Carpenters Unite Against Unfair Labor Practices By The NYCDCC

* Please be sure to click "view whole Petition" button to review entire Petition * Please be sure to share this Petition with your fellow Carpenters * United We Stand, Divided we Fall * Knowledge is Power * Empowerment is Confidence * Power to the rank and file members of the NYCDCC *

We the rank and file members of the NYCDCC lawfully organized under the Union bill of rights, respectfully request that Douglas McCarron of the UBCJA, the National Review Labor Board, the NYC DA's office and Political Leaders serving the 8th Congressional District, Assembly Members serving the 66th & 75th Districts and the U.S. Senate Committee on Labor conduct an inquiry into unfair labor practices by the NYCDCC board of Trustees and its Fund Manager.

We request that the above mentioned agencies conduct a inquiry to see if the NYCDCC is in violation of title I of the Landrum-Griffin Act, 1959 (29 U.S.C.A. %uFFFD 411 et seq.) where it clearly states that a secret ballot is required for voting on increases in dues or assessments. (*Also review the Constitution of the UBCJA, Section 45A*) Instead the board of Trustees and its fund Manager acted with total disregard of the law when they threaten and held back monies that belong to members who refuse to sign their blue card (a card that lacks transparency) and agreeing to assessments/or fines or penalties as designated, or as hereafter designated by the NYCDCC and their Local Unions. (see if title VI Section 610 is applicable)

As American Citizens and hard working Union Members it is our constitutional right to be protected and served. Therefore, we the rank and file members of the NYCDCC respectfully request that the above mentioned organizations investigate and take legal action against the NYCDCC for the crime of extortion amongst other things; and be ordered immediately to release the monies with interest to its members who refuse to be extorted. It is also our request that the members who signed the blue card under duress have their signature declared null and void because of the nature of the above mentioned crime.

The Landrum-Griffin Act also addresses the personal responsibility and integrity of Union Officers and representatives. Under the Act, Officers and representatives are held to common-law principles of trust relationships through express provisions that they occupy positions of trust in relation to organization and its members as a group. This means that persons in Union leadership positions must act in the best interests of the Union. If the Union Official acts for personal gain, the official can be held accountable for breach of duty. It is in our opinion that the Officials of the NYCDCC grossly violated their fiduciary responsibilities towards its membership.*See title V section 501 (a)*

We the rank and file members of the NYCDCC also would like the board of trustee's to confer with its membership when drastic changes occur within our contract. We want a voice in our Union and a say in the collective bargaining agreement with our employers. Once the management and the board of trustee's of the negotiating team come to agreement on the terms of the contract, the union members should be able to accept or reject the agreement by a majority vote. If the agreement is accepted, the contract is ratified and becomes a legally binding agreement remaining in effect for the specified period of time.

We need a involved, and informed membership, and a real sense of checks and balances between the employers, Union Officials and the rank and file members of the NYCDCC, to ensure that our LMRDA rights are being properly enforced, so that we all may enjoy a fair and prosperous way of life in a democratic and organized Union. (See Title I, Section 105 of the LMRDA)