May 2010 Vol. 13 No. 5

Carpenters in Action (CIA) boost organizing wins

 When we fight as one- the fight is won

The CIA makes a difference, no doubt about it.

CIA member General Sheppard, Local 713, addressed the Oakland City Council, urging them to support a BART project and put carpenters to work.

About a year ago, the Organizing Department put out the call to rank-and-file carpenters to join our daily fight for justice. Answering that call enthusiastically, over a thousand members have signed up with the Carpenters In Action (CIA), and hundreds have attended CIA trainings.

These trainings, held monthly at Local Union halls, cover all aspects of organizing. Highlights include smart targeting of non-union contractors, public speaking, communication skills, dealing with elected officials and legal strategy. In addition, CIA carpenters learn top-down and bottom-up organizing tactics through hands-on activities.

The real proof of rank-and-file organizing power is in the CIA’s successes, where training and skill building becomes action. The Organizing Department is engaged in dozens of campaigns every day. With the CIA actively involved in these struggles, our successes have increased tremendously. Highlights of this success have been the recent fights at various businesses, including retail and banking establishments.

Through public campaigns focused on the people who frequent these businesses and the signing of new contractors, the CIA has helped create hundreds of millions of dollars of work for union carpenters. One particularly sweet victory came when the CIA helped us sign up contractors who were members of the vehemently anti-union Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Currently, hundreds of CIA members are also part of the pickets at Safeway stores protesting the company’s Unfair Labor Practices.

Wherever there’s a fight for more good jobs for carpenters or against unfair labor practices, members of the CIA turn out in force.

The CIA turnout at more than 50 political actions has had a tremendous impact on our elected officials. With trained rank-and-file speakers informing public officials about carpenter issues, the CIA has helped land five new Project Labor Agreements in Northern California. We have also had rallies of over 200 CIA members in San Francisco to fight for construction jobs. Most recently, more than 100 CIA members attended hearings of the Department of Labor Standards Research to defend prevailing wages.

Most importantly, the CIA is involved everyday in our picket lines and free speech fights throughout Northern California.

Today, we are appealing to all rank-and-file members to help us take the CIA to the next level. If we can double the size of the Carpenters In Action, there is no doubt that we can increase our organizing wins. Join the CIA and get involved—help the Carpenters grow our already successful organizing program!

“The key to stronger contracts and more work opportunities is to control our industry. Joining the CIA is the first step in this struggle.” -from the CIA Mission Statement

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