EXECUTIVE OFFICER CORNER

This midyear report to NCCU Members focuses on major organizing wins that pave the way for long-term work for Members, the successes of rank-and-file committees, gains for women and minority Members, the upcoming UBC national convention, our fight for sustainable healthcare rates, successes in school construction ballot measures, and our preparation for 2026 contract negotiations.

Big wins for organizing

The Nor Cal Carpenters Union has signed an agreement for one of the largest, if not the largest, proposed construction project in Northern California history. Thanks to our focused push to create long-term work opportunities for our Membership, we signed a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with the massive, development in Solano County known as “California Forever.”

The project’s first phase, estimated to be valued at $33 billion in projected spending will support 6,700 local construction industry jobs. The development includes industrial, commercial, healthcare, solar, and educational projects. On the housing front, the first phase will include a minimum of $250 million of multifamily on-site construction.

This agreement is significant in other ways. The Nor Cal Carpenters Union holds equal masthead status on the agreement and crafted language that requires signatory general contractors and protection of all our affiliated crafts’ jurisdiction.

The “California Forever” project success is one of many examples of Union’s growing strength, both politically and on jobsites, since we quit the Building Trades Councils in Northern California.

Another major win is the signing of Alarcon Bohm, a premier Bay Area general contractor, to the Carpenters Master Labor Agreement. Their presence has been growing steadily across multiple construction markets.

We identified Alarcon Bohm as a priority target and began engagement over a year ago. When Alarcon Bohm landed the high-profile Castro Theater project it caught public attention raising the profile of our campaign.

Outreach to both Alarcon Bohm and the project owner Another Planet Entertainment was met with silence. We engaged strategically and aggressively in street actions at multiple sites throughout the Bay Area. The result: Alarcon Bohm is now a signatory contractor, brought to the table through pressure. This campaign didn’t just secure a win, it deepened our Union density and market share in the Bay Area and beyond. This victory also strengthened our hold in the healthcare construction sector, reinforcing our long-term strategy. The message is clear, if you want to build here, you build with the Nor Cal Carpenters Union.

Union Committee Update

Over three years ago the Nor Cal Carpenters Union launched the establishment of multiple committees for rank-and-file engagement, including taking on issues faced by our women and minority Members.

First, I would like to express my deep gratitude to all our Members and staff for their commitment, long hours, and dedication to these initiatives. The goal of the NCCU committees is always to foster unity with all Members in supporting each other in the Union and on jobsites.

It is no secret that recent federal government policies create challenges regarding some of these initiatives. No matter the challenges, your leadership team remains committed to the mission to elevate, empower, and protect all members regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or national origin.

The recognition that a “wrong done to one is a wrong done to all” is a foundational UBC principle for more than 100 years and continues to be a priority. The NCCU does not stand for--and aggressively fights --any threats, intimidation, or discrimination directed against UBC Members, no matter the source of the attack.

I am confident, despite rightful concerns, that working together with the new UBC “Member Engagement Program” to provide more support, education, development of leadership, mentorship, organizing, mobilization, and communication skills--matched with an action plan--that we will look back six months from now and see that working together we are stronger than before.

As we move toward the UBC Convention, stay tuned as we set up meetings for our Sisters and other Members to celebrate recent achievements and – just as importantly – map our collective future. Stay engaged, stay connected, attend your Union meetings, and share any concerns you have with Field Representatives.

“When We Fight as One – The Fight is Won!”

Healthcare fight continues

Our fights are not always with contractors or developers: our battles are also to protect our Members’ interests in other arenas. We are in ongoing negotiations with Kaiser Permanente, the primary provider of health services to membership, over its cost increases to the Nor Cal Carpenters Health & Welfare fund.

Kaiser’s escalating premiums are outrageous. The “nonprofit” health care giant raked in over $6 billion in profit in 2024 and $2 billion in profit in just the first three months of 2025. Kaiser also reported additional billions from recent acquisitions of out-of-state health care companies – acquisitions that were financed with wealth built from decades of accumulated California profits.

Last year, we managed to negotiate down the increase Kaiser initially tried to impose. Through our knowledge of regulations, rules, and the governing bodies relevant to California’s healthcare industry, we effectively mobilized and engaged with two key California health care regulatory agencies: the Office for Healthcare Affordability (OHCA) and the Department of Managed Healthcare (DMHC).

In September 2024, the NCCU requested the DMHC conduct a formal review of the rate Kaiser quoted our health plan. This effort was backed by dozens of members testifying to their concerns and poor treatment by Kaiser.

We also engaged in a public campaign in front of numerous Kaiser facilities. The NCCU subsequently withdrew this request once Kaiser - in the face of challenging questions from the DMHC - agreed to lower the proposed rate increase originally quoted to our plan.

The NCCU will continue to pull regulatory levers, as well as negotiate with Kaiser directly.

During this rate cycle, NCCU will demand full transparency from Kaiser. One of many leverage points in this fight will be OHCA's statewide spending target of 3.5%, which should exert downward pressure on healthcare premiums for many working Californians. NCCU Members and staff are proud to have played a key role in pushing OHCA to pass this groundbreaking regulation in April 2024. Now, we will demand its enforcement.

Both the NCCU and the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters supported Assembly Bill1415, authored by Mia Bonta, whose district includes Kaiser headquarters in Oakland. This bill would further strengthen OHCA’s ability to examine healthcare company mergers, which can drive health care patient costs higher. AB 1415 has passed every committee vote so far and we are mission-driven to see it become law.

We will continue to drive to protect the interests of our Members, in any and every arena. Stay tuned to see how you can be involved. The willingness of Members to make their stories known is an integral part of our collective success, and we must fight together. Thank you for your support.

School bonds

Despite the ongoing difficulties of the economy, some sectors are turning around, including education. In 2024 the Carpenters Union passed over $17 billion in local voter-approved bonds for Northern California public school construction, plus another $10 billion in statewide educational facilities bonds. for an estimated total of $21 billion for construction projects in Nor Cal. The work, which should start to move in 2026, is a huge work opportunity for Nor Cal Carpenters Union Members.

Coordinated staff action already has succeeded recently in redirecting nearly $1 billion worth of school work away from non-union GCs to signatory GCs. We will target school districts with campaigns to establish Carpenter-friendly pre-qualification language, discourage bad actors who otherwise would bid for the work. We will no doubt further expand our already healthy market share in this sector.

Contract Preparation

It is the job of your Union to always be proactive and prepared for the future. To that end, we are preparing for our 2026 contract. Your Union staff has already begun job sweeps hitting both union and non-union projects to get a real-time gauge of our strength and Union density throughout geographic regions and jurisdictions to ensure we are well-armed to fight and achieve the strongest contracts possible.

Just as importantly, we have been keeping a running list of concerns and suggestions from Members we hear at Union meetings and on jobsites regarding contract improvements. We will be rolling out our formal contract workshop at all Local Unions starting in October, where Members can learn how negotiations work and put their priorities in writing to the Negotiation Committee.

Delegates to the 46 Counties Conference Board will elect the rank-and-file negotiation committee on Sept. 6. In addition, Pile Drivers Local 34, Millwrights Local 102, and Carpenters Local 2236 will elect negotiation committees, to ensure all crafts are properly represented. Lastly, a special meeting will be held to elect a committee for our Modular Systems and Window Covering addendum negotiations.

We have proven over the last four years that we can go from strength-to-strength on every front. I am proud and honored to have been a part of this progress. However, we should never be satisfied with where we stand. We should always look to go further and achieve more. With your continued involvement and engagement, I am confident we will take the Nor Cal Carpenters Union to ever greater heights and success.

When we stand together, we are unstoppable.

JAY BRADSHAW
Executive Officer