Dear Brothers & Sisters,

It is with immense honor and great pride that I take on the responsibility of Southern District Vice President of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC). As a career carpenter, I have dedicated my life to promoting growth and prosperity for our members in the South. I am committed to continuing my efforts to ensure that our members are present at every job site we target, and that they are equipped with the best tools and knowledge to excel in their fields.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the trust you have placed in me to lead our members toward achieving our shared goals. This is indeed an exciting time for the construction industry, as the Biden administration is making significant investments in infrastructure, clean energy, and worker protection. It could be the largest investment in the middle class that working households have ever seen.

UBC leadership has put us in a great position to take advantage of the many opportunities and growth across all specialties. As your vice president, I am committed to ensuring our members benefit the most from this growth. I will work tirelessly to promote contractor and political outreach, all while working together toward the same goal of safe, efficient projects staffed with professional millwrights, carpenters, and pile drivers.

I hope you will join me in working toward these goals, as it will take all of us to effect change within the industry. We must come together as one and work with a common goal: Good jobs with fair pay, benefits, and safe working conditions. If we unite for a common cause, I am confident we can make a difference, obtaining greater market share and more jobs for ourselves, family, and friends.

UBC and council leadership work every day to find the right political candidates who support millwright and carpenter politics and policies that support middle-class families. The next political cycle is just around the corner, and it is important for everyone to get involved in our local union activities by attending monthly meetings and asking your business reps what you can do to support our common goals. We will need help with organizing, political canvassing, event volunteers, mentoring new members, and recruiting apprentices. It will take all of us to achieve success. Every member of our team is important.

Let us come together and become an unbreakable team; together, we will make a difference. We are stronger together! Let us work toward achieving our shared goals and building a better future for ourselves, our families, and our communities.

Stronger Together,

Jason B. Engels

UBC Southern District Vice President