Sept 2009 Vol. 12 No. 9

CIA Update: CIA fights for water, casino and airport projects!

Danny Curtin, Director of the California Conference of Carpenters, addresses a rally for water as Governor Schwarzenegger and members of Carpenters in Action look on.

Members of Carpenters in Action (CIA) had a busy couple of weeks in August fighting to secure work for our members throughout Northern California. Two actions at the state capitol, in particular, will have statewide impact for carpenters.

First, CIA members from locals in the Sacramento region attended a rally on water policy as debate kicked off in the Legislature about how to move California forward. During the press conference, members provided a big part of the backdrop as speakers discussed the need to protect our environment and ensure a stable water supply for California. Speakers included our own Dan Curtin, Director of the California Conference of Carpenters, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Later in the month, about a dozen members of Carpenters in Action took action to defend a proposed casino project in Sonoma County. This project, sponsored by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, is already covered by a Project Labor Agreement, and has “card check” language for organizing the casino workers after it is built. A resolution was proposed that would have greatly increased the environmental review for all casinos, far beyond what other private projects face. Members attended a State Senate Committee hearing and testified about the need to put people back to work. After their testimony, the resolution failed to get even a motion, so it never got to a vote.

CIA members on the steps of the capitol after a Senate hearing where member testimony helped stop an attack on a tribal casino project.

Oakland Airport Connector gets a PLA

Over the last couple of months, members of the CIA in Alameda County have done similar work in support of a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) connector to the Oakland Airport. In mid-August, the BART Board of Directors voted 7–0 to cover this $550 million project under a Project Labor Agreement. Clearly, the hard work by members of Carpenters in Action paid off.

Take Action-Join the CIA!

Members all over our Council have signed up to take part in victories like these. Now, we need your help. Fill out the form in this issue (below), and mail it in.

CIA Sign Up Form [PDF]

As Organizing Director Jay Bradshaw said in announcing the formation of CIA, “The key to stronger contracts and more work opportunities is to control our industry. Joining the CIA is the first step in this struggle. Like generations before us, if we stick together, we will be triumphant.”

When We Fight As OneThe Fight Is Won

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