May 2009 Vol. 12 No. 5

Executive Officer's Forum

Decision time

Bob Alvarado, Executive Officer

en Espanol >


"I know what choice I’m going to make - and I hope you will join me in voting YES on Propositions 1A through 1E."

On May 19, Californians face some big decisions. Will we bring some stability to the state’s budget, or will we lurch back into gridlock? Will we move forward and start to dig our way out of this recession, or will we move backwards into a budget crisis yet again? I know what choice I’m going to make—and I hope you will join me in voting YES on Propositions 1A through 1E.

After all, we’ve already seen what happens when the state faces a budget crisis. Just three months ago, the state was about to run out of cash. Literally thousands of jobs were shut down or put off. Caltrans was days away from stopping billions of dollars worth of highway projects that were already under construction, which would have forced thousands of layoffs.

Then the budget passed, and money started to move again. The California Transportation Commission (which I chair) has been able to allocate billions of dollars this spring, and the work is starting to move. We can’t afford to stop, and go back to square one. Plain and simple, this is about putting carpenters to work.

This is a budget no one likes, but I believe we have to vote our paychecks. State and local projects rely on the money that will be freed up by this budget. In this tough economy, those state and local projects are a vital source of work for union carpenters. We need to do everything we can to secure work opportunities.

Be the Union’s eyes and Ears

In addition to supporting these ballot propositions, one way we are securing more work is by going after every public project out there. You can help us in this effort by being our eyes and ears for local projects. If you see an article in the paper about some local project getting started or going to bid, like a city hall remodel or a school addition, make sure the local union knows about it. You may think we know, but it only takes a phone call to make sure.

With the economy so tough, every one of these projects is packed with bad guys looking to bid. We’ve been attending many pre-bid meetings and bid openings, to let people know we’re keeping an eye on the process. When necessary, we are filing bid protests. We’re challenging bids on projects as small as $5 million, because the fact is, the little work will keep us alive through the downturn.

From the organizers to the field representatives to the Research and Compliance departments, everyone who works for your union is focused on finding and securing work for union carpenters. We will continue to do our best, but we can’t succeed without your help.

Help us by making sure we know about every potential job out there. If you are not working, spend some time with the organizers, picketing or handbilling a non-union contractor. Join Carpenters in Action, and become part of a growing team of members that is turning work every day.

And on May 19, vote with us. Vote for Jobs. Vote to put carpenters back to work. Vote Yes on Propositions 1A through 1E.

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