- Will I lose control of my business?
No, our role is not to run your business, but to partner with you in having the best trained, productive, and safe workforce possible. Our role is limited by a written contract between the Carpenters and you.
- Will my costs increase?
Your costs of labor include many factors; worker productivity, scheduling, workers compensation rates, employee moral, loyalty, and employee skills. Your costs could rise or go down, but it is both of our interests to make you as competitive in the market place as possible.
- What if I want to fire someone?
There are many reasons for firing or letting a worker go. You make these decisions as the employer. Our contract has clear language to resolve problems when there is a disagreement over release of an employee. "The employer in any case shall be the judge of the ability, competence, and performance of the employees... may discharge, or discipline any employee...
(see article III 7).
- Why would I want the Carpenters Union meddling in my business?
There are many reasons that it is advantageous for a contractor to partner with the union. Our many varied training programs, the dispute resolution process, and the higher degree of moral and professionalism that union workers exhibit, are just some reasons that other signatory contractor's site. With a signed contract you know what your labor cost will be and don't have to bargain with each employee regarding wages. In the long run it comes down to a matter of trust in the partnership formed and the results in profits for your company.
- Won't I have more problems with my workers?
While we can't promise to solve all your problems, a union contract gives a clear set of rules for everyone to live by. This can alleviate much tension and infighting on the job and a clear way of resolving problems that do arise. It allows work on a project to continue without slowdowns, and keeps moral high.
- What about all these strikes I hear about?
While strikes make big headlines in the media, they are in reality very rare in the labor movement. Less than 4% of contract negotiations ever result in a strike. Our contracts have a no-strike, no-lockout clause, because we realize the importance of continuing work, both for the employer as well as the employee.
- Won't I have to sign a contract with all the other unions too?
Just because you sign a contract with the carpenters, does not force you to sign with any other craft or union. Our contract only covers carpenters, millwrights, and pile drivers.
- Why should I care about benefits for my workers?
Many studies and real life experiences show that workers who have health care and pension benefits are more stable, loyal employees, that tend to stay with you over the years. This loyalty pays off on your bottom line because they understand how you run your jobs, what you expect, and show a more professional image of your company to your customers.
- What will happen if I have a job in another area?
Our contract covers all of Montana, with the exception of Silverbow and Beaverhead Counties. It is easy to obtain contracts for work in other areas; in fact one advantage is that you can take key members of your work force to another area without trying to talk everyone into traveling away from home and paying extra for their room and board. You can call the closest hiring hall and get skilled carpenters from that area to work for as long as the project lasts.
- I'm busy enough right now, why take time to look at the Carpenters Union?
As partners with many contractors, we understand the demands on your time. But we also believe that we can help save you time. By having skilled, reliable workers, getting the job done right the first time and having a skilled pool of additional workers to call on when you need them we can save you a lot of time in interviewing workers, and on the job site fixing problems.
- What will happen with my current employees?
Your current employees are important assets to your company. As a new signatory contractor we can assess their skill level together to place them in the union. Workers are usually very excited to have the opportunity to take further training, and it is our goal to work with each of them in this regard.
- Do I have to hire all my employees from the union hall?
You have the opportunity to hire from the hall either by name, if you know a member that you prefer, or to call out a worker by skills or experience. But you may also hire someone that comes to your attention in other ways, whether it is a family member or someone that stops by your office. Once they are hired they have seven days to notify the carpenters union, at which time they are eligible for all the training and other advantages of being a union member.
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