Seattle, WA July 11, 2016- Effective August 1, 2016 The Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters and International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302 and Local 612 will re-affiliate with the Washington State Building Trades Council. This historic decision will bring nearly 24,000 union carpenters and operating engineers back under the umbrella of the Washington State Building Trades Council.

The Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters is one of the largest construction unions in Washington state, and now 8 years after leaving the WA State Building Trades Council, has made a historic decision to re-affiliate.

“Lee Newgent’s leadership and focus on furthering the interests of the construction trades and his willingness to fight for job creation was critical for our decision.  The Building Trades is heading in a direction that we want to be a part of and affiliated with.” Daren Konopaski, International VP and Business Manager for IUOE, Local 302.

“We are simply stronger together,” says Ben Basom, Communications Director for the Pacific NW Regional Council of Carpenters. “When the house of labor is united, we can effect so much more positive change and make a larger positive impact on the construction industry, our communities, and working families in Washington which is the duty and obligation of the labor movement.” Continues Basom.

“The Washington State Building & Construction Trades would like to welcome the Carpenters and Operating Engineers back into our Council.  In the words of Abraham Lincoln: ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand.’ With all of the major crafts together in the same house we will now have a stronger voice for the entire construction industry.” Said Lee Newgent, Executive Secretary of Washington State Building Trades Council.

The Washington State Building Trades Council is headquartered in Olympia, WA and currently represents 15 construction crafts comprised of 70,000 working men and women.

The Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters represents over 23,000 men and women carpenters throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska with nearly 15,000 residing in Washington State. The Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters advocates for fair treatment and fair pay for all Carpenters.

The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 302 represents over 12,000 Operating Engineers in Alaska, Idaho, and Washington and is headquartered in Bothell, WA.

The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 612 represents over 2,200 Operating Engineers in Washington state, and is headquartered in Tacoma, WA.

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May 18, 1952- March 28, 2013

It is with heavy hearts that we inform you of the passing of Eric Franklin. Throughout his life Eric lived as an activist for various causes, of which worker struggles and labor were a major focus. Eric joined Carpenters Local 1144 in April of 1993 and has been an advocate for Carpenters rights ever since. Working his way up through the Union as an organizer, Director of Organizing, and most recently Communications Director, Eric was a leader and mentor to many. The lives that he touched extended past just those he worked with, but those he worked for such as the thousands of unrepresented Carpenters who he may not have known personally, but worked tirelessly to make their lives better, and the thousands within the Brotherhood who benefited from the work he did for the Union. Eric will be greatly missed by so many people. Please keep his wife BJ, and his family in your thoughts.

Read the press release here:

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