About the New England
Regional Council of Carpenters

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America began in 1881, when 36 carpenters from 11 cities formed a national union with a constitution, a structure and two thousand members. From humble beginnings arose a powerful political and economic force, setting the standards for wages, benefits, conditions and quality on every project in the U.S. Much has changed in a century, but growth still rests on reaching out and opening doors to all working carpenters.

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America has been going through some exciting changes in the last few years. Under the leadership of General President Doug McCarron we have reorganized our structure and rededicated our union to representing every carpenter in the field through organizing and negotiating better wages and working conditions.

In New England, we've gone from having several state and local councils consisting of Local Unions that acted independently to a single, regional council with more than 24,000 members and 30 local unions all working together to achieve common goals. In the last five years, we have almost doubled our organizing and servicing staff using a process that allows every member consideration for hiring and an open, unbiased and rigorous process for evaluating applicants. We have negotiated contracts that are good for carpenters, but also fair for contractors. We realize that if a union contractor cannot compete and be successful, neither can union carpenters.

The New England Regional Council of Carpenters represents 24,000 carpenters, pile drivers, shop, millmen, and floorcoverers working in the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. There are over 1,500 contractors who have signed agreements with the NERCC, and more are signing every day.