August 2009 Vol. 12 No. 8

Executive Officer's Forum

Thank you for the opportunity to lead this Union

Bob Alvarado, Executive Officer

en Espanol >


"That vote will keep
the most talented team in the Building Trades on the front lines."

It has been a long and grueling campaign, and now the Delegates have made their decision. Over the last seven months, I have had the honor and privilege to visit many local union meetings, and have shared the successes of this administration with hundreds of members.

We have had many, such as the right to vote on our master agreement, membership participation on the Executive Committee and Negotiating Committee, and the rebirth of the 46 Counties Conference Board. We set records for work hours and membership gains, and showed the vision to go after public work bonds before the private work slowed to ensure work was available for our membership during the lean times.

We faced challenges in our benefit plans, and—with your help—saved the Health and Welfare plan from going out of business, and diversified our investments to shore up our Pension plan so that our future is secure. We now have a 401(k) plan that not only solved the problem with the FICA tax, but gives every working carpenter a third pension plan.

Our contracts showed us we could demand record increases (over 80% of the membership voted yes) and keep our contractor base (we re-signed over 95% of our work hours), while still maintaining our market share. Your focused organizing department and membership service department have developed strategies that continue to sign contractors large and small in the second worst economy in our nation’s history.

Now, all of these successes are not solely my own. I have put together a team of talented and dedicated people, and this truly is a team effort. I am grateful for your support and for the Delegates’ votes. That vote for Bob Alvarado will keep the most talented team in the Building Trades on the front lines, and we will continue and build on the list of successes for the next four years.

Thanks to a vibrant democracy

I also want to congratulate all the members of your newly elected Executive Committee. Whether they were re-elected without opposition or won their election, they are dedicated to the same principle that I am: this union belongs to the members. I welcome Brother Manny Carrillo, the newest member of the Committee, and look forward to working with him.

It is also important to acknowledge those candidates who did not win. I know from personal experience how much it takes to put yourself out there, and it is not easy. I am particularly pleased that there was a contest for all the member-at-large seats, and that we truly have a vibrant democracy, and a list of members eager to step up and help lead.

I have worked for the last eight years keeping the membership in control of our Union, and will continue to fight for your interests. I always have been and will remain accessible to you, and will listen to your ideas and concerns. Our biggest victories and the best solutions to our problems have come from the membership’s involvement.

So, thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to lead this Union, thank you for your support, and thank you for your vote!

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