some in the trades have taken in relation to the movement for Black Lives. While the San Francisco Labor Council has taken a stand in solidarity with the movement to stop police violence, the trades have blocked with the reactionary cop union in opposing the SF Labor Council resolution.
What kind of trade unionism?
McCarron runs Carpenters, Inc. as a business union. The members have no say in the day-to-day life of the union and often feel disconnected from the UBC. Employers, large and small, are referred to as our “partners,” but quite often our “partners” do everything they can to screw us over in terms of jobsite working conditions, work hours, and wages. Instead of fighting for social justice, building solidarity and fighting for our class, the UBC is isolated and organized in terms of the narrow self-interest of a few members. This narrow business-unionist outlook hurts the UBC ranks in the long term as employers seize every opportunity to undermine pensions, wages and working conditions.
A fighting UBC would be struggling for a $15 hourly minimum wage and working to stop the attacks on public employees and other labor unionists. A fighting union would be working for the reconstruction of our cities on a sustainable basis instead of linking our fates to the richest developers. Instead of endorsing corporate shill Hillary Clinton, the union could be leading the charge for working class political independence. Of course, remaking the UBC requires democratic involvement of the members and accountability of the leaders from top to the bottom. This means fighting for the return of our right to vote on contracts and for all leadership positions from BAs to the General President.
14 comments:
With Mccarron it's always about the money!he talks about retirement with Dignity a good pension and health care! What a bunch of shit, then he ends health care for retired carpenters at the south west regional council where he is chairman of the funds, and his girl friend Sandy Maloney is the administrator! Dirty doug has no empathy for anyone but himself!
The total amount of money and assets was 2. 6 billion. With a B. Despite the fact that the 2nd oldest local in the country, also founding father pj mcguires local local 8 was destroyed. This is a takeover that had many other prongs to it.
Yes fed laws were broken like the fact that mergers must be of equal value... They were not. Im from this council more precisely local 8.
We have a failing biz model from nrcc with a 40% market share coming in and taking over a successful biz model with a consistent 89 to 90 % mkt share. This leaves the phila carpenter as the engine for the loser ballantyne nrcc. As far as local moneies stolen. That was money my great grandfather, great uncles, grandfather, uncles and my father helped generate since 1882.
Look closer at jersey. George norcross the 3rd owns frank spencer from his scab days in camden when he was a corrupt carpenter steward and agent. Nothing has changed. Norcross owns ballantyne and capelli.
Who is george norcross? He is the modern day version of bugsy segal. A political " kingmaker" in south jersey hiding behind the guise of philanthropist
Before the merger norcross got the nrcc to donate 750k dollars to john dougherty ( biz mgr of local 98 electricians) to give to the phila mayoral candidate jim kenney. Meanwhile phila carpenters were backing anthony hardy williams. Thats curious huh? More on that cabal later. The convention center was bullshit. We agreed to a contract and at signing time late on a sunday in july they set another contract down that didnt jibe with the agreement. In good faith bargaining you have 72 hours to take it back to mbmrship. On the way out the door john dougherty was walking in with mike barnes( mgr of stagehands lu8) with a contract doc crafted. The story you all hear is pure bullshit.
Back story
3 years ago carpenters protested a black tie event at the cc. It wasnt smart and it got out of hand. When mrs norcross exited her car one of our members ( still on the new ballantyne crew) yelled disgraceful obscenities at her. George was there. I was there and so was the channel 10 news camera ( in case anyone doubts it) im going to shorten this and if anyone has questions feel free to reply
The takeover was designed to crush the entire phila carpenter culture. If there was ldrshp issue then you deal with that. What this was was a direct slap at every phila union carpenter by mccrapper.
So next time he says " proud tradition" ask him how far back hes going? 2016 or 1881?
I have plenty more to say and yes laufenberg saw something corrupt. I hope he calls for a fed audit and complete personal fed audit of allll these fucking scumbags
Great article and letter. We need more members to stand up together to win our UBC back. Unity my brothers and sisters is our best option!
Doug mccarron is running a racket that right now parallels bernie madoff. Members if you give a crap...you need to call your local fbi and the us dept of labor.
Most members in the SWRCC are more worried about being deported. Dirty Doug has sold us out. A membership that won't ask questions.
You hit the nail on the head. A membership that will role out and pick up on there own time and have no idea what unionism is. Plus the union turns there head and approves of contractors abuse of the apprentice to journeyman ratio. NO SOLIDARITY!!!!
Since legally we cant have a violent overthrow of the corporatist fatcats ( nor am i advocating it) we must use the current laws and put forth new laws to our advantage.
Currently in pennsylvania we are working on a bill in the state house that stops weekly check off dues and places them in an escrow account that the ubc has no access to. The monies will be held to such time that the ubc comes back into compliance under federal labor laws and abides by the constricts of that which define and charter a union. Ie. One ballot one vote for alll issues and positions pertaining to union business. Currently the ubc is in violation of union designation and can be criminally brought up on tax evasion and abuse of not for profit status.
The doj and the nrlb and the labor dept are under a new regime ( politics aside) this is the time to take back the ubcja as there is a less friendly admin toward mccarron.
Every member who is concerned about their family and future should reach out to their cong representative to at least hear testimony from the rank and file. I know many are frightened and intimidated by this concept. Think about this. You are protecting and aiding mccarrons vision of a union. One that is hurting you your family and your future. So why are you protecting that? You have the voice and opportunity to legally effect change toward what is right and UNION. Nothing happens when the fed audits this mess except force the union to comply to federal statute and the removal of those officers who have violated federal law. For you to sir there and bitch anake what is dealt just promotes further demise.
The pa bill being crafted is designed to capture the attention in a monetary fashion. It will pass.
Every one of you survived by your wits and your skill b4 the union and every one of you will survive after. Stop being afraid and do whats right for your families.
Norcross is EVIL and the biggest back stabbers. He tampers in everything. He's been using cyber trolls and Nj. Com and courier post to defame people. He's got severs corrupt judges like Jerome Simandle in his pocket. Norcross MUST go down. He is a dirty corrupt crime boss who kille people's, lies and wants Sweeney to take over the Philly unions. Norcross wants to control everyone. He's been known to hire cyber trolls to harass
I can give you more evidence of IRS violations and abuse of not for profit status
Norcross has Christie using his connections at the FBI to frame people who Norcross wants out of the way. Norcross has to be stopped and taken down. It's been impossible to get rid of him
Let's hear it.
Have a look at the 101 Constitution Trust scam. Check the SEC filing.They told everyone they were selling 101, the UBC DC Headquarters, yet really sold it to themselves.They created 101 Constitution Trust and paid themselves rent which they raised on themselves each year. Each year they paid rent to 101 Cons Trust they would pay the International back the amount plus a kicker. If they paid themselves 1.2 million in rent they paid themselves back 1.5 million.
See the Job site Steel.Job site Corporation.Placid Investors scam.http://brothermikemccarron.blogspot.com/search?q=placid
I can tell you what Bill Waterkotte and KML Council used the money for. They gave large raises to themselves and the stupid delegates voted for it because they keep dangling the carrot in front of them promising jobs with council. The Reps. all drive four wheel drive vehicles instead of a vehicle that would get some gas mileage and have lower insurance rates. The truth is that most of these so called leaders are not smart but certainly greedy. I listen to guys in other trades and they laugh at how stupid the Carpenters are for putting up with this crap.
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