Carpenters and Millwrights who make up the South Central Carpenters Regional Council have many issues that are important to both themselves and their families. After careful consideration, these five (5) issues have been determined to be the most significant.

1. Illegal Immigration - The wages and benefits of our members with an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants flooding the construction market nationwide poses an immediate problem for wages and benefits for our members as well as a tremendous strain on our health systems and the loss of state tax revenue.
    
2. Home Rule - The Alabama Constitution forbids local city governments and municipalities to vote and adopt local “living wage” or “prevailing wage” ordinances. This policy must be changed at the state level.
    
3. Stronger Enforcement of Existing Laws and Ordinances - Local and state revenue laws such as state income tax, occupational taxes, etc. The state loses millions of dollars annually because of inappropriate enforcement.
    
4. Davis-Bacon Protection - Though this is a federal law, some projects have both federal and state money involved. The residents of this state should earn the best wages and benefits possible.
    
5. Increase of State Unemployment Compensation - With the lowest rate paid out by any state in the country, members and families need the stability of higher unemployment compensation for time between jobs.

The membership, delegates and council staff of the South Central Carpenters Regional Council are committed to support candidates with whom we have common ground on these important issues.