The Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters made a decision, without input from dues paying members to combine the contracts of trades that fall under the umbrella of the Carpenters Union to one contract in an attempt to simplify the process of negotiating the Master Agreements.  In doing so, the union prioritized the carpenters trade over other trades given the membership numbers of carpenters when compared to other trades essentially silencing the voice of thousands piledrivers, divers and millwrights.

The work performed by piledrivers, divers and millwrights and the environment in which we perform this work is substantially different than that in which a carpenter, drywall installer, scaffold erector and other trades covered by the agreement work in.  The contract that governs the established working conditions and rules for which each trade works under should be a reflection of the actual work and environment in which the work is performed.  Furthermore trades should receive equal representation under the contract and through Union officials.

By allowing Carpenters, Drywall Installers, Scaffold Erectors etc... to vote on the contract of other trades (i.e. piledrivers, divers, millwrights) our voice is lost and we are forced to accept terms based on the needs of trades with larger membership numbers.  Therefore I ask for you to join me in having your voice heard and your trade fairly represented.  Help force our Union to represent each trade fairly and equally and demand that our contracts are not only negotiated separately but voted on by those within that trade.