Let’s Fight To
Take Back
The Residential
Market
In New York!
Over the next five years, residential construction
in the outer boroughs of New York City will
surpass commercial construction in Manhattan.
UNION BROTHERS AND SISTERS:
DO YOU WANT THIS WORK?
SHOULDN’T IT BE OURS?
Together, we were responsible for winning command of the com-
mercial construction market in New York City. Union carpenters
created stability and security for our members who, today, enjoy
industry-leading wages, excellent benefits and safe working condi-
tions. Our union has stabilized this impressive business while secur-
ing union members’ futures.
Unfortunately, though, we have not had as much success in the
residential market, a market that, historically union, now consists of
primarily non-union construction. This change began with our com-
petitors underbidding and winning work on 2-story residential
structures and now includes 12-story, 200 + apartment complexes.
The residential market has grown exponentially in the outer bor-
22 The Carpenter ✷ Fall 2006/Third Quarter
oughs but our percentage of market share has not grown with it; our
current share of this lucrative business is minimal. This has to
change. Carpenters working in our jurisdiction for $7/hour have
taken our work and, to make matters worse, this has negatively
influenced our commercial agreements. This can not continue. We
need to regain our market. WE NEED TO FIGHT BACK.
To address this decline in market share, we have established a
Market Recovery Initiative. We own the commercial construction
market. Let’s get to work and win (back) the residential market, too.
THE MARKET RECOVERY INITIATIVE
Our union’s Market Recovery Initiative is a market-sensitive agree-
ment that gives our signatory contractors the ability to compete with-
in the residential sector. The Market Recovery Rate only applies to
residential construction under 12 stories in the Bronx, Brooklyn,
Staten Island, Queens and Manhattan, north of 110th Street. This
new residential rate will give all of us more employment opportuni-
ties, will take back our jurisdiction and will keep all carpentry work
organized throughout our entire jurisdiction.
A MATTER OF CHOICE
Every union carpenter can choose to work at this new rate, for a
union employer, within the residential sector. As our market share
increases in the residential sector, more and more union members
will have employment opportunities, but no one is obligated to work
under this new agreement, the exception being new members that
join the carpenters union through the Market Recovery program.
These members must work on Market Recovery jobs for 10,000
hours before they can work on non-market-recovery jobs.
WAGES
The Market Recovery Rate establishes a wage and benefits package
of $46.25 an hour ($28/hour for wages and $18.25/hour for benefits).
This rate will make our union competitive in a market that is far less
funded than the commercial market.

APPRENTICE RATES
A first year apprentice working in residential construction under this
new rate will receive 40% of journey level rate, just as he or she
would under a commercial contract. A second year apprentice will
receive 50%, a third year apprentice will receive 65% and a fourth
year apprentice will receive 80% of the journey level wage. It is
important to note, however, that every union apprentice, regardless
of his or her tenure, will receive the same benefit package of
$17.90/hour on residential projects.

HEALTH CARE NEW OPPORTUNITIES

The health of our membership and their families is a top priority for The construction industry is highly susceptible to change. We must keep
our union and we will never agree up with these changes. A progressive
to compromise health care. union must make the changes neces-
Regardless of the sector in which sary to grow, while never compro-
our members work, residential or mising its principle of protecting its
commercial, their medical bene- members. Only when we stand unit-
fits will NOT change. ed can we defeat our competition.
Our union will approach the resi-
PENSION dential sector with the same determi-
The Market Recovery Rate nation we have always had in the
demands that every employer commercial sector. We will fight for
continue to contribute to our union representation wherever a
member’s futures. Members project may rise. A collective effort to
working on residential projects organize this sector of work will
will have $3.90/hour placed into bring all of us higher density, more
their pension funds. power in every market and more
employment throughout the year. The more we all work, the better our
VACATION futures look.
Every union carpenter working under the residential agreement will
continue to have contributions made to his or her vacation fund, only
at a lesser rate. Employers will pay $2.70/hour into the member’s
vacation fund under this new rate.

ANNUITY FUND
Union carpenters working under the Market Recovery Rate will not
have any contributions made on their behalves to their annuity funds.

OUT OF WORK LIST

Any member who calls our Out of Work List will have the opportu-
nity to identify that they are available to work under the Market
Recovery Initiative. This pertains to all members, including shop
stewards.

Please support our Market Recovery Initiative.

It’s a great idea that can greatly benefit us all.
The Carpenter ✷ Fall 2006/Third Quarter 23