Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We want to share exciting news about our expansion as a Regional Council that will strengthen our Union for the future.

On February 2nd our northern California union family welcomed 24,000 United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America (UBC) Members affiliated with Local Unions based in Oregon, Washington, and Kern County as our brothers and sisters. General President Douglas McCarron has transferred those Local Unions from the jurisdiction of the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters to that of the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council.

To reflect its expanded territory, the regional council that I am honored and proud to lead is now the North Coast States Regional Council of Carpenters. Our public brand will be the North Coast States Carpenters Union (NCSCU), 57,500 Members strong!

The NCSCU will represent all UBC-affiliated trades across a 1,000-mile stretch of the Pacific Coast, from the southern end of California’s Central Valley all the way to the Washington-Canada border.

Our enlarged jurisdiction is important to our collective future for two main reasons.

First, we will have more strength to organize more projects because we deal with property owners and construction employers who control or compete for projects across North Coast States boundaries. Increased union density — our share of total work — will translate into more work for you, our Members. Increased density also will strengthen us at the bargaining table, resulting in stronger contracts.

Second, our Union will become more efficient. Instead of different Local Unions duplicating efforts and expenses, our Regional Council will put greater time and resources into organizing, sharing best practices, and better serving the needs of UBC Members who live and work in the North Coast States.

As part of this efficiency drive, the General President strengthened North Coast States Pile Drivers and Millwrights by unifying their respective Local Unions. The Members of Local Union 196 (Kent, WA) have been transferred to Pile Drivers Local Union 34 (Oakland, CA), thereby creating a union with over 2,150 Members. Similarly, Members of Local 96 (Kent, WA) have been transferred to Millwrights Local Union 102 (Livermore, CA), growing Local 102’s Membership to 2,200 Members.

All Members’ rights, fringe benefits, and applicable collective bargaining agreements remain in force. Unification will bring more power to these affiliated crafts to train, organize, and bargain.

The General President also consolidated a few smaller Local Unions into larger ones. Nor Cal Local Unions 701, 1109, 9083 and Kern County Local Union 743 have been reorganized to form a new, unified San Joaquin Valley powerhouse: Local Union 99, which will have 2,840 Members. Local 1789 (South Lake Tahoe) has been merged into Sacramento-based Local 46. Local 35 (San Rafael) has been merged into multi-county Local 751 (Santa Rosa). Local 1599 (Redding) is now part of Local 180 (Vallejo).

As our North Coast States Carpenters Union comes together with an expanded Membership, our team of leaders and Union Representatives will work tirelessly to promote and practice Unity, Integrity, & Strength.

Together, our voices will be loud and proud as we demand that developers, employers, and public officials respect our rights and needs. Our skills and labor build our North Coast States communities. In the coming months the leadership team and I will attend Local Union meetings across the jurisdiction to engage with the Members and share our vision to build unity and union power.

When We Fight As One — The Fight Is Won!

Yours in solidarity,

Jay Bradshaw, Executive Secretary Treasurer
North Coast States Regional Council of Carpenters