We are deeply moved by the organizing efforts of hundreds of thousands of people in support of racial equity, justice, and safety for Black Americans in our country.

We denounce the violence of the few opportunists who distort the focus from a just cause. We praise the numerous police officers who are visibly supportive of peaceful protest and are demanding police reform.

We recognize that protest in the streets is the foundation upon which unions were built.

We remember that countless brothers and sisters have shed blood and died for the right to organize, the right to safety, the right to an 8-hour day, the right to provide for their families.

We reject the current and past attempts of anti-worker agendas to divide working people over race. We lament our own difficult past, when unions (including ours) have blocked entry to People of Color, specifically Black Americans.

We are deeply committed to engaging in stronger education and engagement on racial justice to grow understanding and unity among working people.

We recognize that conversations about race and injustice are complex and uncomfortable.

We invite our members and our communities to join this conversation with respect, humility, passion, and grace.

Black Lives Matter because humanity matters. Truer than ever: United we stand, divided we fall.

*History of Juneteenth:

Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19^th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official January 1, 1863. Click HERE for more

For more info: https://whatcomcoalition.com/action-alert-tell-the-county-council-you-oppose-the-9th-consecutive-cherry-point-moratorium/ 

Whatcom Coalition provided the following points for public comment.

• The moratorium is unnecessary and should NOT be renewed. We are asking that the Whatcom County Council not renew the Cherry Point Moratorium that expires on June 3^rd.  This ninth iteration prolongs an unnecessary rolling moratorium and sends the wrong message to current and prospective Whatcom County employers. Employers that are responsible for the jobs and tax revenue needed to enable our economy to recover from the post pandemic recession.
  
• Whatcom County’s needs to support its employers. The County should be supporting employers that create family wage jobs and significant tax revenue. Instead, the County continues to take action that communicates hostility and distrust towards business – in particular, the very businesses that have been and continue to be crucial to the region’s economy. As we try to rebuild our economy after the COVID 19 crisis, the County’s continued political crusade seems out of touch with the regional concerns about the economy, joblessness and decreasing tax revenue.

• The moratorium sends the wrong message. Some have suggested the economic concerns regarding the moratorium are misplaced because it has not really blocked any specific project that the refineries want to advance at this time. While that may be true, it misses the point of our economic concerns. The very existence of the moratorium reflects the County’s hostility towards current and prospective industries at Cherry Point. Regarding current Cherry Point companies specifically, it influences company capital investment, as companies are more inclined to redirect their capital investments to other more hospitable areas in the Country. This kind of inhospitable policy making is particularly counterproductive when we need new capital project investment with the associated jobs, tax revenues, and positive influence on other sectors of the local economy.

• We are most concerned about the proposed Cherry Point amendments. The Cherry Point moratorium is ultimately about the County Council’s proposed Cherry Point amendments. We continue to have concerns about the proposed amendments especially given our current economic situation. We are however encouraged by the review and recommendations of the Planning Commission. We need to allow the Planning Commission to finish their work.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE (Virtual Public Hearing)

Join in: Tuesday, June 2^nd 6:00pm 

http://www.whatcomcounty.us/3415/Virtual-Council-Public-Hearings

http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/29107/Public-Notices?bidId=

Zoom Instructions

http://www.whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/47537/Instructions-for-Joining-Virtual-Council-Public-Hearing-WEB-OR-MOBILE-APP

Email Addresses for comment

Whatcom County Executive

ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us

Whatcom County Council

council@co.whatcom.wa.us – General

rbrowne@co.whatcom.wa.us

tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us

tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us

KKershne@co.whatcom.wa.us

BElenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us

bbuchanan@co.whatcom.wa.us

cfrazey@co.whatcom.wa.us

Friends and Family of the Trades 

Carpenters, help save construction apprenticeship by opposing the IRAP apprentice initiative – this is being by certain groups and only serves to WEAKEN our great apprenticeship programs and long term opportunity and quality of work.

The federal Department of Labor (DOL) has released new regulations governing Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs).  IRAPs would pose a major threat to our union apprenticeship system if they become recognized in the construction industry.  The proposed rule would currently make our industry exempt from IRAPs, but anti-union interest groups are pushing to eliminate the exemption.  

This is the largest threat against the building trades from a presidential administration in more than a generation, and we must take it seriously.  This campaign to save our apprenticeships will only succeed with fast and successful action by local unions. 

What are IRAPs, and how will they hurt us?  IRAPs are loosely-regulated training programs that do not require the same quality of instruction, pay scales or journeyman graduation rates as our federally registered union apprenticeships.  If IRAPs enter the construction industry they will undercut our apprenticeships all over the country, costing us work to the nonunion sector and making every jobsite less safe.

Registered Apprenticeship vs. Industry Recognized Apprenticeship 

Registered Apprenticeship

1. Clearly defined criteria for registering an apprenticeship program
2. Strict standards apply to all federally registered apprenticeship programs
3. Heavily regulated by the Dept. of Labor
4. Must provide proof of journeymen graduation rates
5. Nationally recognized certifications and credentials
6. Require safety training
7. Pay a living wage
8. Admissions standards comply with anti-discrimination policies and fair hiring practices
9. Current union apprenticeship programs

IRAP

1. Loosely defined criteria for a program to qualify as an apprenticeship
2. Lax standards; let the buyer beware
3. Minimal oversight by the Dept. of Labor
4. No graduation or completion requirements
5. No widespread recognition of certifications or credentials
6. No requirement for safety training
7. No wage guarantees
8. Exempt from the anti-discrimination policies and fair hiring practices our programs have
9. Just a rebranded nonunion open-shop training program

Please go to www.saveconstructionapprenticeships.org and fill out the short form supporting our efforts. Thank you!

Please enter your voter address in the box below to find out which candidates the Local Unions and the Regional Council are endorsing in the August 6th Primary election. Your vote is your voice – make it heard! #GOTV

Full List of Endorsements

Today we welcome the members of Local Unions 1017, 2761, 2197, 2750, 2767, 2780, 2784, 2949, 3091, 151, 2058, and 1136 to the Pacific Northwest!

A Council covering all 50 states, the CIC represented workers in industries such as plywood and cabinet manufacturing and mills. CIC members will be placed in Regional Councils based on their geographic location. The 4,000 members residing in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, and Wyoming will now be covered by the Pacific Northwest Regional Council (PNWRCC).

WWA AGC – Article 16 (b) …… in the event the job is down due to weather conditions. or other conditions beyond the control of the employer, Monday through Friday, then Saturday may, at the option of the Employer, be worked as a voluntary make-up day at the straight time rate.

OR/SWWA AGC – Article 6 …… Five Eight -Hour Shift (5-8).  In the event the job is down due to equipment breakdown or weather conditions, Monday through Friday, Then Saturday on a voluntary basis may be worked as a make-up day at the straight time rate.

Inland NW AGC – Article 16 ……  It is suggested to read this entire article from 16.1 to 16.6.

NW Wall & Ceiling – Article 11.01 (b) ……In the event the job is down due to weather conditions, or other conditions beyond the control of the Employer, Monday through Friday, the Saturday may, at the option of the Employer, be worked as a voluntary make-up day at the straight time rate.

These options listed are for Monday through Friday shifts.  There is similar language in each contract concerning 4-10’s.

In short, HB 1395 and SB 5565 hold a general contractor responsible for the unpaid wages of the workers of it’s subcontractors on private construction projects. By holding general contractors responsible, a GC will be more likely to choose subcontractors who operate above board.

We are asking that all Washington state carpenters email their state representative. You can find their contact information through the link below. We are including sample email language to assist. Please see the PDF for more information on this important legislation.

Sample e-mail in support of HB 1395 & SB 5565  (feel free to highlight and copy)

Find your legislator here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder

Dear sir or madam:

Construction industry workers like myself have been dealing with the issue of wage theft for far too long. We must hold contractors accountable when they break the law, and that is why I support HB 1395 & SB 5565. 

The bill addresses the issue of Wage Theft in construction – one of the illegal practices that contractors commit to save money. Cheating contractors don’t pay worker’s compensation, benefits, unemployment insurance or the proper business taxes – both state and local. Studies show that construction workers like myself lose an average of 23% of their income to wage theft. 

This also makes it harder for those honest businesses in our communities to be able to compete. The contractors that I work for are important local businesses and they lose on work when they are underbid by these cheaters. 

Please support HB 1395 & SB 5565 and help workers and local businesses get ahead.  

Thank you, 

[Your name]

[Your city, State]