JOURNAL - A CALL TO ACTION FROM GENERAL PRESIDENT RIGMAIDEN ON PAGE 4 - SPRING 2021
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P ainters and A llied T rades S pring 2021
JOURNAL
A Call to Action from
General President Rigmaiden
on page 4
PRINTED IN THE USA
Working in the building and construction trades is a challenging career.
There are high productivity demands to meet deadlines, and working
conditions can be extremely dangerous if strict safety guidelines aren’t
followed.
Workers in the construction industry face other risks:
suicide and substance use disorder.
• Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States
and the 9th leading cause in Canada.
• The construction industry is one of the top fields affected by
substance use disorder.
IUPAT
HELPING HAND
WORKING TOGETHER
TO SAVE LIVES
The IUPAT Helping Hand is stepping up to raise awareness and provide resources to
help workers in the building and construction trades deal with these personal crises.
Let’s work to save and change lives together with www.IUPATHelpingHand.com
Find resources for suicide prevention and treatment options for substance
use disorder for you or a loved one.
Visit www.IUPATHelpingHand.com
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS
04 GENERAL PRESIDENT’S REPORT 24 EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
06 GENERAL SECRETARY-TREASURER’S REPORT 26 JUSTICE FOR ALL WORKERS
07 FINANCIALS 27 POLITICAL ACTION
07 STAFF RETIREES 28 PENSION DEPARTMENT UPDATE
08 iFTI 29 RETIREMENT SECURITY
10 FINISHING FIRST - LMCI 30 RETIREES
12 WORKPLACE TRAINING, EDUCATION & SAFETY 33 RETIREE SPOTLIGHT
13 MEMBERS IN ACTION 34 GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
14 ORGANIZING UPDATE 36 MOBILE MEMBER PORTAL
16 MEMBER ORGANIZING 37 LIFE MEMBERSHIP
18 COMMUNITY INVESTMENT 38 RECOGNITION
23 JOB CORPS 39 IN MEMORIAM
Painters & Allied Trades Journal
Spring 2021 | Vol. 140 | No. 1
THE PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES JOURNAL (ISSN 1522-2241) is published
quarterly for members of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
by IUPAT at 7234 Parkway Drive, Hanover, MD 21076. Periodicals postage STAY
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SPR ING 2 0 21 | JOURNAL | 3
A CALL TO ACTION FROM GENERAL PRESIDENT RIGMAIDEN
Since John T. Elliott founded the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades in 1887, it has maintained a strong
sense of political independence and dedication to fight for working people. As your General President, I believe that we
are a diverse union—both demographically and politically. Our greatest strength comes from our ability to harness that
diversification, unify and fight not only for our interests as the IUPAT, but for the broader working class. This past election
season, the IUPAT made endorsements across the political spectrum at the local, state, and federal levels. Endorsements
are easy. Now that the elections are over, our real fight begins—working together with elected officials and holding them
accountable to our shared priorities.
IUPAT’s Political Priorities
In advance of the 2020 elections, we were open about our political priorities as a labor union. We fight for expanded labor
rights, comprehensive infrastructure investments, COVID relief, and pension assistance. We based our political endorsements
on those priorities, and in exchange for our support, we were very clear that we expected results. Let’s take stock of how
far we’ve come:
Labor Law Reform
We were very clear that in exchange for the support of our union, politicians must support the PRO Act. Since the
passage of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, we have seen an 85-year assault on the rights of working
people. The PRO Act finally offers an opportunity to turn the tide and level the playing field for workers who want
to exercise their freedom to collectively bargain.
We have been waging a campaign that began before the 2020 elections and we are proud that the PRO Act has
passed the U.S. House of Representatives with some Republican support. We will continue to fight for the PRO Act
until it passes the U.S. Senate and is signed into law.
Infrastructure
Our infrastructure is crumbling. Year after year, the United States receives poor or failing grades from the American
Society of Civil Engineers and each year, the amount of investment we need to rebuild and modernize our
infrastructure increases.
For decades, we have relied on job opportunities on U.S. infrastructure projects to support our families and
communities. Every year, we urge politicians to do something about it.
Part of our support for politicians is contingent on their stances on infrastructure investments.We do not simply
want infrastructure for the sake of infrastructure, but rather to build sustainable communities by investing in high-
road opportunities for U.S. workers. President Biden has again promised to champion an infrastructure bill and all
signs are pointing to that being his next legislative priority. We intend to make sure that it is robust, high-road, and
contains project labor agreements and Davis-Bacon protections.
COVID Relief
Our membership works in every sector of the U.S. economy. As communities and workplaces continue to be
disrupted by COVID-19, working families are suffering. The number one priority in this crisis is making sure people
who are sick or need to be quarantined have whatever it takes to care for themselves.
With the increasing availability of vaccines our hope is that there is light at the end of this dark tunnel. The American
Rescue Plan that was just signed by President Biden goes a long way towards providing relief to our members
and the dire resources needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. COBRA subsidies, pension reform, and direct
funding to state and local governments for vaccine distribution are all included in the bill, and we see that as a win
for our union because we have been fighting for those very policies for over a year.
With a year of layoffs, job site shutdowns, long-term unemployment and prolonged economic uncertainty, we are
hopeful that the American Rescue Plan, in combination with the vaccine rollout, will turn the tide for IUPAT members
and all working people.
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Retirement Security
Our members have worked hard in our industries for decades, providing for our families and communities, on
the promise of retirement with dignity. With the volatility in the stock market, and a projected loss in hours and
contributions to our member’s retirement plans, we are thrilled that the American Rescue Plan contains an updated
version of the Butch-Lewis Act.
Butch-Lewis takes sweeping action to address financial woes in the economy as a whole and on the stock market.
We learned a crucial lesson from the last economic crisis: trillion-dollar bailouts for Wall Street, billionaires and
corporations left working people in the cold and provided little relief to our union, our members and their private
retirement system.
This time around, working people must come first, and we commend the U.S. Congress for including Butch-Lewis
in their COVID-19 relief package.
We have been consistent with our priorities and made our political endorsements with them in mind. We are
happy that some have already paid off and we will remain vigilant on ones that are still working their way through
Congress. Nearly every one of our political priorities has some level of bipartisan support—even the PRO Act gained
5 GOP votes. I am proud of our pledge to not offer any financial or organizational support to politicians who don’t
back us on our priorities, and I hope other unions and organizations do the same.
The Fights Ahead
At the time of this writing, the PRO Act has passed the U.S. House and the American Rescue Plan has become U.S. law.
We know the Biden Administration plans to push for an infrastructure package as one of their next big priorities. We also
know that the Democratic Party has a slight majority in the U.S. House and the smallest possible majority in the U.S. Senate.
For any bill to become law right now, it will be a fight and we will have to mobilize our sisters and brothers to make our
voices heard and our issues prioritized. Even COVID relief, something that is both clear and dire, passed with the slimmest
possible majorities via the budget reconciliation process.
In the coming months, we will be mobilizing our members and allies to organize and lobby around legislation that aligns
with our priorities. The PRO Act, in particular, is something we know will be a fight. We have made clear to all who will
listen that it is one of our top political priorities and we have pledged to withhold support from any member of Congress
who votes against the bill.
Holding Them Accountable
The better we are able to hold politicians accountable, the more weight our political endorsements will have. This is the
most difficult portion of our political work, but also clearly the most important. The better we are able to
mobilize and organize ourselves and project our influence outwards to our elected representatives,
the stronger our union will be and the louder our voices will be heard.There are no shortcuts to
holding politicians accountable. We must make phone calls, knock on doors, hold rallies, and
publicly pressure politicians who act in opposition to our interests.
For nearly 135 years, the IUPAT has fought on behalf of working people. As your General
President, I wanted to bring clarity around why we endorse and what we endorse around. I
know elections can be contentious. I am so proud to be an IUPAT member because I know
that despite our various political affiliations we all have the best interests of the working
class in mind and we know that above all else, we are stronger when we stand together in
solidarity. My affiliation is with the labor movement, not a political party, and I look forward
to working with all of you in the months ahead as we fight to make sure that Congress
stands in solidarity with us.
Ken Rigmaiden
General President
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The 2020 election in the United States, and its aftermath, appears
to have reached an end. Democrats maintained their majority in the
House of Representatives and have a 50-50 split in the Senate, with Vice
President Harris holding the tie-breaking vote. President Biden has already
shown some promising signs by appointing a longtime building trades rank-
and-file member and union leader, Marty Walsh, as Secretary of Labor.
During his first day in office, President Biden fired the union-busting general counsel
of the National Labor Relations Board, and he is working to get a massive COVID-19 relief
bill passed. This bill is intended to help small businesses and individuals affected by the pandemic and puts
measures in place to fund massive increases in vaccinations and testing. The hope is to restore some semblance
of normalcy by the summer of 2021, assuming the bill is passed quickly and in its current form.
We still have work to do if we are going to level the playing field for workers. We need the rules to be fair.
That means holding the President and Congress accountable for passing the PRO Act. Passage of this bill is a
must to begin to reverse the decline of worker power, wages and benefits, and our voice at work. The PRO
Act would be the most pro-labor legislation enacted in my lifetime. It would eliminate right-to-work laws
nationwide, strengthen workers’ positions during an organizing campaign, and make it easier to negotiate the
first collective bargaining agreement.
Recent polls have indicated that the vast majority of workers want to be represented by a union if they had the
opportunity. Getting this bill passed without too many alterations will be hard, but is a very doable task if we
all make our voices heard.
An equally daunting task will be to pass a massive infrastructure bill—massive enough to fix our roads, bridges,
water systems, power grids, schools, and hospitals. This investment is necessary for the jobs it will create. It
would fuel the economic engine of the United States for decades to come. At the same time, it would reverse
the decay of our infrastructure, improve the education of our children, strengthen our national security, and
increase the tax base of our nation enough to pay for itself.
The PRO Act and an infrastructure bill are the two big priorities that we must fight for and make our voices
heard on to hold our leaders accountable. There are many issues that are of great importance; however, these
two bills need to be enacted within the first two years of the Biden Administration after the COVID-19 relief
bill is passed.
Don’t be distracted by all the other political rhetoric. We must send the message to our leaders that these
issues are a priority:
A COVID-19 bill to ease the immediate physical and economic suffering.
The PRO Act to finally strengthen the voice of workers and gain the power to raise wages.
The $2 trillion infrastructure bill to stop the decay of our infrastructure and create unprecedented job opportunities.
I pray for our leaders to have the wisdom to put policies in place that will give all people opportunity and show
compassion for those striving to better their lot in life. This won’t happen without all working families making
their voices heard. Let’s all do our part! Answer the call when your union calls on you!
God bless you.
6| S PRIN G 2021 | JOU R N AL
IUPAT Cash & Investments
BALANCE ACTIVITY BALANCE
AT INCREASE AT
1/1/2020 (DECREASE) 11/30/2020
OPERATING FUNDS
General Fund 31,439,094 2,076,627 33,515,721
Organizing Fund 4,468,761 (391,127) 4,077,633
Building Corp 6,836,072 18,608 6,854,681
Total Operating Funds $ 42,743,927 $ 1,704,108 $ 44,448,035
OTHER FUNDS
AD&D 457,990 13,988 471,978
Death Benefit 27,494,559 (469,498) 27,025,061
Convention 474,649 1,141,292 1,615,941
Issues Campaigns 258,880 (858) 258,022
FIDR Fund 482,404 456,159 938,563
Total Other Funds $ 29,168,482 $ 1,141,083 $ 30,309,565
Total IUPAT Cash & Investments: $ 71,912,409 $ 2,845,191 $ 74,757,600
IUPAT INTERNATIONAL
STAFF RETIREES
DISTRICT COUNCIL 51/LOCAL UNION 1937
Charlie Harris retired last year after 36 years of service
to the IUPAT International. Harris joined the IUPAT as a
Comptroller in 1984, became Assistant to the General
Secretary-Treasurer in 1995, and held the position of
Executive Assistant to the General Secretary-Treasurer
from 2002 until his retirement.
“Throughout his time with the International, Charlie
worked under five different General Secretary-
Treasurers. He was instrumental in modernizing the
Office of the GST and creating efficiency within the
union for all members of the IUPAT,” said General
Former Executive Assistant to the General Secretary-Treasurer Charlie Secretary-Treasurer George Galis.
Harris (center) was presented with a commemorative plaque for his
years of service to the IUPAT by General Secretary-Treasurer George
Galis (left) and General Vice President at Large Gregg Smith (right). Congratulations on your retirement, Brother Harris!
SPR ING 2 0 21 | JOURNAL | 7
International Finishing Trades Institute Mentorship Matters and More at iFTI Mentorship matters! Ask any of our recent class participants why they think mentorship matters after attending a two-day Mentorship Matters Train-the-Trainer at the International Training Center. Many of the participants remember being lucky enough to have had a mentor sometime in their personal or professional life. The IUPAT recognizes that mentors play a crucial role not only in the trade skills development of an apprentice, but also the soft skills development that comes from the relationship and communication between a mentor and a mentee. This program, presented by SkillPlan, is designed to provide the participants with hands-on learning and practice to improve communication and job site training through two programs: the Six Steps to Mentoring for the Mentor, and the Six Skills for Apprentices/Members. Attendees of this class actively participated in the discussions and activities of the class and concluded with small groups providing teach-backs of the course material in preparation for implementing the program locally. Mentorship in the trades is emerging as one of the most critical elements in workforce development. The construction industry is estimated to lose up to 20 percent of skilled tradespeople to retirement over the next decade, leading to skilled labor challenges. While this situation presents advancement opportunities for younger workers, it gives rise to increasing demand for rapid skills development. The core of the Mentorship training program is divided into two four-hour workshops. One workshop will help journeypersons define mentorship, learn the qualities of a good mentor, and to understand the role that mentorship has in developing on-the- job skills, quality, safety, and productivity. The second program is for the mentee apprentice. They will learn how and when to ask questions of their mentor, how to communicate effectively, set goals, and the importance of a strong work ethic. The ideal implementation of this course will include not only the apprentices and instructors of our district councils, but also the directors of training, employers and contractors, etc., who are looking for mentors willing to teach, provide feedback, demonstrate ethical work practices, and generally, provide professional (and sometimes personal) guidance to our member workers. Introducing our members to this program as a mentee will form a pathway for them to grow into the role of a mentor for the next generation. Benefits of a mentor-mentee relationship include mutual feelings of inspiration, respect, and confidence and job satisfaction. This results in a work force that will be able to attract and retain new members in a lifelong career with the IUPAT. Visit the LMS system on www.iFTI.edu to learn more about the Mentorship Matters classes. 8| S PRIN G 2021 | JOU R N AL
LMS 2.0 is LIVE
The iFTI launched an upgrade of the LMS on January 6, 2021. As with the launch of any new major system, we are
transitioning to new features, and working closely with the LMS administrators as well as the LMS programming team
to ensure a smooth transition and early adoption for our members. A second phase webinar for all LMS admins will be
conducted early in the first quarter of 2021 and will cover admin widgets including the Learning Path, My Certifications
pathway and the Certification widget.
Visit www.iFTI.edu for more information on the updated LMS.
Degree Opportunities for Members
In addition to developing exemplary skills and safety training curriculum and techniques, the iFTI also facilitates college
degree opportunities for IUPAT members in the United States. Through various partnerships with education institutions
across the U.S., members have the opportunity to earn associate degrees up to master’s degrees with the assistance of the
iFTI and IUPAT.
There are many reasons members work to earn their degrees, but for Costas “Gus” Diamantis, District Council 9 Director of
Apprenticeship & Training for Finishing Trades Institute of New York, it was his ambition to better serve the members of the
IUPAT. Diamantis, a bridge painter by craft, received his Master of Business Administration from SUNY Empire State College
(Saratoga Springs, New York) in 2020.
“There is so much going on in our organizations, and so many new directions, opportunities, and threats, that I thought
we could and should do more to meet them,” explained Diamantis. “Experience and commitment are great motivators, but
I felt we needed some tools to help get our message across and become as efficient as possible with resources we had at
hand. Too many families rely on us between members, staff, communities, related, and support industries that I felt with the
guidance and support of our BM/ST Joe Azzopardi and President John Drew, we needed to increase our formal training to
ensure we were providing the best services we could for all of our futures. And, as tradespeople, a reliable new tool is worth
pursuing and mastering if it will help accomplish
our jobs more efficiently.”
He credits the assistance of the iFTI and IUPAT for
allowing him the opportunity to earn his degree,
and says the challenge was well worth it. He
also encourages his fellow members to consider
the benefits of earning a degree. “I’m a strong
believer in constantly learning and anything you
learn to better yourself and our Union—even
just a little better—makes a big difference.”
Interested in learning more about earning a degree through our iFTI and IUPAT school partnerships? Contact your FTI.
UP Ed
As a member of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, you are entitled to a wide choice of exclusive
benefits from Union Plus. These benefits include the opportunity for scholarships for you and your family, as well as degree
opportunities, often at no cost to you.
Learn more at
UnionPlus.org/benefits/education.
SPR ING 2 0 21 | JOURNAL | 9
FINISHING FIRST | LMCI Labor Management Cooperation Initiative COVID-19 and the Future of the Finishing Trades In 2019, at the Finishing Industries Forum (FIF), Finishing First presented an industry study by FMI, the leading research and consulting firm in engineering and construction, on the Finishing Trades looking forward ten years. This six-month study covered economic, political, social and technological factors that would dictate trends in construction for the Finishing Trades over the course of the next decade. Then COVID-19 happened… In December 2020, Finishing First hosted a webinar featuring FMI presenting updated research from 2019 and the COVID-19 factor. The webinar, given by Mike Clancy, Principal of FMI, confirmed the data collected in 2019 that predicted that every single market would decline in 2020 was accurate. “We opened up last time [FIF] with an expectation that a recession was sort of around the corner, that an industry downturn would soon be coming in the first or second quarter of 2020, and I have never been so disappointed to be right as I was at that time,” said Clancy to the webinar attendees. He reported that the mixed signals indicating this slowdown included a rise in personal consumption with a decline in consumer confidence which presaged recession. Residential housing and the manufacturing index were also slipping which gave a further indication that a recession was in the near future. Additionally, commercial, transportation and improvements were on the downfall—all of which play a huge demand for construction. Even with this, there was the addition of a global pandemic which shut down most of consumer activity, and for the first time ever, the economy dropped. “The economy has never shut off like a faucet before and that was widely disruptive,” Clancy said. With the help of the first round of stimulus checks and keeping the economy away from negative interest rates, the third quarter of 2020 showed the improvements market was on the rise. As we look toward the future in the post-COVID world, economic, technological and workforce trends were highlighted during the seminar as huge industry factors going into the next decade. Economic impacts include the need for investment in infrastructure. Technological impacts include rapid technology changes and the digitalization of workflow. Workforce impacts focused on the shortage of skilled workers and the decline in union membership. New trends emerged such as the return of manufacturing and virtual professions. An added trend is the deletion of the necessary “college experience” as more young people see the benefit of starting a career in trades that gives them a middle- class lifestyle, great health benefits and ultimately allows them to be free of costly tuition. In the economic headwinds, the record number of corporate bankruptcies in the U.S. put a huge impact on our economy, however, recovery is promising. Namely, construction apprenticeships are now much more attractive especially to those who were working in retail or restaurants. In fact, FMI reports this is the best time in 50 years for trades recruiting. Finishing First will continue to feature new research for the construction industry on a regular basis throughout 2021 as the industry begins to recover from COVID-19 and the men and women of the IUPAT get back to work. Visit FinishingFirstLMCI.com under Case Studies and Research to see the presentation. 10| S PRIN G 2021 | JOU R N AL
IUPAT Helping Hand Featured in Construction and Scientific Community
As progress continues to be made in spreading the word on the resources available under the IUPAT Helping Hand initiative
at IUPAThelpinghand.com, organizations within and out of the construction industry are taking notice.
IUPAT Helping Hand was recently featured in The Voice, the official magazine of the Construction Users Roundtable. The
article “Fading Away: Construction Leaders Speak Out About Mental Health” highlighted the work done by IUPAT Helping
Hand in the industry, along with other organizations seeking to make a healthful impact on the lives of IUPAT members and
their families.
Another organization that took notice was the American Psychiatric Association Center for Workplace Mental Health. They
invited IUPAT Helping Hand to submit a case study to be published and reviewed by mental health professionals and other
like-minded organizations.
The work of IUPAT Helping Hand continues into 2021 and beyond.
Visit FinishingFirstLMCI.com, IUPAT.org and IUPAThelpinghand.com to learn more.
SPR ING 2 0 21 | JOURNAL | 11WORKPLACE TRAINING, EDUCATION & SAFETY
Worker safety is priority number one at the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. We offer all of our members
continual job training and safety instruction, while holding employers accountable when they fail to properly protect workers.
DISTRICT COUNCIL 51 | MARYLAND, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, VIRGINIA
Apprentices Hangin’ in with Fall Protection Classes
Falls are the second leading cause of death in the workplace and the training team at the FTI of MD, VA, DC &
Vicinities (DC 51) is doing its part to keep everyone safe on the job site. First-year industrial apprentices training
at the facility are educated on the importance of being proactive and recognizing potential fall hazards.
The students are trained to identify the
appropriate equipment for their current working Apprentices learn fall protection
at DC 51 and the FTI of MD, VA,
conditions, and learn the proper use and care DC & Vicinities.
of personal fall protection equipment with fall
arrest systems. As part of the training course,
participants go through a “fall and hang”
simulation so that they can experience the fall
and how the equipment can protect from a fatal
situation at a working level.
Thank you to DC 51 and the FTI of MD, VA, DC &
Vicinities for promoting safety on the job.
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12| S PRIN G 2021 | JOU R N AL Enter by April 30, 2021.MEMBERS IN ACTION
DISTRICT COUNCIL 82 | MINNESOTA, DISTRICT COUNCIL 6 | OHIO, INDIANA,
MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, KENTUCKY, PENNSYLVANIA
SOUTH DAKOTA, WISCONSIN
DC 6/LU 639 members Keith Mann and John
Klucznik, who are employed by Brilliant
DC 82 sign erectors at U.S. Electric Sign Co., install a sign at Jersey
Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Mike’s in Middleburg Heights, Ohio.
SPR ING 2 0 21 | JOURNAL | 13ORGANIZING UPDATE Worker safety is priority number one at the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. We offer all of our members continual job training and safety instruction, while holding employers accountable when they fail to properly protect workers. Why Do We Organize? Organizing is one of the key focal points of our union. In order for us to grow—gain new members, increase our market share, and strengthen our union—we must align our whole union’s political, servicing, and communications efforts in direct coordination with district council organizing campaigns. When we consider endorsing political candidates, one thing we keep in mind is whether the policies they support make it easier or harder for our union to organize new members. Part of our task to hold them accountable is whether or not their policies directly translate into an easier environment for our members and organizers on the ground. Let’s go over some of our current campaigns and take a look at the battles we’re waging in our efforts to fight for working people. Denver Wage Bond WHAT IS WAGE THEFT? Every year, employers steal billions of dollars from workers’ paychecks. Wage theft takes many forms and minimum wage violations are the most common. Any time your effective hourly rate falls below minimum wage, that qualifies as a minimum wage violation. Roughly 17 percent of low-wage workers are cheated out of their pay each year. Other forms of wage theft include overtime violations (not paying overtime for hours over 40 each week), worker misclassification, illegal payroll deductions, Davis-Bacon violations (paying a worker less than the prevailing wage on an applicable project) and most blatantly, full wage theft, where an employer just outright refuses to pay a worker for hours worked. Non-union workers are most at risk for wage theft, and among them workers of color and workers in precarious positions (such as undocumented workers) are routinely victims of wage theft. Wage theft is particularly problematic because it allows contractors in the construction industry to bid uncompetitively compared to union contractors. This further exacerbates the crisis and further incentivizes them to steal wages. WHAT IS A WAGE BOND? In the absence of strong federal enforcement, wage bonds are becoming increasingly utilized tools to combat wage theft. A wage bond is a guarantee issued to a government agency to protect the wages and benefits of employees. Typically, these guarantees are cash put up as a deposit in advance. West Virginia has one of the nation’s strongest wage bond laws. All companies operating in the state of West Virginia must register with the Division of Labor for their state wage bond requirements. The bond amount is calculated based on how big their payroll is. If an employee wage complaint occurs, the local government agency is responsible for investigating. If they (the agency or a judge) find that wage theft occurred, that bond is then used to make those workers whole. 14| S PRIN G 2021 | JOU R N AL
WHY DENVER?
District Council 81, in partnership with the International, has been organizing aggressively in Denver, Colorado
for years. Wage theft is rampant in Denver and the IUPAT has been partnering with local organizations, including
Jobs with Justice, Towards Justice, Laborers’ International Union of North America, and the Carpenters Union
to fight for a wage bond ordinance. Requiring construction companies in Denver to put up wage bonds would
protect those workers in the event that wage theft occurs, allow DC 81 to more easily obtain back pay for
affected workers, and force companies to bid at more equitable amounts, thus making our union contractors
more competitive.
In 2019, DC 81 began screening candidates for Denver City Council. As part of that process, they decided to only
endorse candidates who aligned with their priorities. Central to those priorities was supporting a wage bond.
Currently, seven Denver City Council members have committed to voting “Yes,” and we’re working to secure
“Yes” votes from two others to make this law veto-proof.
Simply put, fighting wage theft directly benefits both union and non-union workers. It raises the floor, forces bad
actors to either comply or face repercussions, and directly leads to more opportunity for the IUPAT to organize.
BCK Coatings
Roughly four years ago, District Council 36/Local Union 86 in Phoenix discovered irregularities, leading organizers
to believe that BCK Coatings was potentially misclassifying employees and failing to pay overtime.
BCK Coatings has around 150 workers who do a variety of trades, including framing, hanging, taping, painting
and plastering. For several years, IUPAT organizers have been organizing hand in hand with workers to build a
case. Naturally, BCK Coatings began retaliating and threatening their workers to dissuade them from organizing.
DC 36 organized tirelessly with workers to collect payroll statements, checks, and testimonials. They conducted
“Know Your Rights” training with IUPAT partners, including the Mexican Consulate, to help educate workers
and their communities. They filed cases with the Department of Labor, which assigned three investigators who
are now working in collaboration with the IUPAT to investigate BCK Coatings.
Contractors like BCK Coatings make it nearly impossible for legitimate workers to thrive in Phoenix. Every case of
wage theft represents another contractor who can bid work at impossible rates, thus denying IUPAT contractors
the opportunity to win that work. DC 36 is leading the way in making sure these workers are made whole.
Tri-Council Development Fund
In Illinois, a new labor-management alliance in our trades is gaining ground. The Tri-Council Development
Fund (TCDF) is a partnership between IUPAT District Councils 14, 30, and 58 and their respective contractor
associations. The TCDF grew from a shared goal of establishing a collaborative cross-jurisdictional alliance to
prioritize the organized Finishing Trades across Illinois.
The TCDF is committed to advancing organized labor’s role in building strong communities. Both labor and
management agree that there is value in engaging state and local officials, developers, and professionals around
”high-road” construction practices. From the perspective of workers, this leads to better wages and benefits,
safer workplaces, and stronger retirements.
The TCDF successfully petitioned the Illinois State Environmental Protection Agency to adopt stronger regulatory
language around corrosion. Because of this success, the TCDF is now engaged in a major campaign to educate
engineers, facility owners, and other stakeholders to strengthen its enforcement.
Thanks to the work of the TCDF, the IUPAT’s Organizing staff now has a powerful new tool to combat “low-
road” contractors. The state of Illinois is expected to spend more than $45 billion on new infrastructure, and we
expect our members will directly benefit from that spending because of this new regulation.
District Councils 14, 30, and 58 have set an example of how we can work across jurisdictional lines to raise
standards for thousands of workers.
SPR ING 2 0 21 | JOURNAL | 15MEMBER ORGANIZING While many employers are only looking out for their bottom line, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades is looking out for you! We make sure all our members receive fair pay, proper training and work on safe job sites. DISTRICT COUNCIL 35 | MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT, MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT DC 35 and Massachusetts Community Partners Hold Amazon Accountable When District Council 35 and the Merrimack Valley Building Trades Council learned about Amazon’s plan to open a new logistics center in North Andover, Massachusetts, they launched a joint awareness campaign to educate others about the impacts the new facility would have on workers, the local economy and the community. Amazon has a long history of impinging on local businesses and employing workers at low wages with few benefits, harming communities across America and across the globe. Amazon’s North Andover complex received $27 million in tax breaks, costing each family an average of $2,400 in taxpayer dollars. That means that local families are paying up to $2,400 in taxes to bring low-wage jobs with poor safety protocols, traffic, and pollution into their town. A new website and a video ad were created as a part of the campaign. DC 35 and partners spread the word to the press and garnered coverage in The Boston Globe, Yahoo! News and Patch North Andover, joining local efforts to hold Amazon accountable for how it treats the community, the environment, and workers. On March 1, 2021, dozens gathered for a socially-distanced, masked outdoor rally against the controversial Amazon distribution center, including the offices of Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Senator Ed Markey (D- MA), Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA, 3rd District), Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Steve Tolman, and Massachusetts Building Trades Council President Frank Callahan. We want Amazon to play by the rules, protect our property values, and build their complex in an ethical way, using developers and contractors who will ensure safety, quality wages, benefits and give workers a voice on the job. For citations and to learn more, visit AmazonUpdates.org. 16| S PRIN G 2021 | JOU R N AL
DISTRICT COUNCIL 88 | TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, NEW MEXICO, AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Exploitation Free Zones District Council 88’s Exploitation Free Zones Campaign began over two years ago with the goal of enacting higher standards in the construction and renovation of schools across Houston and surrounding areas. The campaign kicked off with a rally, where allies and over 60 participants attended to demand that Houston be an Exploitation Free Zone (EFZ). There are over 20 school districts in or around the Houston area. In highlighting the discrepancies in how some of those school districts handle the construction of new schools and renovations for existing schools, DC 88 witnessed poverty wages, safety violations, and brokers who exploited workers by misclassifying employees as subcontractors and failing to properly compensate them for overtime, which is a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). A lack of standards, and a lack of school districts to enact higher standards, has resulted in injuries and deaths. It is worth noting that many of these school districts offer Career and Technical Education programs that promote learning a trade. Workers who live in our communities have children who attend these schools. Some of those children will go on to work in the construction industry, and may even build schools. Therefore, it is in everyone’s best interest to ensure that the schools are good from the time ground is broken to the classroom. We want students to learn how to work properly and safely, and to understand that it is their right to stand up to workplace injustices. Two years ago, several workers in the painting industry turned to DC 88 with concerns over their work conditions. They faced a lack of rest breaks, worked in extreme heat or extreme cold, were not provided drinking water on the job site, experienced gender discrimination, and had no formal structure for pay increases. One worker only received a $2 raise over seven years. Although retaliation is a concern, they have united to form a committee of workers who are collectively fighting for change. DC 88 has also discovered that a contracting company who does work in several independent school districts, including Conroe ISD, Cy-Fair ISD, Sheldon ISD and other school districts has a history of misclassifying workers and underpaying them on prevailing wage jobs. A wage claim was recently filed against this contractor for numerous workers who were not paid the prevailing wages set by Sheldon ISD. In two recent cases, DC 88 teamed up with painters to apply pressure to a school district to investigate grievances. Each time, the school district took the contractor’s word about their misclassification of the worker. The school district cannot show how many workers were paid the prevailing wage because they did not collect certified payroll. They have tried to silence workers instead of fully investigating and upholding their own values, thus the need for the EFZ Campaign. DC 88 recently collaborated with the Houston Chronicle to let the community know about the wage violations committed during the construction of C.E. King High School in Sheldon ISD. This article has helped expand the Exploitation Free Zones Campaign. The work done so far by DC 88’s Organizing Department, DC 88 Director of Organizing Sal Herrera, and community partners has been monumental in making real changes for workers through organizing efforts. This campaign is far from over, and DC 88 and partners will remain vigilant and continue to expose contractors who exploit workers and lower area standards. They will continue to stand with working people in the fight for high standards, dignity and respect in the workplace. HASTA LA VICTORIA—UNTIL THE VICTORY! SPR ING 2 0 21 | JOURNAL | 17
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
The IUPAT is dedicated to building stronger communities for our members, families and neighbors. We donate thousands of
hours and millions of dollars to charities and organizations in need, like the Boys and Girls Club; city beautification projects;
and important social and civic causes.
DISTRICT COUNCIL 6 | OHIO, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, PENNSYLVANIA
DC 6 Members Help Restore Akron Civic Theatre to Former Glory
In November 2020, a group of seven District Council 6 master painters began restoration work on the Grand Lobby
ceiling of the Akron Civic Theatre in Akron, Ohio. The painting crew from Copley, Ohio-based company Thomarios
was led by DC 6/LU 841 project foreman Wade Young.
Painting was the second phase of the $8.5 million
renovation and restoration project at the historic
theater. It took the group almost three weeks and
50 gallons of paint to complete the job.
Thanks to the hard work of Wade Young and the
Thomarios crew, the theater will be enjoyed by
thousands for years to come.
The restored ceiling of the
Grand Lobby of the Akron
Civic Theatre.
DC 6/LU 841 member and
Thomarios Project Foreman
Wade Young on the work site
at the Grand Lobby of the
DISTRICT COUNCIL 7 | WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN Akron Civic Theatre.
DC 7 Apprentices Paint La Casa de Esperanza
Over the past two years, District Council 7 has developed a strong
relationship with La Casa de Esperanza, a nonprofit organization
in Waukesha, Wisconsin. When La Casa requested unused paint
to refresh the interior of its facility last December, DC 7 eagerly
answered the call.
The staff at DC 7 secured a 10-gallon paint donation from PPG in
a color chosen by La Casa, and a group of first-year apprentices
handled the paint job. The volunteer effort gave IUPAT apprentices
an opportunity to learn on the job, and allowed La Casa’s team
members to focus their time and energy on the work they do for
the community.
La Casa provides many resources for low-income families in their area, including Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
(VITA). The program offers free federal and state income tax return
preparation and filing for those with a low- to moderate-income.
This service is made possible entirely by volunteers, and provides
bilingual, culturally-competent tax services for Spanish-speaking
individuals. You can learn more about La Casa and its VITA program
at LaCasadeEsperanza.org.
Thank you to La Casa de Esperanza and the apprentices of DC 7
for their ongoing efforts to assist and improve their communities.
DC 7 apprentices paint the
interior of La Casa de Esperanza
in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
18| S PRIN G 2021 | JOU R N ALDISTRICT COUNCIL 9 | NEW YORK
DC 9 Women’s Committee Members Paint Women’s Press Collective
On November 7, 2020, District Council 9 Women’s Committee members volunteered their time and skills to
repaint the pressroom for the Women’s Press Collective in Bronx, New York. Among the rooms painted were
those that house the printing presses and graphic arts equipment.
The Women’s Press Collective (WPC) unites media journalists, writers, graphic
designers, printers and other workers to participate in the fight for media that
tells the truth. WPC offers a free-of-charge Publication Benefit Program for
members and provides on-the-job training in writing, journalism, graphic design
and press operations.
“District Council 9 is proud to partner with the Women’s Press Collective. We
understand the incredible value in apprenticeship-style programs and are proud
to be able to contribute our skills and expertise to help others build successful
careers,” said DC 9 BM/ST Joseph Azzopardi. “We hope that the newly-renovated
space will be able to serve and benefit the community.”
“We are so thankful for the time and energy donated by the DC 9
Women’s Committee,” said WPC Operations Manager Lisa Daniels. “As
an organization that is one hundred percent run by volunteers, we often
depend on the generous contributions of other organizations in New York
in solidarity with our goals, principles and programs. Thanks to the work of
DC 9 members, we are now one step closer to completing the renovation
of the pressroom at our Bronx facility.”
DC 9 hopes to continue building up communities through ongoing
outreach efforts with partners like the Women’s Press Collective.
DC 9 Women’s Committee
members volunteer their
time to paint the pressroom
of the Women’s Press
Collective in the Bronx.
SPR ING 2 0 21 | JOURNAL | 19COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
DISTRICT COUNCIL 14 | ILLINOIS, INDIANA
DC 14 and Celestial Ministries Donate to the Angel Tree Program
During the 2020 holiday season, District Council 14 partnered with Celestial Ministries to support Prison
Fellowship’s Annual Angel Tree Program. Through the program, children of incarcerated individuals receive a
holiday gift on that parent’s behalf.
Chicago-based nonprofit Celestial Ministries offers several community DC 14 Organizer
Danny Hernandez
programs and services designed to keep families connected, teach life skills,
and provide creative outlets for individuals to express themselves. Programs
include Community Garden, Celestial Sound Studio, after school activities and
the Mobile Outreach Program, which provides families with transportation to
correctional facilities.
Despite the obvious challenges of collecting donations amid a global pandemic,
the team at DC 14 managed to collect over 100 gift cards in 2020, and provided
curbside pickup for more than 650 Angel Tree gifts. Over 100 families also
received a turkey or ham, and stockings for all of the children in their home.
For details on how to become a sponsor for next year’s Angel Tree, email
ARatliff@CelestialMin.org or visit Info@CelestialMin.org.
DC 14 Director of
Organizing Mark O’Donnell
DISTRICT COUNCIL 57 | WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Volunteers Helping Volunteers in the Midst of COVID-19
District Council 57’s Volunteer Activist Committee (VAC) has
Before
completed a number of community projects during the COVID-19
pandemic, including several in tandem with community
organizations like Free Store Wilkinsburg (FSW) in Pennsylvania.
Free Store Wilkinsburg has long been a staple of the community,
enabling those in need to shop with dignity for new and lightly
used clothes and other goods for free. FSW has been especially
invaluable during this economic crisis, and the DC 57 Volunteer
Activist Committee wanted to contribute to their efforts.
DC 57’s VAC stepped in to repair the storefront, caulk
windows, clean, replace rotting wood, and prime and paint a
new handcrafted sign for the store. Additionally, the VAC held
a clothing and home goods donation drive. DC 57 members
dropped by the union hall to donate designer dresses, brand
name electronics and other quality goods to benefit FSW.
“In this pandemic, we need to look out for our community and
stand together,” said DC 57 Director of Organizing Joe Hughes.
“This is our way of doing that.”
Visit the DC 57 Volunteer Activist Committee’s Facebook page
to learn more about their latest projects to boost members and
their communities.
20| S PRIN G 2021 | JOU R N ALDISTRICT COUNCIL 30 | ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN
District Council 30 Hosts Holiday Express Drive-through Events for Members
In celebration of family, union solidarity, and the conclusion of a challenging year, District Council 30 held three
Holiday Express Drive-through events on Saturday, December 5, 2020. Hosted in the Illinois cities of Aurora,
Rockford, and Morton, the drive-throughs replaced DC 30’s Annual Breakfast with Santa and all 2020 Local
Union holiday parties, which were cancelled due to the state’s COVID-19 restrictions.
DC 30 members and their families received a 2020 ornament, members received sweatshirts, and children
received cookies, holiday crafts, and age-appropriate books. While Santa Claus could not be in attendance,
children were still able to drop off their Christmas letters and wish lists for direct mail to the North Pole. Although
participation was free to attendees, each family was asked to bring a new toy or blanket to contribute to DC
30’s donation drive.
To ensure the health and safety of all participants, everyone was asked to remain in their vehicle and wear a mask
when receiving gifts. Staff and volunteers followed strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols, including social
distancing, PPE usage, and enhanced sanitation measures. The coordination team distributed gifts in a creative
and socially-distanced fashion by using an electronic check-in system and festive gift delivery poles.
“This event was quite unlike our annual holiday event traditions,” shared DC 30 BM/ST Ryan Anderson. “But we
were grateful to see so many familiar faces in person. Our family-centered events are what bring us all together
each year, so it was important that we still worked to honor that commitment during these unprecedented times.”
Following the giveaways, DC 30 delivered over 300 donated items to multiple charities throughout North-
Central Illinois, including Fox Valley United Way, Midwest Food Centers, Crittenton Centers, and Washington
Park Community Center.
SPR ING 2 0 21 | JOURNAL | 21COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
DISTRICT COUNCIL 58 | ILLINOIS, MISSOURI, KENTUCKY
Apprentices Give New Life to Historic Helicopter
Leighton Evatt American Legion Post 365 in Collinsville, Illinois, is the home of a newly-restored Bell AH-1 Huey
Cobra Helicopter thanks to the apprentices of District Council 58.
Thomas Caselton
When DC 58/LU 120 and Leighton
(LU 471) Evatt Post 365 member Robert
Dougherty informed then DC 58 BM/
ST Gregg Smith and Apprenticeship
Instructor Terry Mitchell that the Huey
Cobra was in need of painting last
summer, they agreed to help out the
veterans organization. After obtaining
L to R: DC 58 apprentices Justin the specific paint needed for proper
Shellenberg (LU 120), John Dannehold restoration, DC 58 apprentices went
(LU 120), Isaac Page (LU 471), DC 58
Apprenticeship Instructor Terry Mitchell, to work preparing and painting the
and Jordan Brannon (LU 471). helicopter, which is on loan from
the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile
Command in Fort Drum, New York.
“It was great giving back to the community and the veterans,” said Mitchell. “The apprentices enjoyed helping
and it may be their only experience of painting a helicopter.“
Post 365 Commander Jesse Hoskin and Post 365 Senior Vice Commander Joel West jointly expressed their
appreciation: “A big salute to all the painters, apprentices, and instructors involved in this project, and to DC 58
for all their cooperation, time and effort. Thanks to Gary Otten for reaching out. Also, a big salute to Greg from
Advantage Paints for his help procuring the proper Mil-Spec paint. Thanks to these fine gentlemen, our Huey
Cobra is looking like it did then it was deployed.”
Justin Shellenberg Jordan Brannon
(DC 58/LU 120) (LU 471)
22| S PRIN G 2021 | JOU R N ALJOB CORPS
A New Generation of Members in Missouri
Back (L to R): Job Corps
Field Coordinator Mike
Anderson, St. Louis
JCC Instructor Dameion
Thompson and DC 58 FTI
Instructor Jason Bower.
Front (L to R): Job Corps
students Kiara Hall and
Eddie Morris.
Job Corps student Kiara
Hall practices drywall
techniques while DC
58 FTI Instructor Jason
Bower observes.
In early September 2020, District Council 58 hosted an appreciation
week at the iFTI training center in Chesterfield, Missouri. DC 58
Director of Training Kevin Harned invited students from some of
the local youth development programs, including some of our
Job Corps Pre-Apprenticeship students, to tour the facility, attend
a presentation explaining how to patch holes and apply first and
second coats of paint, and receive hands-on training. Under the
supervision of St. Louis JCC Instructor Dameion Thompson and
DC 58 iFTI Instructor Jason Bower, attendees also learned various
techniques and processes of repairing drywall.
LOOKING FOR QUALIFIED PRE-APPRENTICES
FOR WORK IN YOUR AREA? CONTACT OUR
JOB CORPS PLACEMENT COORDINATORS:
St. Louis JCC Instructor CENTRAL WEST CENTRAL EAST
Dameion Thompson
teaches Job Corps
student Eddie Morris
JAMES STAATS TIM SORRELL
drywall techniques. (410) 491-6505 (202) 262-0537
SPR ING 2 0 21 | JOURNAL | 23EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
The IUPAT offers exciting opportunities to anyone willing to put in the time and effort to learn the skills to succeed in the
painting and finishing trades. With the IUPAT, you can punch your ticket to the middle class.
DISTRICT COUNCIL 30 | ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN
DC 30 Launches Sexual Harassment Prevention Course
On Saturday, December 12, 2020, District Council 30 members participated in a new Sexual Harassment
Awareness course at the North Central Illinois Finishing Trades Institute. Developed by the staff at DC 30 to meet
the state’s annual sexual harassment training requirement for employees of all job sectors,
the curriculum goes beyond the requirement to advocate for improved work climates
on construction job sites.
The customizable course is one of the three-part Social Safety Zone Curriculum
that DC 30 is developing in an effort to recognize, address and prevent harmful
conduct that threatens the physical and economic security of working people.
The curriculum empowers members to take an active role in creating safe work
spaces, physically and socially. In addition to the Sexual Harassment Awareness
training, the Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention course will be launching
soon, and the Conflict Management and Workplace Violence Prevention course is
in the works.
“In developing this curriculum concept, we recognized that physical safety on a job site isn’t enough,” said DC 30
Outreach & Engagement Program Manager Marisa Richards. Richards, who is a member of the team responsible
for launching the new curriculum added, “Worksites must also be socially safe—safe from harassment, safe from
workplace violence, and safe for individuals to find support when suffering from addiction or depression.”
Upon completion of the course, DC 30 members will receive Social Safety Zone hard hat stickers, to be worn as
promotion of the course and as indication of one’s commitment to serve as a “safe zone” on a job site. Members
who voluntarily take this pledge are committed to increasing job site safety standards in ways beyond what is
called for by OSHA.
DISTRICT COUNCIL 77 | GEORGIA, ALABAMA, KENTUCKY, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA,
TENNESSEE, VIRGINIA
Training the Next Generation of Members and Union Stewards
In January 2021, District Council 77 hosted stewards training and member orientation classes at Local Union 226
Chattanooga, Tennessee. A total of 12 members attended, including 3 apprentices.
A well-trained membership is crucial for our union’s growth and survival, and a steward who understands his or
her role is an asset. We also believe that when our members receive orientation, it establishes a foundation for
future participation within their local union.
Now that 2020 is behind us, DC 77 hopes to focus on growing its local unions and increasing its market share in 2021.
L to R: DC 77 Director of Training Larry
Peacock, DC 77 Business Representative
Juli Prill, and DC 77 BM/ST Charles Hill. DC 77 stewards training.
24| S PRIN G 2021 | JOU R N ALDISTRICT COUNCIL 50 | HAWAII
DC 50 Apprentices Rise to the Challenge Amid Pandemic
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 prompted the training team at District Council 50 to quickly
adjust their routine and adapt to their rapidly-changing environment.
As school was still in session, the Training Department relied heavily on the Learning Management System
(LMS)—made available from the International Finishing Trades Institute (iFTI)—to help wrap up the spring
semester. Although the transition from hands-on, in-person classes to online, cell phones, tablets and laptops
took students by surprise, several apprentices still managed to have perfect attendance. Each student received a
gift from DC 50 for their achievement.
In June 2020, apprentices were able to return to in-person classes on a part-time basis, splitting their time
between hands-on lab work and virtual learning. Students continued to persevere, were punctual and showed
up with positive and eager attitudes.
By the time the fall semester officially started in August 2020, the Training Department and the University of
Hawaii had made several changes to ensure that apprentices, instructors, and the community remained COVID-
free. District Council 50 urges everyone to stay safe and remember to use their PPE.
The IUPAT tips its cap to the DC 50 Training Department and apprentices for remaining focused during a difficult time.
DC 50 staff members pose with LU 1791 painting apprentices who received
perfect attendance awards. L to R: DC 50 Director of Training Sean Cordero,
DC 50 Training Coordinator Breanne Geronimo (front), Apprentice Michael
Sayas, Apprentice Christopher Black, Apprentice Sean Ho, DC 50 Business
Representative Robin Schlitzkus, and DC 50 BM/ST Ryden “Bully” Valmoja.
DC 50 staff members pose with LU 1944 taper apprentices who received
perfect attendance awards. L to R: DC 50 Director of Training Sean Cordero,
DC 50 Business Representative John Frigillana, Jr., Apprentice Bryson Ching,
DC 50 Training Coordinator Mario Manrique, Jr. (blue shirt), Apprentice Jarrett
Pascual, Apprentice Jordan Doliente, and DC 50 BM/ST Ryden “Bully” Valmoja.
SPR ING 2 0 21 | JOURNAL | 25You can also read
