Congratulations on a job well done to eight union carpenters who pitched in a lot of time and effort to help the Rebuilding Together Boston Program on their National Rebuilding Day. The women members, who participated through the Sisters in the Brotherhood program, worked on three sites in the city, adding experienced, skilled hands to the effort.
Rebuilding Together Boston works on an annual basis to repair and renovate the homes of economically disadvantaged homeowners (including the elderly, veterans, families with children, single parent households, the physically challenged and others in need) as well as non-profit-owned facilities (community centers, schools, worship centers, etc.) in the City of Boston. RTB provides its services at no cost to recipients due to the generous support of foundations, corporations, individuals and vendors.
This year's projects on National Rebuilding Day included: six homes in Mattapan, Dorchester and Roxbury; Pine Street Inn Veterans’ housing, a residence for formerly homeless women, and the Nazareth Residence for Mothers and Children.
Members involved in the effort included: Joan Bennett, Local 33; Theresa Haymon, Local 33; Maureen Owen-Ewings, Local 67; Marcia Williams-White, Local 33; Karen Blandino, Local 67; Judy Sullivan, Local 67; Mikey Myles, Local 67 and Liz Skidmore, Local 118.
The following video story about Local 33 Sister Theresa Haymon was recently posted in the Meet Our Community section of nercc.org. Take a look to see more stories on the "Meet Our Community" page.
For over a year, union carpenters and other trades workers in New England have been lending their time and valuable skills to assist in the construction of a hospital in Mirebalais, Haiti. After the devastating earthquake, the hospital is a source of hope in many ways. NERCC's Mark Erlich recently visited Haiti and wrote a piece for CommonWealth magazine about this amazing project.
The Fifth Annual "Great 2012 New England Carpenters Ice Fishing Derby" has been scheduled for Sunday, February 12 at the Norton, Mass reservoir on Route 140. Organizers will be set up for registration with a NERCC banner by 5am. Power augers will not be allowed before 7 am, with awards and a shore drawing behind held at 2:10. Prizes will be awarded for the three heaviest fish of any species brought in alive. Registration is $20.
A group of carpenters at a jobsite in Jamaica Plain saved a young boy’s life and came to the aid of his mother who was struck by a car trying to protect him.
The incident happened last Friday in front of the carpenters’ jobsite at 365 Center Street. The group witnessed a young boy walking down with the street with his mother. Suddenly, the boy darted out in to the busy street. As the boy ran off it appeared he was unable to hear the yells from his mother warning him of the danger he was in.
Carpenters Almarie “Annie” Condry (LU 67), Michelle “Mikey” Myles (LU 67) and Joan Bennett (LU 33) saw the incident unfold and ran out to the street, scooping the boy up and out of harm’s way while stopping traffic. Unfortunately, in a panic, the boy’s mother ran in to the street and was struck by a car. Condry, a former medic in the US Army, lay on the ground next to the woman. Condry immobilized the mother while reassuring her that her child was not hurt and that she would also be ok.
The other carpenters called 911 and comforted the young boy while they waited for help. Paramedics leaving the scene told the group that the woman appeared to have only suffered minor injuries.
Jay Cashman, Inc. has been a union contractor for many, many years. The business--based in Quincy, Massachusetts and with offices in Boston, New York and Florida--does heavy civil and marine construction throughout the United States. Jay Cashman also acts as a developer and generous member of the business community and has been a sponsor of the "Carpenters Cure Fore Ovarian Cancer Classic."
His latest act of philanthropy was to donate more than 27 acres of company-owned land in Stoughton to a YMCA which it surrounds.
Union Carpenters were given a public pat on the back last week for work they're doing with area residents to winterize their homes. A woman who was the recipient of the good will effort wrote to the Portland Press Herald to give an enthusiastic thanks.
Local 424 Business Agent Rick Braccia checked in with some goings-on in his area...
--StreetWorks, the Master Developer of Downtown Quincy is presenting their proposal to the City Council on Monday night at City Hall at 7:00 P.M. The plan was presented to the Building Trades last week. Although the project isn't a solution to our immediate needs for jobs, the potential for development in Quincy is unbelievable.
--There is a public hearing on Thursday night (March 5) at the former Watson Library in Braintree. This is a joint hearing by Braintree and Weymouth officials to explore infrastructure improvement as a means of attracting business development to Weymouth Landing.
--Last Tuesday night, there was a meeting of the Braintree Town Council Ordinance Committee at which NERCC Director of Organizing Brian Richardson, Local 33 President John Murphy, and Rick Braccia testified in support of a responsible employer ordinance (REO). The town currently has an REO Policy, but this is merely a recommendation to contractors doing public work in the town. If Braintree adopts this as an ordinance, it give legitimate contractors a more level playing field. The response of the committee was overwhelmingly positive. The REO is being proposed by Councilor Tom Bowes.
--The next VOC meeting is on March 11. On the same night, we are asking Quincy residents to attend the Planning Board meeting at City Hall at 7:00 P.M. The Planning Board is going to reject an application by anti-union, developer Michael Corcoran, and it would be beneficial to have some applause in the audience. A few years back, Corcoran was the developer of the Cliffwalk Apartments on Willard St that we held rallies and a six month picket line on. That was the job with Plumbhouse as a GC. In case nobody recalls, Plumbhouse is the guy who has his trucks lettered "Merit Shop Builds Best."
Sam Ellis, of the Boston Globe, wrote a piece yesterday on what could be the year of labor. He give significant play to the growing alliances between unions and churches.
What's next? Posted by
NERCC
on December 24, 2008 at 12:00 AM
The NERCC presence in cyberspace is growing. It's been many years since we created a website. About two years ago we started sending Council Updates to staff, delegates and local union officers by email. Since July, we've been playing with this Blog thing. We haven't really let anyone know it's here yet, but maybe soon.
The latest front in the effort to reach out to members, prospective members and the general public. I've generated a Facebook profile for myself and started a Facebook "group" for the New England Regional Council of Carpenters. They both link back to our website--necarpenters.org--and will have more content and news as we go.
Check it out. Generate a profile, then search for and join the New England Regional Council of Carpenters.
In Spring 2008, carpenters working for Auburn Construction broke ground at a special project on two acres of donated land located on the campus of Stonehill College in Easton, MA. The House of Possibilities (HOPe) began as the dream of Paula Kavolius, the mother of three sons. Her youngest son, Timmy, has FG syndrome, a rare congenital disorder with multiple symptoms, including mental retardation. Kavolius quickly learned that caring for Timmy was a full-time job, one which left her with little time for the "normal" day to day activities of a family. She dreamed of a safe place where she could leave her son Timmy for a few hours to run errands or just spend time with her other children and husband.
Kavalius' dream turned into the grassroots group that is building the Yawkey House of Possibilities in Easton. The building will be a respite home for children with physical and cognitive disabilities and life threatening illnesses.
Auburn Construction is the General Contractor on site. Very early on in the process the company reached out to Local 624 and asked about collaborating on the community effort. The project has brought together both commercial and wood frame Locals as well as apprentices from the New England Carpenters Training Center in Millbury, MA.
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