Monday, December 7, 2009

Is The Carpenters Union In Chicago Corrupt ???

November 30, 2009



Corruption in Chicago Carpenters Union Hurting Rank and File Pensions!

I have been a contractor in Chicagoland for over 36 years. I have been a signatory to the Carpenters Union for approximately 25 years. I am NOT anti-union. I am also signatory to Chicago’s Local #11 Roofers Union and Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 73 Union.

The intent of this blog is to show you, current and former Chicago District Council of Carpenters members, what I have found out through the last ten years of my fight with your union. I have uncovered many acts by your union that most definitely affects your pension funds. Many of these same wrong and illegal acts also affect us contractors that are signatory to the CDCC. Bottom line is we all are getting screwed. I have had many carpenters union members ask me what they can do about what is going on. I will address that and believe me, there is a lot that can be done by you. The key element of success for you will be to take the time and contact the individuals that I identify by certified mail so that there is a record of everything. Your voice in unison can and will be heard. I will post a document weekly as proof of what I am alleging and describe for you how it affects your pension benefits.
This first thing you can do to help yourself and learn more about what your rights are is to request, from the Chicago District Council of Carpenters Pension Fund, the booklet that is a Summary of the Plan. (Read it! It can be confusing at first, but worth the time invested.)

You can request this booklet by sending your request in writing to:


Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters

Attn: Kristina Guastaferri, Pension Fund

12 E. Erie Street

Chicago, IL 60611



• An important item to check out is the page that is headed “Statement of Rights Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974”. Verbatim it says “as a participant in the CDCC Pension Fund, you are entitled to certain rights and protections under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). ERISA provides that all plan participants are entitled to the following rights.”

Next, you should send a certified letter to:

Michael O’Grady

12 East Erie Street

Chicago, IL 60611

Requesting the following documentation: (Federal law mandates they provide these documents to you.)



• Copies of all documents governing the operation of the plan, including insurance contracts and collective bargaining agreements.

• Form 5500 Series

• The Annual Report



If you do not receive these documents within 30 days, per the plan and Federal Law, you may file suit in Federal Court and get paid $110.00 per day until you receive these documents.

I would be interested to know if you do get these documents or not. For those that do not, we can then band together and initiate a class action suit in Federal Court to compel them to give the documents to you.

An important contract your union entered into, of which by law they should give you when you submit your request of “all contracts”, is a piece work contract your union entered into with the Overhead Door Industry in Chicagoland. That document is what I will describe to you next time and how it hurt your pension.

That’s all for now. Spread the word and if anyone out there has had a bad experience with this union, please let us know. We can do something about it. You are not alone.


Michael A. Prate

3 comments:

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