Local Carpenters Union Adds Puerto Rico as Home to Newest Local

Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters Charters Newest Local in Puerto Rico

    (Philadelphia, PA) The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters announced that it has charted a new Local to represent workers in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The charter for Local 787 was officially ratified on January 10^th, 2020.

“The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters is excited to take the next steps in helping to rebuild the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and organize the local workforce,” said Executive Secretary-Treasurer William C. Sproule, “The addition of Puerto Rico to our Council will strengthen our union with even more highly trained and community-first focused carpenters.”

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America tasked the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters with organizing the Puerto Rican workforce. The Council’s involvement in Puerto Rico has been ongoing for some years. Members of the Council have been helping to rebuild Puerto Rico ever since 2017 when Hurricane Maria devastated the island. Through partnerships with groups like Heart 9/11, they have been assisting in the rebuilding of homes and the training of local workers in how to properly and safely rebuild their communities.

“Our mission of advocating for worker rights, negotiating fair wage standards, and training the best workforce in the nation does not happen overnight,” Sproule stated, “Our members have been on the ground in Puerto Rico helping in any way they can and have shown that they truly care about the residents and community. Our union likes to promote the idea of being a ‘community carpenter;’ which means committing to the overall welfare of where you work and live.  The people of Puerto can be assured that we are here for the long haul and will never turn our backs on them.”

The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters have already been implementing their training programs in the Commonwealth. A partnership with the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections has already created a pre-apprentice training program for incarcerated individuals looking to find a career after their release. These newly trained workers gained the skills they need to become a successful carpenter and rehabilitated members of their community. Their training included building much-needed homes for low-income residents.

The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters represents 42,000 members in a region that includes Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, The District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and ten counties in North Carolina.

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