Wrap Up
The Losses Keep Mounting
More than $8.4 billion a year is lost to Construction Industry Tax Fraud! Watch the losses climb, from Jan. 1, 2017 to now.
We Stood Up, We Took Action!
When it’s time to take action, UBC members always step up to the plate. The UBC Days of Action 2019 campaign was no exception. Click here to see the video that proves it, and see more info and photos below.
The member response was tremendous during Tax Fraud Days of Action, centered around April 15, when regional councils held events across the U.S. and Canada to educate the public and urge policymakers to combat the epidemic of Construction Industry Tax Fraud.
Thousands of UBC members visited state houses, rallied, spoke at educational forums, and handed out flyers at post offices and other public places.
UBC members carried the message that it’s time for fairness—for workers, legitimate contractors and the taxpaying public. No more free rides for cheating contractors and the industry players who look the other way.
Union Carpenters took a stand against tax fraud and here is what was accomplished:
- Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed an executive order creating the Governor’s Joint Enforcement Task Force on Employee Misclassification;
- Montana Governor Steve Bullock signed an executive order creating a Task Force on Integrity in Wage Reporting and Employee Classification;
- Canada’s Finance Minister Bill Morneau met with UBC District Vice President Jason Rowe;
- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel launched a Payroll Fraud Law Enforcement Unit;
- Over 160 news stories across the continent and an explosion of social media covered tax fraud events;
- State Attorneys General Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Bob Ferguson of Washington, Brian Frosh of Maryland and Letitia James of New York attended events.
The photos here show just some of the events where UBC members stood up against tax fraud. We also include links to some of the media coverage from the Days of Action.
This isn’t the end of it. We will not give up!
The Keystone + Mountain + Lakes Regional Council (KMLRCC) hosted a Day of Action event at its downtown Philadelphia office. Participating were (lef t to right) General Building Contractors Association President Ben Connors; UBC General Vice President Frank Spencer; Philadelphia 9th District Councilwoman Cherelle Parker; KMLRCC Executive Secretary-Treasurer William Sproule;
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney; and Philadelphia Councilman-at-Large Derek Green.
Eastern District Vice President Bill Waterkotte spoke at the Pittsburgh, PA, Days of Action event. 
IKORCC EST Todd Pancake, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Midwestern Vice President Mark McGriff at a Day of Action event at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. 
General Secretary Treasurer Mike Capelli addressed the crowd at the IRS building in Trenton, NJ. 
Western District Vice President Randy Thornhill spoke at a Days of Action event in Denver, CO. 
Canada Finance Minister Bill Morneau met with UBC Canada Vice President Jason Rowe at a Days of Action event. 
UBC Days of Action events got an early start as dawn broke in Cape Spear, Newfoundland, the most easterly point in North America. 
EST Derrick Schulte spoke at a Days of Action event in Edmonton, Alberta. 
Members from the Eastern Millwright and New England Regional Councils joined forces and marched to the Rhode Island statehouse in Providence, w here Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea and State Treasurer Seth Magaziner addressed the crowd. 
Hawaii Governor David Inge met with carpenter representatives and proclaimed April 15 the official Tax Fraud Day of Action. 
Carpenters demonstrated at City Hall in Columbus, OH. 
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh spoke at an event in Baltimore, MD. 
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro addressed a rally at the State Capitol. 
Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington D.C. was the site of a rally. 
Carpenters filled the Rotunda at the Pennsylvania statehouse in Harrisburg, where speakers included state Attorney General Josh Shapiro. 
A Days of Action event in Philadelphia, PA, drew hundreds. 
Pittsburgh, PA, Mayor Bill Peduto (left) addressed the crowd at a downtown rally. He was introduced by Eastern District Vice President William Waterkotte, at right. 
Informing the public at the Roanoke, VA, post office. 
EST Bill Sproule of the Keystone + Mountain + Lakes Regional Council spoke at a rally at the IRS building in Trenton, NJ. 
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel spoke at a Days of Action event in Detroit announcing a new enforcement task force to combat fraud. 
Carpenters rallied in Patchogue, NY. 
The inflatable Fat Cat was on hand at a demonstration in Springfield, MA. 
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed an executive order creating a task force on tax fraud at a Days of Action event in Madison. 
Carpenters marched on the state capitol in Sacramento, CA, calling for an end to tax fraud. 
More than 1,000 UBC members and supporters turned out for a rally on the steps of the James A. Farley Post Office in Manhattan, where New York Atto rney General Letitia James and district attorneys from throughout New York City pledged to combat fraud. 
A truck carried the message about tax fraud in Manhattan. 
Carpenters in the crowd at the New York City rally. 
Carpenters rallied at the Canada Revenue Agency in Scarborough, Ontario. 
Pacific Northwest Regional Council members met with Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson at a Days of Action event. 
Pacific Northwest Regional Council members in Seattle, Olympia and Portland distributed handbills at post offices on April 15. 
Southeast Regional Council members talked with Walmart shoppers in Vidalia, GA. The council also held Days of Action events in Knoxville, Nashville and Chattanooga, TN, as well as Florence, AL and Augusta and Marietta, GA. 
No justice no peace
Bringing the anti-fraud message to Austin, TX.
EST Jason Engels of the Central South Regional Council speaks in Austin, TX. 
Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters President Pete Rodriguez addresses the audience on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. 
Spirited members brought the message to Colorado lawmakers at a rally and press conference: No more tax fraud! 
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez addresses carpenters at a rally in Buena Park, CA. 
Scenes from Days of Action events around the Southwest Regional Council. At center is EST Dan Langford. 
A billboard caught attention along a Kansas highway. 
Members in Knoxville educate the public about the issue of Tax Fraud. 
Carpenters in Augusta, GA get the message out about Tax Fraud.
Favorite Headlines:
Philadelphia Inquirer 4-3-19
It’s time to hold tax-cheats in construction accountable
https://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/construction-industry-tax-fraud-20190403.html?outputType=amp&__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar&__twitter_impression=true
Philly Voice 4-9-19
When contractors cheat, we all pay
https://www.phillyvoice.com/when-contractors-cheat-we-all-pay-0599942/
Missouri times 4/10/19
Opinion: Tax Cheats Hurt Taxpayers and Honest Workers
https://themissouritimes.com/59664/opinion-tax-cheats-hurt-taxpayers-and-honest-workers/?fbclid=IwAR0S71yHtg7NGBR-5ltYX1eVBLE3HZuXl0hJvQIjid1JJcd7dzfSh87KKmc
Eagle Tribune (MA) 4/11/19
Carpenters: Industry plagued by tax fraud
https://www.eagletribune.com/news/haverhill/carpenters-industry-plagued-by-tax-fraud/article_ec189ec0-84e4-575b-afbc-5d557bed3749.html
Daily Commercial News (Toronto) 4/12/19
Carpenters Launch Days of Action to Combat Tax Fraud
https://canada.constructconnect.com/dcn/news/labour/2019/04/carpenters-launch-days-action-combat-tax-fraud
Real Deal (NYC) 4/15/19
Officials at rally say construction tax fraud and fatalities are linked: City saw 3 construction-related deaths last week
https://therealdeal.com/2019/04/15/officials-at-rally-say-construction-tax-fraud-and-fatalities-are-linked/
NBC 5, 4/15/19
Carpenters take to streets to warn about tax fraud: Rallies across New York state aim to educate public
https://www.mynbc5.com/article/carpenters-take-to-streets-to-warn-about-tax-fraud/27155107
Wisconsin Public Radio, 4/15/19
Evers Administration Targets Payroll Fraud with New Task Force: Governor Announces New Initiative on Tax Day
https://www.wpr.org/evers-administration-targets-payroll-fraud-new-task-force
Montana Governor Pressroom, 4/15/19
On Tax Day, Governor Bullock Creates Task Force to Ensure Montanans Receive Fair Pay
http://governor.mt.gov/pressroom/on-tax-day-governor-bullock-creates-task-force-to-ensure-montanans-receive-fair-pay
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 4/15/19
Officials and unions urge enforcement of tax laws in construction industry
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/04/15/contractor-tax-fraud-rally-labor-unions-pittsburgh-market-square/stories/201904150098
Uprise RI, 4/16/19
Elected leaders join Carpenters in rally at Sate House to call attention to tax fraud
https://upriseri.com/2019-04-16-tax-fraud/
Maine public radio, 4/20/19
New England Regional Council of Carpenters Call for an End to ‘Rampant Tax Fraud” at Portland Rally
https://www.mainepublic.org/post/new-england-regional-council-carpenters-call-end-rampant-tax-fraud-portland-rally
US News & World Report, 4/22/19
Michigan AG Plans Crackdown on Worker Misclassification: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is establishing a special unit in her office to investigate payroll fraud and the misclassification of workers by “shady” businesses
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/michigan/articles/2019-04-22/ag-nessel-creates-unit-to-target-payroll-tax-fraud?src=usn_tw