Value on Display – A Disaster
The Annual Building Trades business meeting is in session. The closest the trades got to be a Trades Movement last year is when #Resist Building Trades members were in attendance. Hopefully they are there, and in bigger numbers. Perhaps vocal this time!
Below are the Trades’ membership numbers in 2017, 2016 & also the highest number since 2000.
As you review the numbers, know that there is a lot of massaging of the total membership numbers, which you’ll find in the LM-2’s. Some of the inflated categories under membership include: life, special limited, early retired, retired, limited, withdrawal, honorary and superannuated members, and agency fee payers. And, notice that there is a steady decline over years despite the last 3 years of $1.5 trillion or more in construction spending.
- IBEW 671,076/372,223 A Card – 2016-666,602 – 2001 -740,869 LM File# 000-116
- Laborers 576,475 – 2016 – 581,477 – 2003 – 840,180 LM File #000-131
- BAC 73,411 – 2016 – 73,770 2002 – 101,823 LM File #000-034
- Insulators 22,188 – 2016 – 22,427 – 2005 – 36,292 LM File #000-090
- OPCMIA 43,588 – 2016 – 39,900 – 2008 – 43,885 LM File #000-132
- IUPAT 110,027 – 2016 – 109,724 – 2008 – 133,997 LM File #000-035
- Carpenters 424,826 – 2016 – 445,870 – 2002 – 538,431 LM File #000-085
- UA 341,844 – 2016 – 336,021 – 2009 – 346,882 LM File #000-111
- Ironworkers 127,991 – 2016 – 128,327 – 2008 – 140,406 LM File #000-052
- Operating Engineers 380,596 – 2016 – 377,263 – 2009 – 408,658 LM File #000-159
- Boilermakers 51,002 – 2016 – 53,287 – 2002 – 79,892 LM File #000-074
- Elevator 27,620 – 2016 – 26,491 – 2009 – 29,613 LM File #000-197
- Roofers 21,726 – 2016 – 21,354 – 2007 – 23,816 LM File #000-135
- SMART 202,402 – 2016 – 204,279 Note: UTU and Sheetmetal merge in 2012 LM File #000-073
Read the LM to discern numbers of R&F Sheetmetal in the field.
If you want to check these numbers yourself, go to the US DOL Union Search Form – https://olms.dol-esa.gov/query/getOrgQry.do Put File # in top box.
The business model that has turned the Trades into a temp agency has done far more than shrink membership numbers. The tremendous loss of wages, benefits & conditions for years has hastened “the race to the bottom” of the middle class in the world of construction! Concession after concession.
Scores of pensions are facing or are insolvent. Below is a link to the list. NOTE: New zones were created and pay attention to the ZONE of “Green but Red in 5 years”. The insolvent list will grow. Department of Labor 2017 Critical, Critical and Declining, Endangered Status Notices:
So, here we are, the “men” that have watched over the demise of a once great MOVEMENT – listening to spin and soaring, mostly self-arrogant speeches of a job well done. What a joke and shame all at the same time.
Perhaps members of #RESIST and others know that the business model of Value on Display, in practice for decades, needs to go! Maybe this BT Conference will break the chain of BS status quo!
“if you see a good fight – get in it”
Danny L Caliendo
Organizer
Labor Rising/Labor Combat
