A Fractured Carpenters Union Sits Together at the Bargaining Table for the First Time

After four failed attempts to bring their membership a fair contract, the Northwest Carpenters Union returned to the bargaining table today.

The Peter J. McGuire group, a group of rank-and-file carpenters, is especially sick of the union bargaining team not delivering. These carpenters want good family wages, paid parking, and a $15 raise over three years. The last failed contract offer, which the membership rejected in a 56% to 44% vote, included a 20.4% increase in wages and benefits over  four  years, stronger harassment and discrimination protections, and more parking reimbursement – some areas only being reimbursed $1.50 per hour.

A “vocal minority” of about 100 carpenters who were displeased with this offer went rogue last week and picketed over 13 unsanctioned construction sites in two days, shutting down those sites and drawing strong condemnation from union leaders. Many sites are under no-strike agreements, so those wildcat strikes could put the union in legal and thus financial trouble, union leaders warned.

Today will be the first time PJM has a representative at the table in the negotiation process. PJM’s chair, Art Francisco, who did not elect to represent the group at the bargaining table, told Jacobin that “the negotiations were not gridlocked between the union leadership and the contractors; they were gridlocked between the membership and the union leadership.”

Read more: https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2021/09/30/61593735/a-fractured-carpenters-union-sits-together-at-the-bargaining-table-for-the-first-time