A Labor Day
message from
UBC General President
Doug McCarron

Labor Day 2011:
Time to Stand Together and
Fight for Sustained Economic Growth

To All Locals and Councils:

Labor Day is a time to honor the strength, commitment, and dedication of the millions of hardworking men and women who fuel America's labor force. Our union's founder, Peter J. McGuire, established this day in 1882 to shine a light on the critical role American workers play in creating and sustaining the wealth and prosperity of their country.

Today, we face disturbing news regarding the economy, unemployment, government spending, and taxes. People from coast to coast are hurting, including our own brothers and sisters. To get through this period, we must remain focused and committed to achieving our goals as a union. We are relying on our strength as one of North America's leading trade unions and, more importantly, on the reputation for unmatched skill and productivity that we bring to every job, and are pulling out all stops to stand strong in these difficult times.

The UBC continues to fight for your rights by battling against misclassified worker schemes and unfair wage standards. We are helping members maintain and improve their skills and productivity by offering the most modern training programs in the country. And, we continue to develop partnerships throughout the construction industry that will translate into more work for you.

Externally, we remain focused on fighting against foreign trade pacts that steal jobs from Americans. Our message to Washington is simple: Pass legislation that puts Americans back to work, instead of sending jobs overseas. Offer tax incentives to companies that bring jobs back to our borders and penalize those that ship them away. Get our own economy back on its feet instead before worrying about another country's.

And as they celebrate their nation's Labor Day, we applaud our Canadian brothers and sisters, who understand the fundamental elements of a strong economy. Canada has withstood the global economic turmoil and continues to enjoy wage growth and declining unemployment rate. Canada understands the importance of putting its own citizens to work first and exporting products, instead of jobs.

Now is the time for all of us in the United Brotherhood of Carpenters to stand together and fight for the sustained economic growth our members and families rely on.

There are things you can do today to make sure your voice is heard. First, make sure we have your current contact information, especially e-mail. We now send messages via e-mail alerts to our members to rally support against issues such as the pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea or in support of job creating infrastructure projects.

Second, keep on top of skill-enhancement training. The economy will rebound, and when it does, be ready to work on the jobs that will be coming our way. And as always, be productive with a positive attitude on the jobsite. Our superior work, day in and day out, is a proven path out of this recession.
Fortune favors the bold. The UBC has never backed down from a challenge, and, just like our founder back in 1882, these times call for all of us to be bold in our efforts to rebuild our country. On this Labor Day, I ask all of you to join me and focus on fighting for our rights as a union and strengthening the foundations of what made our two countries the greatest in the world – the North American workforce.

Have a safe and happy holiday.

Douglas J. McCarron
General President
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America