Painters union votes not to join carpenters

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/106/story/141883.html

By ERIK ORTIZ Staff Writer, 609-272-7253
Published: Friday, April 25, 2008

A New Jersey unit of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades has voted not to jump ship and seek representation with another union, the National Labor Relations Board announced Thursday.

The unit - belonging to District Council 711 in Egg Harbor Township - is made up of about 580 members working in the drywall finishing trade. They had the choice to join the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, which has headquarters in Washington, D.C., and has several locals throughout New Jersey.

The official vote count was unavailable late Thursday.

"The fight here in New Jersey has been going on for almost two years now, and I'm proud of our members holding strong and voting for what is in their best interests," William Candelori, general vice president of the international painters union, said in a statement.

The carpenters union could not be reached for comment late Thursday. The union, saying it could better represent workers, has tried previously throughout the country to organize drywall finishing workers belonging to the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.

The painters union in New Jersey has an overall membership of more than 3,500.

A year ago, District Council 711 was involved in allegations of financial misconduct and the violation of union laws by former district council leaders.

FULL story at link.