CARPENTER’S BILL OF RIGHTS

The Carpenters' Bill of Rights and Responsibilities is simple, direct, and fair.

Our Bill of Rights says: Here's what we believe. Here's what we stand for. Here are the basic rights of every working carpenter–union and non-union. But with rights come responsibilities–and no one knows that better than we do. We know that it is the responsibility of every carpenter to provide a good day's work and to produce a craftsman's product in return. 

All working people have a right to:

· A good job with benefits
· A living wage that can support a family
· Security and dignity in work and retirement
· A safe and secure workplace
· Education and training to reach our full potential

With rights come responsibilities:

· Being productive, efficient workers
· Producing work of the highest quality—work that we stand behind
· Improving our communities
· Helping fellow workers achieve safety and security in the workplace
· Being active citizens and informed voters

What is Prevailing Wage?

Prevailing wage policies provide the best value for California taxpayers on public works projects. They strengthen the economy and the middle class with good paying local jobs, while helping to ensure that projects are completed on time, on budget, and with the highest quality of workmanship.

Prevailing wage is the standard pay rate based on a survey of all employers in a region - for a construction worker in a given trade in a given geographic area. Often, these workers have completed years of training in an apprenticeship program that ensures that they know how to get the job done - on time and on budget.
These laws were enacted in the 1930s during a time when government-funded construction projects had become a race to the bottom. Contractors would bring in low-wage, low-skilled workers from outside the community to do local public works jobs, and then leave when the project was completed - taking local tax dollars with them.

Prevailing wage laws changed all this, creating more California jobs, more ladders into the middle class for California families, and top quality highways, bridges, water systems and municipal facilities for California taxpayers. But in today's tough economy, prevailing wage laws are more important than ever.
Studies have shown that for every dollar spent on a prevailing wage project $1.50 in economic activity is generated locally. This supports local small businesses and builds thriving communities. 

Studies have also shown that without prevailing wage, not only does the local economy suffer, but so do local taxpayers. Millions of local tax dollars are shipped out of town—or worse, out of state. Depressed wages mean more full-time workers on public assistance—effectively a tax increase on everyone else.

Do You Know Your Workers Compensation Rights?

Workers Compensation provides limited benefits for on the job injuries. As an injured workeryou are entitled to permanent and temporary disability, costs of medical treatment, mileage and other incidental expenses. If a negligent third party is responsible for your injury your recovery may be greatly enhanced.

The five rules of on-the-job injuries are:

1. Report the incident to your employer immediately.
2. Fill out a Workers Compensation DWC-1 form immediately.
3. See a physician within 24 hours of the incident.
4. Do not give a written or recorded statement to anyone.
5. Make sure photos of the incident scene are taken. Preserve all physical evidence, gather names of witnesses and their statements of the incident. Labor Code §5430 requires the following disclosure: Making a false or fraudulent workers compensation claim is a felony subject of up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 or double the value of the fraud, which ever is greater, or by both imprisonment or fine.