Why Is this Communication Needed?

The current contract between NE Ohio Carpenters and the "Associations" representing our employers expires on April 30th, 2027. In order to ensure that our next contract is negotiated from a position of strength, we must now urge the leadership team at the Central Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters to allow us to play a meaningful role in our upcoming contract negotiation and subsequent ratification process. The right to vote for our own contract is currently not guaranteed by council bylaws, but may be granted at the discretion of our Regional Council Leadership. By signing this communication, we can demonstrate that it is the will of the members of this CBA area to ratify our own Contract. 

ATTN: Carpenters of the Central Midwest Regional Council,

We, the Working Carpenters of NE Ohio, those of us working at the trade, paying working dues, and covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the CMRCC and the “Associations” representing our employers,  have found it necessary to make explicitly clear what our expectations are, well in advance of the spring 2027 contract negotiations and subsequent ratification process. We believe the following steps should be followed to ensure a well-received and fair agreement.

  1. A substantial and thorough polling process of the working membership should be conducted well in advance of bargaining to determine the expectations and set a baseline for what would be considered a “fair and reasonable agreement.” This process should begin by November 2026 and this information should be well understood by the general membership before negotiations begin. (See polling example attached and below)

  2. Open Bargaining is strongly preferred, it is our belief that closed negotiations give an inherent advantage to the contractors and that negotiating strength comes from an informed and engaged membership. The request for this change to negotiating style should be formally documented along with a response by the contractor’s representative body, and should be available to the general membership to inspect upon request.

  3. At least 1 Working Carpenter should be placed on the negotiating team, or 25% of Union Representation. The negotiator(s) should be selected by the regional council from pool of members (1 per local in bargaining area) that have been democratically nominated and directly elected for appointment.These members will be granted the ability to inform the membership of the appropriate and relevant developments during negotiations, as prescribed by the final negotiation process agreed upon per point 2 above. 

  4. Tentative Agreements (T.A.) should be made available to the membership by the negotiating team in its entirety at the earliest possible moment.

  5. T.A.s should be ratified by a direct vote of the Working Carpenters covered by said agreement. This vote should not be limited to in person ballots, and should not be scheduled without a reasonable amount of time for the membership to review the agreement (at least 72 hrs notice).

  6. Regional and local leadership should work together to prepare and organize the membership for potential strike activity, including but not limited to educational programing, practice pickets, and the training of sufficient strike captains well in advance of the negotiation process. This training should begin by November 2026.

Polling Example (For Reference)

Acceptable Contract Duration (Circle length in years ) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Total Package Expectations ($$) __________________

Contract Language Changers (Write in) ___________________________________________________________________________________-

Ranked Choice Voting (Rank the followoing , 1-4)

____________________Premium Time on Benefits

____________________Paid Holidays (for anyone working the day before and day after)

____________________Organized Coffee Break

____________________Second Level Foreman Rate (at 10 Carpenters)