Wrap Ups

“Exploited workers and law-abiding contractors do not deserve the hand they’ve been dealt because of the greed and callousness that is the foundation of the tax fraud business model,” said UBC General President Douglas J. McCarron. “We will not rest until this ends.”

See what we did in 2024

WHEN CARPENTERS TAKE ACTION, WE WIN

When it’s time to take action, UBC members always step up to the plate. Here are some recent accomplishments:

2024

From Fredericton, New Brunswick, to Franklin, Missouri; from Redondo Beach, Calif. to Regina, Saskatchewan, and in scores of cities and towns throughout the United States and Canada, members and supporters of the United Brother of Carpenters and Joiners of America took part in over 170 educational and protest events during Tax Fraud Days of Action, April 13 – 19. Activities included rallies, members holding banners, ride-alongs to job sites with policymakers, a webinar with state attorneys general, honoring responsible contractors, job-site protests and visits with banking officials. The campaign to eradicate construction industry employer tax fraud continues to gain attention and score improvements at the local, state and federal levels.

TAX FRAUD DAYS OF ACTION 2024 WRAP UP VIDEO

Here is a sampling:

Vaughan, Ontario—UBC Canadian District Vice President Jason Rowe led a team meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss a range of issues on April 12, including employer tax fraud and the underground economy. Trudeau reiterated his support for the Days of Action campaign and spoke of the need to work together to address employer tax fraud. Across Canada, UBC council representatives met with several Members of Parliament, exploring legislation to make general contractors liable for the actions of subcontractors and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented workers being exploited on many job sites.

New York City and State—Members of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters rallied at the State Capitol in Albany to raise awareness of employer tax fraud. In addition, members held banners and distributed handbills at state office buildings and post offices in numerous cities and towns throughout the state, including Buffalo, Binghamton, Rochester, Ithaca, Syracuse, Utica, Watertown and White Plains. And in New York City, some 1,900 members of the New York City District Council of Carpenters rallied at the New York City Public Library in Manhattan with Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez to educate the public about employer tax fraud.

Miami, Florida—Members ofthe Florida Regional Council of Carpenters demonstrated at a publicly-funded project, Block 55 at Sawyers Walk, to protest wage theft and workers’ compensation fraud. A Responsible Wage Ordinance applies at the project, which is adjacent to the county agency that is charged with monitoring public projects. The Florida council’s demonstration served to publicly inform the county agency of possible wrongdoing at the site.

Central Midwest—In Columbus, Ohio, state Attorney General Dave Yost visited construction job sites with representatives of the Central Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters to learn more about how tax fraud schemes operate. At the Porter County Courthouse in Valparaiso, Ind., UBC members rallied along with State Senator Mike Bohacek, City Council President Robert Cotton and City Council Candidate Bob DeRuntz to raise awareness of employer tax fraud. In Greenwood, Ind., members told their stories in videos that were shared on social media.

Western States— In Montana, regional council leaders met with U.S. Senator Jon Tester, who spoke out against the cheaters. In Arizona, Governor Katie Hobbs spoke out against tax fraud at an event with members of the Western States Regional Council. In Los Angeles, California Attorney General Rob Bonta participated with council representatives in a press conference on combatting tax fraud. Throughout the council, members focused on presentations at the city council level to educate officials. Members packed council chambers in Boise, Ida., Albuquerque, N.M., Great Falls, Mont., Spokane, Wash., and in Riverside, Manhattan Beach, Santa Ana, Redondo Beach, Long Beach, Culver City, Torrance and Signal Hill in California. Among numerous events in Northern California, State Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia Brower spoke out against tax fraud at a large rally at the State Capitol in Sacramento.

See the photos below and read the Days of Action blog for a full wrap-up here