APRIL 2005 LABOR VIEWS

Service Awards to members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners for the month of April were presented to:

Daniel Dorval 35 years
Robert Nadeau 30 years
Dennis Saran 30 years
Congratulations!

I hope that you have noticed that my monthly article in the Labor Views publication has been missing. Apparently, my criticism of safety violations has irritated the head of our MTC Union. Safety is supposed to be our #1 priority, but when you point out that our own Union brothers may not be looking out for our best interests, your Labor View article is censored. I was willing (and I am still willing) to sit down with MTC safety and Ken Delacruz to discuss why I feel that they need to more thoroughly investigate safety violations and document them. 

My criticism is not directed at all MTC officials. You may have noticed that, on a number of occasions, the heads of some of our locals have decided to conduct independent inspections around the shipyard. I commend the following brothers for the time and effort they devoted to show our membership that safety is of the utmost importance.: Ken Johnson from the Clerks’ Union, Rodney Barnes of the Machinists’ Union, Matt Strickland of the Teamsters’ Union, and Robert Tardif of the Carpenters’ Union. I hope that my articles will resume being published in the Labor Views because our membership has the same right as all other Unions…….the right to be informed. That is exactly why I am publishing this separate article. 

Overtime has slowed down in the last few weeks. Members need to be reminded to check the overtime list on Friday to see if they are working Saturday or Sunday. Members who show up on the weekend without being named on the overtime list will be sent home. In addition, people need to know how important it is not to pull “no-shows.” When you do, you will be charged triple hours, and that may affect your opportunity to work overtime for several weeks. 

The Carpenters’ Union purchased two stones for the Workers’ Memorial ceremony on April 28, 2005. Our deceased brothers, Robert Henshaw and George Leniart, will be honored at that ceremony.

  Fraternally Yours,

Mike Malone, President

Carpenters' Local 1302