Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters News

President Obama's State of the Union Address

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00 CST

President Obama delivers his State of the Union address to Congress on Jan. 24, 2012.

Public Lead Program Meetings: 11 in Illinois

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00 CST

The Illinois Department of Public Health's Lead Program is holding 11 meetings around the state to inform the public about the changes in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Renovation, Repair and Painting law which went in into effect in April, 2010 . The law requires contractors, property managers and others paid to replace windows or renovate residential houses, apartments and child-occupied facilities built before 1978 to be certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This law is intended to protect children from leaded dust that may result from disturbing lead-based pain.

Hardest Working Hands in America Contest

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00 CST

A hand cream manufacturer is looking for hands that best represents the sweat and determination of hardworking men and women. The grand prize winner will receive $5,000, a lifetime supply of moisturizing cream and potentially be featured in a national ad.

Health, Welfare & Pension Pre-Retirement Planning Seminar, Sat., Mar. 31

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00 CST

If you plan to retire in the next 2 or 3 years this seminar will help with post-retirement health care coverage and pension benefits. Spouses are encouraged to attend: Sat., Mar. 31, 2011, from 8:00 a.m. until noon. Click on the headline to register.

New Year Provides Opportunity to Strengthen Our Brotherhood (McCarron)

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00 CST

A New Year's message from UBC General President Douglas J. McCarron.

The High Price of Political Payback at McCormick Place (Crain's)

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:00 CST

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan cost taxpayers nearly half-a-billion dollars by blocking repeated efforts to restructure McCormick Place bonds and finance a much-needed second hotel at the convention center, a Crain's investigation finds.

Madigan: 1; Blago: 0 (Illinois taxpayers: $500 million) (Crain's)

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:00 CST

Between 2005 and 2009, Mr. Madigan snuffed five McPier refinancing bills backed by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. His actions prevented the agency from saving hundreds of millions in interest payments alone, at a time when many other government bodies and private businesses were taking advantage of falling rates to refinance debt.

Refinancing also would have given McPier funds to build a revenue-generating hotel and the financial flexibility to offer better deals to trade associations looking to save money on McCormick Place conventions. Instead, the cash-strapped agency saw no choice but to raise prices at the convention center, prompting some of its biggest shows to leave town.

ABC News Report Extols U.S. Manufacturers, Products, Job Creation

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00 CST

This ABC News video (4:27) shows how constructing homes using materials made in America creates jobs with little change in cost. And using 5 percent more American-made products could mean more than 200,000 newly created jobs.

'Green' Construction Is Now a Core UBC Curriculum

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00 CST

As green building practices became commonplace in most new, retrofit, or tenant improvement projects, the Carpenters International Training Fund is responding by first creating and now consistently updating its green training program.

12 OSHA Videos to Protect Workers from Construction Hazards

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00 CST

The videos are based on real-life incidents and include detailed depictions of hazards and the safety measures that would have prevented these injuries and fatalities.