Our History

Our union, like many modern labor unions, was founded in the 19th century to set standards for uniform compensation in the trades and provide a community for workers to share ideas and solve problems. The Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators of America was organized formally in 1887. Within a year, the union boasted a membership of over 7,000 tradesmen and more than 100 Local Unions. These trade unionists soon realized the power they had collectively was more advantageous than facing their problems alone. Backed by a growing, centralized union, these dedicated organizers won victories over oppressive working conditions that were once thought unchangeable.

Today, the IUPAT continues to do its part to lift working families and the rest of the middle class by marching to the words of our founders:

1880s

  • 1887

    The Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators of America is established.

  • August 7, 1888

    The First General Assembly of the Brotherhood, colorized.

1890s

  • December 1899

    7th Biennial Convention of the Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators of America.

1900s

  • 1900

    Official name changed to the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators, and Paperhangers of America.

  • 1903

    Union Label cartoon, colorized.

  • Circa September 1903

    Officers in the General Executive Boardroom of the Brotherhood headquarters in Lafayette, Indiana.

  • Circa September 1903

    Filing Card and Journal Department of the Brotherhood headquarters in Lafayette, Indiana.

  • Circa September 1903

    Correspondence Room No. 2 at Brotherhood headquarters in Lafayette, Indiana. The gentleman on the far left is W. Cook.

  • September 1903

    Sixteenth Anniversary Journal cover.

  • Circa 1904

    Paint makers.

  • Circa 1904

    Paint makers (colorized).

1910s

  • Circa 1910

    Members of Sign and Pictorial Painters Local 820 (Raytown, Missouri) on a horse-drawn float (colorized).

  • September 7, 1914

    Dedication of monument honoring founder and first GST John T. “Jack” Elliott, Loudon Park Cemetery, Baltimore.

  • December 1918

    First World War painters in Fort Sheridan, Illinois.

1920s

  • 1921

    Construction finished on the first Brotherhood International headquarters in Lafayette, Indiana.

  • 1921

    The first Brotherhood International headquarters in Lafayette, Indiana, colorized.

  • 1921

    The 1921 Convention Audit Committee in front of the first Brothehood headquarters in Lafayette, Indiana.

  • May 1922

    “Painter and Decorator” cover with the Lafayette headquarters on it, colorized border added in 2022.

  • Circa 1927

    Local 636 (Los Angeles, California) glaziers prepare glass for installation.

  • Circa 1927

    Local 636 (Los Angeles, California) glaziers install a large glass plate.

  • Circa 1927

    Local 636 (Los Angeles, California) glaziers next to a horse-drawn glass cart, colorized.

1930s

  • Circa 1930

    Glaziers from Louis Rothholz Plate Glass in Bronx, New York.

1940s

  • Circa 1940

    Kansas City paint makers from Local 754 at a filling plant, colorized.

  • April 8, 1943

    General President L. Lindelof and GST L.Raftery purchase $200,000 in war bonds from Second World War Loan Drive Cmte.

1950s

  • Circa 1950

    A Local Union 138 (Vancouver, British Columbia) painter teaches an apprentice how to use a cup gun.

  • Circa 1950

    Cup gun demonstration.

  • Circa 1950

    Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America DC 80 housepainters in Kenner, Louisiana,

  • Circa 1950

    Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America DC 80 housepainters in Kenner, Louisiana,, colorized.

  • 1954

    1954 General Convention, Seattle, Washington.

  • September 1957

    Local 138 (Vancouver, British Columbia) painters perform charity paint work.

  • April 1958

    General Organizers from the United States and Canada gathered in Lafayette, Indiana, for a continental organizing drive.

1960s

  • Circa 1960

    A drywall finishing class.

  • 1967

    Local 583 (Calgary, Alberta), initiated Evelyn Pederson, its second female member in 62 years.

  • October 1968

    Painters and decorators from Locals 368, 890 & 1778 prepped the White House for President Nixon’s inauguration.

  • Circa 1969

    A group of house painters.

1970s

  • 1970

    Official name changed to the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades.

  • November 1970

    The IBPAT moved into its new headquarters in Washington, DC, alongside SMWIA, IAFF and Ironworkers.

  • Circa 1970

    A Job Corps apprentice paints a sign at Mammoth Cave Baptist Church at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky.

  • Circa 1970

    A sign and pictorial painter illustrates his craft.

  • 1974

    Local 829 (New York, NY) scenic artist Herb Steinberg works on his 8’6” by 30′ mural, “Painters and Allied Trades.”

  • 1974

    Herb Steinberg’s mural hung in the boardroom of the Brotherhood headquarters for many years.

  • Circa 1975

    Members of Local 1339 (Hartford, Connecticut) installing a safety shield at the Hartford Civic Center.

  • Spring 1975

    End phase of a tempered glass installation in an unknown location, colorized.

  • Circa 1978

    DC 16/LU 913 (San Mateo, CA) painter
    Ron Johnson. Brother Johnson went on to become an instructor for over 30 years.

1980s

  • Circa 1985

    Cascades Job Corps students paint historic steam locomotive “Ole #2 Spot”in Sedro Woolley, Washington.

1990s

  • January 8, 1991

    Local 333 (La Mesa, California) industrial painter Raul Vargas.

2000s

  • January 2000

    Official name changed to the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.

  • Circa 2006

    DC 15 members working for Giroux Glass Inc (Las Vegas, Nevada) helped construct the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

  • Circa 2006

    DC 15 members working for Giroux Glass Inc (Las Vegas, Nevada) helped construct the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

  • 2007

    DC 77/LU 1756 (Aiken, SC) Job Corps students on the cover of a Job Corps marketing video and the April 2007 Journal.

  • Circa 2008

    Atterbury Job Corps Center (Indiana) students with their sign quoting presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

2010s

  • August 23, 2010

    The IUPAT moved into its new headquarters in Hanover, Maryland.

  • 2010

    Lions adorn an IUPAT headquarters entrance. The iFTI training center and IUPAT Residence Hall are also on campus.

  • March 2013

    Brother Ken Rigmaiden became the first Black General President of the IUPAT, as well as the Building Trades unions.

  • 2014

    The 31st General Convention of the IUPAT in Orlando, Florida.

  • 2014

    100 years of Rafterys at IUPAT General Conventions. L to R: Kristopher, Ginny, GST George Galis, Greg, and Ray.

  • Circa December 2014

    DC 58/LU 513 (St. Louis) members Steve Kirwan and Charlie Raftery prepare to replace glass at Natalie’s Cakes & More.

  • Circa December 2014

    DC 58/LU 513 members S. Kirwan and C. Raftery replace glass at Natalie’s Cakes & More following unrest in Ferguson, MO.

  • 2015

    DC 6/LU 181 (Cleveland, Ohio) glazier Nichole McCarthy.

  • 2017

    IUPAT members at the 2017 Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference in Chicago, Illinois.

  • Summer 2019

    DC 9 members helped brighten the Morris Park
    Subway Station (Bronx) as part of Publicor’s stay-in-school youth program.

2020s

  • September 2020

    Brother Mike Gutierrez became the first Latino General Vice President of the IUPAT.

  • December 15, 2020

    DC 88/LU 550 at the America Starts with Tradeshows Rally in Houston. The industry was hard-hit by the COVID pandemic.

  • Spring 2021

    DC 51 members support the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, Washington, DC. COVID masks a sign of the times.

  • June 2021

    IUPAT members at a Las Vegas rally highlighting the unscrupulous business practices of Unforgettable Coatings.

  • March 15, 2022

    The IUPAT celebrated 135 years of fighting for working people.

  • 2022

    Journeyman Painter Ken Barrie, DC 39/LU 1945 (Cape Breton Island), spraying a water tank in New Minas, Nova Scotia.

  • 2022 & 2023

    In its first year, organizers helped DC 46’s residential paint campaign (Ottawa) gain 30 contractors & 70% market share

  • April 30, 2023

    Due to the efforts of DC 6/LU 707 member Bill Jaworske, the world celebrates International Painters Day each April 30.

  • May 2023

    Members of the Black CORE Committee at the 2023 Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) Convention in New Orleans.

  • Summer 2023

    DC 9 members at their first National Puerto Rican Day Parade in NYC. DC 9 chartered Local 1895 (Puerto Rico) in 2023.

  • Summer 2023

    DC 9 members at the 2023 NYC Pride March.

  • September 2023

    Sister Liz McElroy became the first female General Vice President of the IUPAT.

  • December 2023

    For the first time in nearly 137 years, the IUPAT has four women organizing directors.

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