EASRCC Carpenters History

On August 20, 1866, the National Labor Union made up of skilled and unskilled workers, farmers and reformers was formed and called on Congress to order an eight-hour workday. The National Labor Union was created to pressure COngress to make labor law reforms. The UNion failed to persuade Congress to Shorten the workday and the labor organization itself dissolved in 1873. However, its efforts heightened public awareness of labor issues and increased public support for labor reform in the 1870s and 1880s.

In the second issue of P.J. McGuire’s “The Carpenter” he called for a national convention to be held in Chicago on August 21st, 1881. McGuire along with representatives from 11 different cities formed the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. One of those representatives, Gabriel Edmonston who organized the D.C. and Virginia Carpenters, would become the first General President of the Union. 

The first May Day was celebrated on May 1, 1886 and is still celebrated in various areas throughout the globe as International Workers’ Day. The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions (which later became the American Federation of Labor) first proclaimed that “eight hours shall constitute a legal day’s labor from and after May 1, 1886.” The following year, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, backed by many Knights of Labor locals, reiterated its proclamation stating that it would be supported by strikes and demonstrations.

The Famous Long Strike was conducted by carpenters out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during a year where several other strikes by unions were taking place. This strike though was not sanctioned by the United Brotherhood and failed under difficult striking conditions and no assistance from outside of Pittsburgh. The UB, out of “the feeling of sympathy and fraternity” rendered aid to the strikers after the strike was unsuccessful. The need to regroup was necessary and Pittsburgh Carpenters convinced former retired Business Agent,  A.M Swartz, to return to office and help bring a larger unity back to the union. Swartz served as a national convention delegate in 1892 and was elected to the General Executive Board.

Successfully organized the carpenters in Paramus, New Jersey. Was instrumental in bringing in the amalgamated carpenters of North Jersey into the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. Arthur’s nickname was “Fair and Square” and would go on to lead the Building Trades in New Jersey for several years as well as a representative for the International Carpenters.

The Davis-Bacon Act, introduced by Senator James J. Davis (R-PA) and Representative Robert L. Bacon (R-NY-1),  is passed in 1931 and establishes the requirement for paying prevailing wages on publicly funded projects. In 1931, laws were enacted both in Washington and in Wisconsin to guarantee fair competition on federal and state construction projects. Over the years these laws, the Davis-Bacon Act and the state Prevailing Wage law, have become recognized by workers both inside and outside the construction industry as important milestones in the history of organized labor.

In the depths of the Great Depression in the 1930s, both unemployed and union workers mobilized to successfully support the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which established the first national minimum wage at $0.25/hour (equivalent to $4.31/hour in 2017 dollars). The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor standards affecting full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and in Federal, State, and local governments.

The years following World War II saw Union membership increase exponentially as American soldiers joined the construction workforce after their service to their country. In the post-WWII Boom, membership in the Brotherhood reached new heights with more than 833,000 members by 1973.

President John F. Kennedy issued Executive Order 10988 on January 17, 1962. This Presidential Executive Order recognized the right of federal employees to collectively bargaining. At the time, very few workers at any level of government had won the right to bargain collectively with their employers. Federal action helped inspire many states and localities to follow suit, allowing their own workers to organize. Executive Order 10988 was later replaced and expanded on by President Richard Nixon’s Executive Order 11491 in 1969 by adding additional oversight.

With the failing economy and union struggles of the 1970s and 1980s. The UBC had to adapt to a changing construction climate. Many small towns had individual locals and with changing technology and the shrinking of the UBC membership these smaller locals were merged into larger area locals. This strategy helped to fight back against union busting organizations and regain lost markets.

Douglas McCarron is elected as the general president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. Since being elected General President in 1995, McCarron has undertaken the most extensive restructuring in the Union’s more than 135-year history, moving the organization to a regional structure that matches modern construction markets. McCarron and his leadership team were re-elected to five-year terms in 2000, 2005, 2010 and most recently in 2015.

Politicians from West Virginia passed a “Right to Work” Law in 2016 that was later overturned by the courts in 2019. The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters continues to join other unions in fighting against this attack on workers rights as it moves through the court system.

To better represent our growing region Council Leadership made a change, in name only, from the Keystone + Mountain + Lakes Regional Council of Carpenters to the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters.

In the 21st Century, members of the Union Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA) span a variety of crafts such as general carpentry, pile driving, trade show, interior design, mill cabinet and millwrights. The UBCJA is a diverse Union with nearly half a million members in the U.S. and Canada. Our members are your neighbors, they are your little league coaches and they are your elected and appointed officials. Today, our state-of-the-art, no debt apprentice training sets the standard in our industry and ensures that workers have the training to operate efficiently and safely on the job site.

In the 21st Century, members of the Union Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA) span a variety of crafts such as general carpentry, pile driving, trade show, interior design, mill cabinet, and millwrights. The UBCJA is a diverse Union with nearly half a million members in the U.S. and Canada. Our members are your neighbors, they are your little league coaches and they are your elected and appointed officials. Today, our state-of-the-art, earn-as-you-learn apprentice training sets the standard in our industry and ensures that workers have the training to operate efficiently and safely on the job site. We are building America safer, professionally, and on time while standing up for workers’ rights.