The Political Action Department is the political arm of the New York City District Council of Carpenters, taking action at the legislative and political levels.
Why Does the NYCDC Participate in Politics?
Politics = Paychecks
The construction industry is inherently intertwined with government whether through the land use process, contracting opportunities, labor law, and health and safety regulation. By actively participating in the process we can increase market share for our contractors and members, protect their health and safety, and make it more difficult for non-union firms to operate in the underground economy.
The District Council advocates at the Local, City, State and Federal levels. In most instances, legislation falls into one of two categories: Job opportunity creation (such as the approval of the Javits Center expansion or the siting of the Bronx Water Filtration Plant) or worker health and safety (such as requiring scaffolding erector training in New York City or banning the use of the carcinogenic wood preservative creosote). We also work closely with various governmental agencies pertaining to the construction industry.
Legislation
Elevator and Escalator Mechanics Support Memo
MEMO in Support Debarrement
The District Council PAC Committee - made up of the Executive Board, Executive Secretary Treasurer, President and Vice President - interviews and endorses candidates in Local, City, State and Federal races with Delegate Body Approval. In these races, we provide support both financially and through the Member Participation Program. These activities include leafleting, door-to-door canvassing, phone banking and rallies.
Union members working together is what built this country from the ground up and is what will keep this country going strong in the future. We are counting on everyone to be a part of the Carpenters' Political Action Team. While there will be incentives to participating from time-to-time (a member's participation in designated activities can be counted toward their mandatory union participation), the real incentive is that we will make a positive difference in our own future and the future of our families.
Construction is a rough business. Powerful non-union forces like the Business Roundtable and the Associated Building Contractors Association (ABC) are trying to take hard-fought fair wages, health care, pensions, and health and safety regulations away from us. They are getting help from our elected officials on the local, state and federal levels. The Paycheck Protection Act, anti-Davis Bacon Prevailing Wage Laws, Right to Work laws and, more recently, an anti-Project Labor Agreement marketing campaign are direct assaults on our livelihoods. The price of being union is perpetual vigilance against those who would have us all working for $5.00 an hour.
That vigilance takes many forms. Voting, sending opinion letters and e-mails to your elected officials on important issues, attending community meetings and rallies and volunteering your time and skills are all ways you as a member can make a difference.
Want to get involved in a PAC event? Want an update on our latest legislative actions? CLICK HERE (kcruz@nycdistrictcouncil.org) to get in touch with us.
Voting in ONE way you can get involved.
Find voter information and register to vote here: (http://www.elections.ny.gov/VotingRegister.html)
What is JOC’s?
Job Order Contracting (JOC) is an indefinite quantity type of contract that enables facility owners to accomplish a large number of repair, maintenance and construction projects with a single, competitively bid contract. During the bidding process, the contract price is expressed as a range (minimum to maximum amount) over a pre-determined course of time (i.e. one year). The general guidance given to the bidders is that the contract is for a specific work item (i.e. electrical, plumbing, general contracting, etc.). The bidders can then look at a catalog containing thousands of pre-determined unit prices for different types of construction projects. Bidders then submit a “multiplier,” which is the cost that all work performed will be adjusted at during the scope of the contract. The lowest multiplier wins the bidding process.
A JOC does not specify the particular tasks to be performed, the classifications of workers who are to perform particular tasks, the total amount of work to be performed, or the total price of the work to be performed. Therefore, many non-union bidders are attracted by these indefinite contracts, as they can take advantage of the system’s vagueness to avoid compliance with prevailing wage and other labor requirements.
We believe that JOCs violate New York procurement laws, as they do not provide necessary information required for bidders to make informed decisions. We are, therefore, opposed to this process and will look at the potential for banning such practices statewide.
This legislation was passed by the New York State Senate on July 21, 2012 (2012 Senate JOC vote). It is now in the State Assembly and we encourage our members to send their State Assemblymember a letter of support.
Find your State Assembly representative here http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?sh=search and send them the letter below with your information.
Sample Letter:
Letter to Legislators JOC