The main reason the Carpenters Union was established in Cape Breton, was because by being organized, the Carpenters could demand better wages and safety. There were different wage scales and very few rights for workers. So, Carpenters in the late 1880's found it necessary to join together for a common purpose. Although they (carpenters) were meeting in the 1800's as a guild, it was not until September 1905 that the charter was granted.

Carpenters played a vital roll in building the Industrial and Commercial base of Cape Breton over the past 90 years.

Local 1588 lent both financial and moral support to the Steelworkers when they were first organizing. The Carpenters Union of Cape Breton has a long and proud tradition.

Back in the mid 60's there were 5 locals on Cape Breton Island; Local 1645 in Glace Bay Local 2348 in North Sydney Local 1588 in Sydney Local 3268 in Port Hawkesbury and Local 611 in New Waterford Each Local Union had its own autonomy (ran their own affairs) at this time there was a District Council, and the District Council employed the Business Agent. Each local sent (2) two delegates to the District Council. Rules and regulations then came from this governing body.

In 1979 it became more apparent that if we were to survive in Cape Breton as a union, we would have to make some fundamental changes as to how we conduct our business. All five locals in Cape Breton were merged in November 1979. This change has lead to a more economical, and efficient way for the union to conduct business. All the records are kept in the one office, and were are able to employ a full time Secretary, Business Representative, and Organizer to conduct the business of the Union.

Our local continues to work to change its public image. We have been involved in many social issues over the years including; Social Security Programs and Unemployment Insurance Programs.

Our local has been involved in many community projects including the following fundraisers for:

Ski Challenge for United Way of C. B. Arlene MacNeil - The MacDonalds Shooting Survivor Cape Breton Regional Hospital University College of Cape Breton Dads against Diabetes Isaac Walton Killam Hospital for Children RCMP Musical Ride YMCA Burn Camp

Our local was directly involved in the construction of the United Way Dream Home, providing our expertise to have the home built. We have made donations directly to organizations such as:

The Canadian Heart Foundations The Canadian Cancer Society We have also been involved in the Sky is The Limit Ski Challenge to raise funds for The Canadian Association of Community Living - raising thousands of dollars. It is essential to our Local Union, that we stay focussed on our common goal. Our aim is to achieve sufficient power to determine the terms and conditions of employment of every working carpenter throughout the entire market.

With such power, we can negotiate better and better contracts, winning for our members a growing prosperity, a rising standard of living, a better quality of life, and more democratic control of their work lives. With such power, we can organize a growing contractor base, providing our members with expanding employment opportunities and enhanced job security. With such power we can help stabilize our industry, and tame its most destructive competitive tendencies, including contractors to compete constructively on the level playing field of uniform wages, benefits, and job conditions.

Gaining control of the skilled labour market by organizing the workforce is how we achieve real union power. That is what our forebears did to build this great union , and that is what we, too, must do.

The key to our success in the past has been to analyse the unique circumstances we face in our own jurisdiction and come up with a plan to take back the markets we have lost and maintain our present position in the Industrial - Commercial Market.

Our ability to represent carpenters working under union contracts and to represent carpenters working in the open shop flows from the never ending effort to educate, agitate and organize all carpenters, in every community on every job, and in every area of their lives.

Our local has a long term plan to regain the markets we have lost. The first step in that plan is to bring our present contracting members under collective agreements with the local union.

Our local is alive and well, and continuing to grow and flourish in Cape Breton.