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OUR ISSUES

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters promotes political engagement among its 500,000+ members through voting and volunteering. 

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Through “Carpenter Politics,” an inclusive and nonpartisan effort, the union supports candidates and legislative issues that align with UBC member interests, focusing on workers' rights, infrastructure, and fair trade in both the United States and Canada.

STOP CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TAX FRAUD
You Pay Your Taxes, Why Should Some Construction Contractors Get to CHEAT?
A MINIMUM OF ONE IN FIVE CONTRACTORS COMMIT FEDERAL TAX FRAUD.

What is tax fraud? 

 

Tax fraud occurs when unscrupulous contractors exploit tactics like wage theft, using labor brokers to boost profits, and misclassifying employees as 1099 workers. 

 

Illegally paying workers off the books = 10 billion a year in lost tax revenue 
 

  • Tax fraud impacts everyone, including vulnerable workers, taxpayers, honest contractors, union workers, and local governments.

  • Greedy contractors benefit by avoiding fair payments, including workers' compensation and local taxes.

  • Tax fraud leads to underpayment of workers, lack of protection for injured workers, and reduced funding for essential services.

  • Enforcing existing laws, increasing fines, and collaborative efforts among all levels of government are essential to combat these practices.

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Tax Fraud Enforcement

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  • Our members educate and organize the public on construction industry tax fraud.

  • More action is needed from authorities to enforce existing laws.

  • Elected leaders and government agencies should investigate and prosecute fraudulent practices to benefit construction workers, taxpayers, local governments, and more.


To learn more visit, stoptaxfraud.net

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STOP SO-CALLED RIGHT-TO-WORK LEGISLATION

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"RIGHT-TO-WORK" IS WRONG FOR EVERYONE

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What is so-called right-to-work legislation? 

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Right-to-work is misleading legislation that gives the upper hand to corporations when negotiating labor contracts, effectively lowering the earning potential of skilled carpenters and union members.

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Backers of these laws claim that this legislation protects workers against being forced to join a union. This is not true. Federal law already makes it illegal to force someone to join a union.

So Called “Right-to-Work” States Are Bad for Workers.

Reduce Benefits

11.9%

People in states with right to work laws are more likely to lack health insurance (11.9%, compared with 8.1% in free-bargaining states)

Decrease Safety

37%

Right-to-Work states have a 37% higher rate of fatal jobsite accidents. States with high union density are among the nation’s safest. 

Decrease Wages

15.2%

On average, workers in Right-to-Work states make 15.2% less a year than workers in other states.

The real purpose of Right-to-Work laws is to tilt the balance toward big corporations and further rig the system at the expense of working families. These laws make it harder for working people to form unions and collectively bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.

 

Right-to-Work laws don't give anyone the actual right to work! They legally stop unions

from collecting dues that pay for representation. Without dues, unions cannot represent their

members and protect their collectively bargained rights.

 

When unions can bargain for better wages, it raises the bar for ALL workers - union and

non-union alike.


 

IN RIGHT-TO-WORK STATES:

  • Workers have lower wages.

  • Workers have higher poverty rates.

  • Workers are less likely to have health insurance, leading to higher out-of-pocket expenses and higher bankruptcy rates due to medical bills.

  • Workers experience higher workplace fatalities.

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PROTECT PREVAILING WAGES: PRESERVE THE DAVIS-BACON ACT 

 

What is it?

 

Congress passed the Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wage Act in 1931. It applies to contractors and subcontractors working on federally funded contracts over $2,000 for public building or public works construction, alteration, or repair. Contractors must pay the prevailing wage, including hourly rates and fringe benefits, as listed in the Davis-Bacon wage determination based on the type of contract and the area in which the contract is being executed.

What does it do?

 

  • Encourages fair market competition by ensuring that law-abiding contractors, union and nonunion alike, can bid competitively for work

  • Increases worker productivity by encouraging investment in training

  • Protects communities and workers from allowing out of area contractors to underbid local wage levels or the “prevailing wage" 

  • Helps build a healthy middle class 

 

Protections for Carpenters

  • Requires contractors to submit certified payrolls – a valuable tool in the fight against misclassification

  • Requires contractors to pay wages and benefits on a weekly basis

  • Requires contractors pay overtime as the law dictates

 

What happens if we lose it? 

  • Our wages will decrease in a race to the bottom

  • We'll quickly lose market share


For more information on the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage act, you can visit the Department of Labor’s website. Wage Determinations are posted online and can be viewed on the Wage Determinations Online (WDOL) website.

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