Hearing set on objections raised in election covering about 1,000 construction workers

A hearing set for Oct. 5 at the NLRB Regional Office in Newark will examine objections to an election that asked more than 1,000 construction workers to choose representation by one of two unions or none at all. The outcome will affect all dockbuilders, pier carpenters, shorers, house movers, pile drivers, divers, tenders, foundation workers, drillers and marine constructors employed by members of the General Contractors Association of New York.
The workers are currently represented by the New York City District Council of Carpenters. In December 2011, the Dockbuilders Local of Amalgamated Carpenters and Joiners Union filed a petition for an election seeking to represent the same workers. Voting was conducted by mail in March 2012. After the parties resolved questions concerning some challenged ballots, a revised tally of ballots showed 361 votes for the Carpenters union, 186 votes for the Dockbuilders union, and 7 votes for no union, with 105 sustained challenges, and 160 undetermined challenged ballots. 
The Dockbuilders union filed objections alleging that representatives of the Carpenters union unlawfully told members they would lose their medical and pension benefits if they voted for the rival union. The October 5 hearing will examine those charges and determine whether the election results should be certified or a new election held.