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The WINTER2015 NEW CYORK CITYarpenter AND VICINITY DISTRICT COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS NYCDCC Welfare Funds Restores Vision Benefits Pg 2 “It’s getti ng cold JOBS out here but we’re sti ll building!” around town Pg 12 Train Astoria Hudson Drywall THE BOOT CAMP Trainer BOOTS ON COVE Yards OLYMPICS Pg 18 Pg 19 Pg 20 Pg 22 Pg 24 A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY-TREASURER JOSEPH GEIGER Brothers and Sisters, I am honored operations and commitment to the Membership. that you have put your Further, I am pleased to announce that a plan has been confidence in me to approved for the restoration of your vision bene ts. We are serve as Executive continuing to meet with the Bene ts subcommittee to ensure Secretary-Treasurer of that the District Council provides the most inclusive coverage this remarkable Union. possible for our Members. e goal is to strengthen our During my time as bene ts long term while maintaining stability in our bene t EST, I will continue to programs. Starting with coverage that is most important for focus on strengthening the majority of Members, we are working towards providing the District Council comprehensive options for you and your family. We welcome and supporting you, the Members, as you have shown your input about what is important for you – we are strongest when support for me. we work together. The District Council is well on its way to self- It has been a long road to recovery, but with teamwork governance and there are more lines of communication open and patience we have rehabilitated our Union and can now than ever before. After four and a half years with the District focus on what matters to you: quality jobs, safe working Council, Review O cer Dennis Walsh has submitted his conditions, and competitive bene ts. We look now towards nal report to the Court. e District Council’s progress and getting our Membership more involved and better informed. freedom from the in uence of corruption has been recognized is year we turn the page. I will do everything in my by the Review O cer, the Court, and the U.S. Attorney’s power, and call upon everyone in the Union, to make it their O ce. Over the past several years we have implemented many utmost priority to continue on this path. Together we can extensive and e ective safeguards to help us remain on course shape the future – the future of our Union, the future of the and grow as an organization. industry, and the future of the Members that make it possible. In place of the Review O cer, there will now be an Independent Monitor to help guide and keep the Council on Fraternally, track. We look forward to working with Glen McGorty, and as you will read in his letter to the Union, he is not only eager to assist in compliance, but is also con dent in the Council’s Restoration of Vision Benefits SUMMARY OF YOUR VISION BENEFITS: Great news! On behalf of the Board of Trustees, the NYCDCC Welfare Fund is pleased to announce that a plan Your network providers are Comprehensive Professional was approved for the restoration of your vision bene ts, which Systems (CPS), (212) 675-5745, and General Vision Services became e ective January 1, 2015. (GVS), (800) 847-4661. If you choose not to use these network Basically, the “switch” that was turned o for your providers, you are still entitled to reimbursement. You and vision bene ts in June of 2012 is now turned back on. is your covered dependents are entitled to an eye examination means that you once again have the same vision coverage you and new glasses or contact lenses once every 12 months. If had prior to elimination of the bene ts. you use a participating provider, there are no out-of-pocket For more detailed information concerning the costs if the frames and lenses you select are part of the restoration of your vision bene ts, be sure to check your mail, program. If the frames and lenses you select are outside the and continue visiting the Bene t Funds’ website at program, you receive a credit toward your purchase. e Fund www.nyccbf.org. will pay a participating provider $125 for an exam, and a pair If you have any questions about this bene t change, of frames and lenses. If you use a non-participating provider, please feel free to contact the Bene t Funds’ Member Services the Fund will reimburse you up to $125 for the same package Department at (800) 529-FUND (3863) or (212) 366-7311. of services.To obtain a list of participating providers, you can contact CPS or GVS at the phone numbers listed above. 2 WWW.NYCDISTRICTCOUNCIL.ORG A MESSAGE FROM THE 2 EXECUTIVE SECRETARY-TREASURER > CONTENTS AND BENEFITS MEMO MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT 4 The Union is a remarkable organization... AND VICE PRESIDENT DISTRICT COUNCIL OFFICER they gave me a mind-blowing experience...I 5 ELECTIONS went down to Northern Boulevard with the 6 ORGANIZING papers, and then my entire life changed.” 7 POLITICAL ACTION - Alton Simpson, Retired Member, Local 2790 8 NEWS AND NOTES 11 UNION ACTION 14 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT MESSAGES FROM THE INSPECTOR 16 GENERAL AND CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER 26 RECENT RETIREES 27 IN MEMORIAM > Stay Connected Address 12 JOBS AROUND TOWN 18 TRAIN THE TRAINER 395 Hudson St. New York, NY 10014 Website www.nycdistrictcouncil.org Email communicati [email protected] Phone 212-366-7500 Facebook New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters Twitt er @CarpentersNYC Flickr 19 BOOT CAMP 20 ASTORIA COVE fl ickr.com/nycdistrictcouncil YouTube BOOTS ON youtube.com/nycdcc is a quarterly published Union magazine that promotes Union values. Published by and for the New York City & Vicinity District Council of Carpenters. All content, copy, pictures, and/ or images are created and edited, or used with permission, by the Communicati ons Department of the District Council. Designed and edited by the NYCDCC Communicati ons Department: Liz McKenna, Communicati ons Director Morgan Clarke, Communicati ons Coordinator Matt hew Hillyer, Union Semester Intern Address change noti ces should be directed to 22 HUDSON YARDS 24 DRYWALL OLYMPICS 212-366-7336. WINTER THE CARPENTER 3 MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT STEPHEN MCINNIS Brothers and Sisters, First, a sincere thank PLA which will add another $3.5 billion worth of work. All you for re-electing me together, we are signing on to agreements and contracts that to serve as your District will generate $12 billion worth of hours and work over the next Council President. I look four years. In addition to the new contracts that we have added forward to another term, recently, a number of our association contracts are up for renewal: continuing our progress the Cement League, Building Contractors Association (BCA), towards self-governance, Contractors Association of Greater New York (CAGNY), and improved benefits, and Greater New York Floor Coverers Association. more quality and safe I would also like to thank all those that have volunteered employment for the for our political action activities. Only action can get results, hardworking Brothers and we have proved this with the number of our Members who Sisters of this great Union. show up to have their voices heard, and by the outcome of our I am pleased to report solidarity. We will be taking a very active role in the imminent that in the rst scal quarter of 2015 ( July 2014-September aordable housing debates and actions that you have been 2014), we had our rst ve million hour quarter since 2008. hearing so much about lately. is is a very important agenda Further, we have guaranteed more work for our Members in the that the District Council is undertaking to secure jobs for our upcoming years by including full-rate work with the city. We Members. ere is strength in our Union. We have shown that signed with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), action gets results, throughout the years, but we must continue an agreement which will supply $3.5 billion worth of work to hold one another up. It is vital that we stand together, work towards the construction industry in NYC. We have re-signed together, and build together. the Mayoral Agency PLAs and the School Construction Authority (SCA) PLA at the prevailing rate, the A-rate that Fraternally, every District Council Member deserves. Additionally, we are close to signing the Health and Hospital Corporation (HHC) MICHAEL CAVANAUGH Brothers and Sisters, I thank you Even though hours are on the rise, we still have our for having the condence work cut out for us. ere is still the threat of non-union activity in me to continue serving in our industry, driving down the area standards we ght to as Vice President of preserve every day. It will take constant resolve and spirit to what I consider to be the stand up to these challenges. e competition is tough but the greatest Labor Union District Council is tougher. in the country. We have One of our biggest challenges is with the residential started the New Year on market. It is a rapidly growing sector, doubling between 2009 a positive note with hours and 2012, and is expected to surge again in the upcoming reported during the rst years. Recently, the District Council and its Delegate body has fiscal quarter exceeding implemented new market recovery tactics in the residential ve million, the rst time structural concrete market, and our main approach is to nd since 2008.