ANIMATED GIF COVER
Be a Part of IUPAT History We’re looking for: • Artifacts & memorabilia • Historic tools of our trades • News articles & documents • Photos & videos • Your stories about our history We’re curating a room dedicated to our proud history as a union, and we want your input! For display at the International headquarters. Please email communications@iupat.org with details about your item(s) or to submit directly. Documents or photos that you do not wish to donate physically may be scanned.
IN THIS ISSUE Painters & Allied Trades Journal Summer 2026 • Vol. 145 • No. 2 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 paid at Washington, DC and additional mailing offices. Canadian publications mail agreement #41479512. Canada Post: Return undeliverables to P.O. Box 2601, 6915 Dixie Rd, Mississauga, ON L4T 0A9. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES JOURNAL 7234 Parkway Drive Hanover, MD 21076. 2 Be a Part of IUPAT History 4 General President’s Report 8 General Secretary-Treasurer’s Report 12 A Message from Chaplain Osborn 13 Member Spotlight 14 Government Affairs Update 15 Political Action 16 Organizing Update 18 Service Update 20 iFTI Update 21 Workplace Training, Education & Safety 24 Job Corps Update 25 Celebrating Our LGBTQ+ Community 26 IUPAT Helping Hand 27 Celebrating Women In The Trades 28 Union Pride 30 District Council Spotlight 34 CBTU Conference 36 Contractor Spotlight 41 Life Membership 42 IUPAT History 44 Infrastructure 45 Educational Outreach 47 Op-Ed: SEIU 48 Community Investment 50 Recognition 52 Members In Action 54 Recent Retirees 58 In Memoriam 60 IUPAT VIP Plan 34 16 27 45
A Message From General President JIMMY WILLIAMS JR. Our Building Union Power Campaign may be the biggest overhaul our union has ever taken, touching each department, Local Union, and District Council. We have changed the way we operate from top to bottom so we can empower every rank-and-file member to be an active, engaged member. This year, for the first time ever, we brought rank-and-file members from across the United States to North America's Building Trades Unions’ Legislative Conference. Our members are workers, taxpayers, community members, and voters, and they should have a better understanding of how we make political decisions and a hand in the process. Our Leadership Conference, which happens every few years in Las Vegas, has always been attended by staff and elected officers. This year, however, we have changed the name to the Building Union Power Summit, and we didn’t just change the name: both our agenda and list of attendees reflect our commitment to changing our union’s culture and to A MEMBER-FOCUSED UNION O ver time, our union has made many efforts to change our culture. We changed our name from the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades to the name we have today in order to be inclusive of all because we are a union for all. General President Jimmy Williams Jr., General Vice President Paul Canning, and other representatives from the IU staff visited District Council 11 for the first phase of the Building Union Power Campaign in June 2026. General President Jimmy Williams Jr. addresses members of District Council 11 during the job site visit phase of the Building Union Power Campaign. 4 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
building power together. For the first time ever, half of all attendees will be members who are still on the tools. To put it simply, we are changing our culture to focus on members, not staff. I understand that this may feel challenging for some, but this change is for the good of our members, the good of our staff and officers, and the good of our union as a whole. When we have a more active and engaged membership, we can negotiate more aggressively and win bigger contractual gains. In this upside-down economy, if we’re not making wins, we’re losing big. With more power, we can elect more people who will go to bat for us on our issues – like Davis Bacon, PLAs, heat safety laws, immigration reform, and more – because they see how powerful we are. We can continue punching above the weight of a 140,000-member union because we are harnessing the individual power of each and every member to turn it into collective, union power. That’s what Building Union Power is all about, and it remains your International Union’s top priority. Every single one of you has the opportunity to be more involved – take it, so we can rebuild a culture of solidarity, militancy, and family. IUPAT members discuss the importance of attending the North America’s Building Trades Unions Legislative Conference in April 2026. NABTU video 5 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
Nuestra Campaña para Fortalecer el Poder Sindical podría ser la mayor reforma que nuestro sindicato haya emprendido en su historia, pues involucra a todos los departamentos, sindicatos locales y consejos de distrito. Hemos cambiado nuestra manera de operar en todos los sentidos para poder capacitar a todos los miembros, sin importar su puesto, para que sean miembros activos y comprometidos. Este año, por primera vez, tuvimos a miembros de todos los Estados Unidos en la Conferencia Legislativa de los Sindicatos de la Construcción de Norteamérica. Nuestros miembros son trabajadores, contribuyentes, miembros de la comunidad y votantes, y deberían comprender mejor cómo tomamos las decisiones políticas y participar en el proceso. A nuestra Conferencia de Liderazgo, que se celebra cada cierto número de años en Las Vegas, siempre han asistido tanto el personal como los funcionarios electos. Sin embargo, este año, le hemos cambiado el nombre a Cumbre para el Fortalecimiento del Poder Sindical, y no solo hemos cambiado el UN SINDICATO CENTRADO EN SUS MIEMBROS C on el paso del tiempo, nuestro sindicato ha realizado muchos esfuerzos para cambiar nuestra cultura. Cambiamos nuestro nombre de Hermandad Internacional de Pintores y Oficios Afines al nombre que tenemos hoy en día, con el fin de ser inclusivos con todos, ya que somos un sindicato para todos. El presidente general Jimmy Williams Jr., el vicepresidente general Paul Canning y otros representantes del personal del Sindicato Internacional visitaron el Consejo de Distrito 11 durante la primera fase de la Campaña para Fortalecer el Poder Sindical en junio de 2026. El presidente general Jimmy Williams Jr. se dirige a los miembros del Consejo de Distrito 11 durante la fase de visita a los lugares de trabajo de la Campaña para Fortalecer el Poder Sindical. Un mensaje del Presidente General JIMMY WILLIAMS JR. 6 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
nombre: tanto nuestra agenda como la lista de asistentes reflejan nuestro compromiso de cambiar la cultura de nuestro sindicato y de construir el poder juntos. Por primera vez en la historia, la mitad de los asistentes serán miembros que aún trabajan en el sector. En pocas palabras, estamos cambiando nuestra cultura para centrarnos en los miembros, no en el personal. Entiendo que esto pueda resultar un reto para algunos, pero este cambio es por el bien de nuestros miembros, el bien de nuestro personal y dirigentes, y el bien de nuestro sindicato como un conjunto. Cuando contamos con unos miembros más activos y comprometidos, podemos negociar de forma más agresiva y obtener mayores beneficios contractuales. En esta economía patas arriba, si no conseguimos victorias, perdemos mucho. Con más poder, podemos elegir a más personas que nos defiendan en diversos temas como la ley Davis-Bacon, los acuerdos laborales de proyecto, las leyes de seguridad contra el calor, la reforma migratoria y otros, porque se dan cuenta de lo poderosos que somos. Podemos seguir teniendo un impacto mayor que el de un sindicato de 140.000 miembros porque estamos aprovechando el poder individual de cada uno de ellos para convertirlo en poder colectivo, el poder del sindicato. De eso se trata el Fortalecer el Poder Sindical, y sigue siendo la principal prioridad de su Sindicato Internacional. Todos y cada uno de ustedes tienen la oportunidad de involucrarse más; aprovéchenla para que podamos reconstruir una cultura de solidaridad, militancia y familia. Los miembros del IUPAT debaten la importancia de asistir a la Conferencia Legislativa de los Sindicatos de la Construcción de Norteamérica en abril de 2026. NABTU video 7 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
A Message From General Secretary-Treasurer GREGG SMITH When I stepped into the role of General Secretary-Treasurer, I often talked about the culture of our union – specifically, the culture of complacency that has quietly seeped into parts of our labor movement over the years. I have discussed it in prior Journals and made it one of my biggest focuses throughout my time on the General Executive Board. Time and time again, I have said that complacency is the silent killer of solidarity. KICKING COMPLACENCY OUT OF OUR UNION Complacency is evident throughout our union, from District Council staff to apprentices. This is not the type of followthe-leader that produces success. As complacency sets in, we take the easy street, often avoiding conflict or work altogether. As a whole, people need to be held accountable and kicked in the ass to push forward, represent the labor movement, and display their potential power. The culture can be changed; it did not happen overnight and will not change overnight, but working together and holding each other accountable will produce a successful future for all. General President Jimmy Williams Jr. and I spent hours having tough, honest discussions about how to turn things around. We knew a top-down directive wouldn’t fix a culture problem. For the past few years, we In June 2026, General Secretary-Treasurer Gregg Smith, General Vice President for Service Mark Komaromi, Chief Financial Officer Ron Kniess, and other members of the IU staff visited District Council 78 in Florida for financial officer training. They are pictured here with District Council 78 staff and Executive Board Members of Local Unions 73 and 1010. 8 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
traveled across our District Councils to meet with you, our members, on your own turf. What we heard became the bedrock of our 2024 General Convention. It was there that we officially introduced our defining theme: “One Union. One Family. One Fight.” Following the Convention, we developed a clear, intentional Mission and Values Statement, and the Building Union Power Campaign became the vehicle to help us drive it to your halls and job sites. If you take a moment to truly read our Mission and Values Statement, you will notice one undeniable truth: it is entirely about our members. It is a blueprint for how we come together, build collective power, and fight. This has changed everything about the way we operate as a union. The main priority of our union is and will always be you, our rankand-file members. To destroy the culture of complacency, we need every single member to show up for one another, build union solidarity, and fight back against the billionaires who are trying to silence our collective voices. IUPAT CASH AND INVESTMENTS Balance at Balance at Activity 1/1/2026 3/1/26 Increase (Decrease) Operating Funds General Fund 43,993,541 45,546,873 1,553,333 Organizing Fund 7,306,122 7,990,540 684,417 Building Corp 3,358,601 3,541,138 182,536 Market Recovery 1,360,793 1,723,598 362,806 Total Operating Funds $56,019,057 $58,802,149 $2,783,092 Other Funds AD&D 443,517 509,347 65,830 Death Benefit 40,487,604 40,134,178 (353,426) Convention 1,586,874 1,880,862 293,988 Issues Campaigns 253,241 253,731 490 FIDR Fund 905,939 922,825 16,886 Total Other Funds $43,677,175 $43,700,943 $23,768 Total IUPAT Cash & Investments: $99,696,232 $102,503,092 $2,806,860 “If you take a moment to truly read our Mission and Values Statement, you will notice one undeniable truth: it is entirely about our members.” 9 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
Un mensaje del Tesorero General GREGG SMITH Cuando asumí el cargo de Secretario-Tesorero General, a menudo hablaba de la cultura de nuestro sindicato, específicamente de la cultura del conformismo que se ha ido infiltrando silenciosamente en algunas partes de nuestro movimiento obrero a lo largo de los años. Lo he comentado en revistas anteriores y lo convertí en uno de mis principales objetivos durante mi cargo en la Junta Ejecutiva General. Una y otra vez he dicho que el conformismo es el asesino silencioso de la solidaridad. EXPULSANDO EL CONFORMISMO DE NUESTRO SINDICATO HACIA AFUERA El conformismo es evidente en todo nuestro sindicato, desde el personal del Consejo de Distrito hasta los aprendices. Este liderazgo de seguir a un líder no es el que produce éxito. Cuando nos dormimos en nuestros laureles, optamos por el camino fácil, evitando a menudo los conflictos o el trabajo por completo. En general, es necesario exigirle responsabilidades a la gente y darles un buen empujón para que avancen, representen al movimiento obrero y demuestren su potencial. La cultura puede cambiar; esto no sucedió de la noche a la mañana y tampoco cambiará de la noche a la mañana, pero trabajar juntos y responsabilizarnos mutuamente producirá un futuro exitoso para todos. El presidente general Jimmy Williams Jr. y yo pasamos horas en conversaciones difíciles y sinceras sobre cómo cambiar la situación. Sabíamos que una directiva impuesta desde arriba no solucionaría un problema cultural. Durante los últimos años, hemos viajado por En junio de 2026, el secretario-tesorero general Gregg Smith, el vicepresidente general de servicios Mark Komaromi, el director financiero Ron Kniess y otros miembros del personal del Sindicato Internacional visitaron el Consejo de Distrito 78 en Florida para recibir capacitación en temas de finanzas. En la fotografía aparecen junto al personal del Consejo de Distrito 78 y los miembros de la Junta Ejecutiva de los Sindicatos Locales 73 y 1010. 10 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
nuestros Consejos de Distrito para reunirnos con ustedes, nuestros miembros, en sus propios terrenos. Lo que escuchamos se convirtió en la base de nuestra Convención General de 2024. Fue allí donde presentamos oficialmente nuestro tema principal: "Una Union. Una Familia. Una Lucha." Tras la Convención, desarrollamos una Declaración de Misión y Valores clara e intencionada y la Campaña para Fortalecer el Poder Sindical se convirtió en el vehículo para ayudarnos a llevarla a sus sedes y lugares de trabajo. Si se toma un momento para leer detenidamente nuestra Declaración de Misión y Valores, notará una verdad innegable: se centra enteramente en nuestros miembros. Es un modelo de cómo podemos unirnos, desarrollar poder colectivo y luchar. Esto ha cambiado por completo nuestra manera de operar como sindicato. La principal prioridad de nuestro sindicato son y siempre serán ustedes, nuestros miembros. Para acabar con la cultura del conformismo necesitamos que todos los miembros se apoyen mutuamente, desarrollen la solidaridad sindical y luchen contra los multimillonarios que intentan silenciar nuestras voces colectivas. “Si se toma un momento para leer detenidamente nuestra Declaración de Misión y Valores, notará una verdad innegable: se centra enteramente en nuestros miembros. ” 11 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
12 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL Change can be extremely hard. It’s fair to say that every one of us has had to make changes throughout the course of our lives. We may have received news from a doctor’s visit that required us to make important health changes. At other times, financial burdens may force us to adjust our plans and priorities. For those who are married, there may have been a season when changes were necessary to strengthen and preserve the marriage. The list is endless when it comes to change. King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:1: “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” When I think of the word “change,” I’m reminded of this anonymous quote: “Change is not something to fear; it is often God’s way of preparing us for the next season of growth, opportunity, and blessing.” Think with me for a moment. More than 139 years ago, this International Union was born. The leaders who came long before us endured tremendous obstacles and hardships so that working conditions and fair wages could change for the better. Out of that change came collective bargaining agreements that transformed the lives of countless workers. From our first IUPAT General President, Joseph Harold, to our current General President, Jimmy Williams Jr., our strength has always been in our numbers. That strength includes every District Council across the United States and Canada. My encouragement to every rank-and-file member is to embrace the changes that will take this vibrant, intelligent workforce to a level never before seen in our history. This can only be accomplished by members who are laser-focused on “One Union. One Family. One Fight.” It happens when we stand united, remain informed, and stay committed to one another and to the future of our movement. So be encouraged, stay engaged, and continue moving forward together. The best days of our union are still ahead of us. God bless you! “My encouragement to every rank-and-file member is to embrace the changes that will take this vibrant, intelligent workforce to a level never before seen in our history.” A MESSAGE FROM CHAPLAIN OSBORN THE BLESSING OF CHANGE Learn more about Chaplain Osborn and Rock Ministries at TheRockPhilly.org 12 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL Chaplain Buddy Osborn
13 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL Member Spotlight SUZI PERSON DISTRICT COUNCIL 21, LOCAL UNION 252 (PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA) Suzi Person Suzi Person with her husband, Michael Metz, and her son, Cody Kidd. Suzi Person has been a member of District Council 21, Local Union 252, for nearly 19 years, but she’s been in the glass industry even longer. She had been working at a window manufacturer for almost three years when she met Chris Snyder at a bar. When he asked what she did, he was the only person who knew what it meant to work in the glass industry – and that’s because he was an apprentice in Local 252. Every time she ran into him after their initial meeting, he would tease her about not knowing when she was getting her next raise. Eventually, she realized what she was missing and applied to the union, her only regret being that she hadn't picked Chris’brain sooner. Suzi was her class steward all four years, class president, and the first woman steward in Local 252’s history. She has a lot to be proud of, and she also credits the union for turning her into an activist. “Nothing broadens my perspective like the union,” she said, remembering a rally where she and her brothers and sisters shut down Roosevelt Boulevard, a 12-lane road in Philadelphia. “I was like, damn, I'm a part of something. I’ve never felt so empowered.” Suzi continues to be incredibly active in her union and broader social struggles, saying, “Our history has never been more important than it is right now. Even with what we have stacked against us, we need to figure out what we can do, not just focus on what we can’t.” This is why she is so grateful for the Building Union Power Campaign and hopes it becomes mandatory due to “our current social climate. We are so divided now; it feels like such an uphill battle, and the hill is muddy.” Suzi loves her work and wants to encourage everyone to join our union, but especially women. Each day is different: new job, new heights, new people, new places – and the benefits and protections are unreal. She said, “The IUPAT was one of the first trades to approve and offer maternity leave. We have the highest concentration of women. We are pioneers. And above all, we are still living in a time where women are still making 80-some cents to the dollar, but not in my union – we make the same. The financial security alone is important for all women.” Thank you, sister, for all your work for Local 252 and for women all across our union! 13 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
14 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL BUILDING UNION POWER IN THE NATION’S CAPITOL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE GENERAL VICE PRESIDENT FOR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS LIZ MCELROY A t the 2026 North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., in April, our union made a deliberate and powerful shift to further our campaign to Build Union Power. Our focus was on bringing members who work directly with the tools straight to the halls of Congress. We recruited several members to DC for the event. For many, it was their first time navigating the nation’s capitol, and they proved that the best advocates for our trades and for the issues impacting the working class are the people who show up every morning to build America. They participated in intensive briefing sessions to learn our key legislative priorities — infrastructure funding, protecting registered apprenticeships, empowering workers to organize and join unions, and protecting our immigrant union siblings at work. We then took that knowledge directly to lawmakers from both parties. By going directly to the halls of power in DC, our members had a chance to share their personal stories and paths into our union, and to explain to representatives exactly how federal legislation impacts their jobs, families, and communities. By empowering members to share their stories and giving them an avenue to speak directly to political leaders, we are building a pipeline of politically active members who can lead fights back home — and ultimately build our union power. “I've already seen how impactful it has been for our rank-and-file members to be part of something bigger, receive direct information from our leaders, and then have the opportunity to be the voice of our membership. Lobbying Congress together matters because it builds solidarity, strengthens member leadership, and ensures our members leave empowered to take action.” DEREK MOLYNEUX DISTRICT COUNCIL 81 SERVING IOWA, COLORADO, ILLINOIS, NEBRASKA, SOUTH DAKOTA, AND WYOMING 14 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
15 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL Political Action DISTRICT COUNCIL 57 | WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA RANK-AND-FILE MEMBERS TAKE ON NABTU LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE In April 2026, many IUPAT rank-and-file members were invited to attend the North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. Among them was Allen Hollinger, a commercial painter from District Council 57, Local Union 6 (Carnegie, Pennsylvania), who shared his experience with us: “My trip to the NABTU Legislative Conference was very beneficial, enlightening, and enheartening. I had the opportunity to meet my brothers and sisters from across the nation and further my knowledge of the importance of union power, in addition to getting to feel the appreciation of being an involved rank-and-file member of our union. The information I gained allowed me to share future events and opportunities to be more involved with fellow DC 57 members. “There were plenty of moments during the conference where I got to network and learn about the many groups within our union that will give me the ability to be more connected with not just my fellow commercial painters but also glaziers, industrial painters, and drywall finishers. We also had the opportunity to connect with Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) in his office to discuss the issues that are facing working Americans. “Lastly, the fact that I got to speak to those in leadership positions from different District Councils and Local Unions really drove home that we are indeed ONE UNION, ONE FAMILY, AND IN THIS FIGHT TOGETHER!” In April 2026, DC 57 members met with Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) in Washington, D.C. L to R: DC 57 Director of Government Affairs Joe Hughes, JD Witner (LU 751), William Ralston (LU 6), Congressman Deluzio, David Carrillo (LU 751), Mike Toy (LU 751), and Allen Hollinger (LU 6). 15 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
16 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL ORGANIZING UPDATE GENERAL VICE PRESIDENT FOR ORGANIZING SHANE SMITH Over the last quarter, we have taken major steps to shift our culture toward being more member-focused because the power of our union comes from each of you. At April’s General President’s Advisory Committee meeting, we reviewed an outline for our membership activist program with IUPAT Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurers. MEMBER POWER IS UNION POWER This program is designed to bring members together around common interests to help us accomplish our mission: bettering the lives of every member by becoming the strongest voice in our industries. It provides the education and tools needed to get involved—whether that means winning stronger contracts, holding elected officials accountable, endorsing candidates, or planning internal and external organizing. If you are interested, please reach out to your District Council’s Director of Organizing or Director of Government Affairs. In May 2026, around 50 IUPAT members attended the Jobs with Justice Conference. Rank-and-file members and organizers participated in training to build effective relationships within the community and the broader labor movement. We showcased our recent organizing victories, including a report by Brother Fitzgerald Graham from District Council 77, Local Union 1225 in Pascagoula, Mississippi, where we organized 210 new members, won an 18 percent pay increase, and are now targeting non-union shipyards. We also highlighted the incredible work of Raquel Sanders, Monica Patrick, and Janet Aviles, who are working to win a first collective bargaining 16 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
agreement at LabCorp in Atlanta, following a $900,000 back-wages victory. Meanwhile, District Council 5 (Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming), District Council 7 (Wisconsin, Michigan), District Council 30 (Illinois, Wisconsin), and District Council 46 (Ontario) are conducting salt training to help members organize new construction companies. In District Council 10, Local Union 1778 (Houston, Texas), members just wrapped up a 40 day unfair labor practice strike at Spring Glass & Mirror, winning a new contract with better hours and pay, that also saves their pension. This work showcases the real power of our union. I encourage each of you to get active, contribute however you can, and fight like hell for your brothers and sisters. One Union. One Family. One Fight. IUPAT.org/Join-Us 17 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
18 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL SERVICE GENERAL VICE PRESIDENT FOR SERVICE MARK KOMAROMI For well over a year now, General President Jimmy Williams Jr. and a host of the IUPAT International staff have been traversing across Canada and the United States, sharing with staff, officers, and members about the Building Union Power internal campaign. Building Union Power essentially means building union member power, as one of the basic tenets of this union-wide program is to transform the IUPAT into a more member-focused union. I am happy to say that the feedback regarding these efforts has been resoundingly positive, notably not just from District Council staffers but also from our everyday, hardworking members. Workers’ unions have been historically based on a true democratic ideal: All voices should matter, all voices should be heard, and the collective voice should emerge as one that resonates, directly affecting policy and our overall IUPAT trajectory. Quite honestly, the IUPAT is in the midst of a grand overhaul, a defined and concentrated effort to let the voices of our rank-andfile brothers and sisters rise ever higher and gain meaningful significance for our current and future direction as an effective, rising labor union. How can this work? Local officers should feel emboldened to speak up and out about pertinent issues, such as job conditions, worker treatment, and contract negotiations, and be more involved beyond their respective roles at the monthly meeting. Steward programs should be encouraged, trained, installed, and expanded. In fact, we are bringing the outlines of this basic CHANGING THE CULTURE OF OUR UNION TO BE MORE MEMBER-FOCUSED Steward Train-the-Trainer class at District Council 57 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 18 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
protocol to District Councils as this is written. Apprentices should be mentored, protected, educated, and informed that they have an equal voice. The importance of member participation in job actions, strikes, rallies, legislative efforts, electoral support, and community advocacy should be widely shared, enthusiastically encouraged, and overtly supported. The IUPAT is sincerely attempting to flip the switch and become a true member-focused union. More member activity, participation, and voices make us stronger, more powerful, more democratic, more effective, and a true beacon of union solidarity. The word is out—the actions are making it real. Once again, we ask all members to step up, speak out, and connect with your local leaders or the International Union. Ask, volunteer, and, if necessary, demand (always remember, this is your union!) to play a vital role in our collective future and in the further success of the IUPAT, which is a success shared by all. Steward Train-the-Trainer class at District Council 36 in Southern California. Steward Train-the-Trainer class at District Council 7 in Wisconsin. Steward Train-the-Trainer class at District Council 78 in Florida. 19 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
20 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL SKILL, PURPOSE, AND THE MEASURE OF A CRAFT: WHAT TECHNOLOGY REVEALS ABOUT WHO TRAINING IS REALLY FOR Every generation of workers has faced a moment like the one we are in. New tools arrive, and with them comes a question: will they strengthen our craft, or just replace us? In the last Journal, we discussed some of the technological changes in our crafts. Technology has consistently expanded opportunities when workers helped shape its use. Let’s consider that the technology question and the training question are really the same question asked from two different angles. The answer has consequences for every member, every contractor, and every affiliate in the IUPAT family. In the early twentieth century, Thorstein Veblen warned that educational institutions are vulnerable to a quiet kind of capture. When business metrics replace educational judgment as the governing logic of a training program, the language of learning persists while the purpose shifts. The institution stops asking what the worker needs to become, and starts asking what the contractor needs to produce. John Dewey pushed this notion even further. His argument was that vocational training organized purely around employer needs is not just incomplete; it can be antieducational. It produces workers adapted to the existing system rather than capable of shaping it. This is not just a historical debate: I have witnessed this play out in apprenticeship over more than two decades now. The technology now entering our training centers will either make this problem worse or help us correct it, depending entirely on who governs its use. The early American founders believed education’s purpose was not simply to produce useful workers; it was to develop people who could improve the society where they lived and worked. It was about building power. The next leaders of this organization and this industry are in our apprenticeship programs right now. How are we shaping them? iFTI UPDATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANTON RUESING Click to read the full article. 20 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
21 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL DISTRICT COUNCIL 9 | NEW YORK, PUERTO RICO LOCAL UNION 201 STEWARDS TRAINING NARCAN TRAINING District Council 9 recently conducted a stewards training course with Local Union 201 members in the Capital Region and North Country of New York. Our stewards are the backbone of the union. They're out there every day standing up for members, enforcing contracts, and making sure everyone's treated fairly. That's why steward training matters so much. When we all have the right tools, knowledge, and confidence, we're strengthening our union and better protecting every single member we represent. District Council 9 recently provided Narcan Training for members in partnership with the Building Contractors Association and the New York Building Foundation. This training equipped participants with the tools and knowledge needed when responding in critical moments. Overdoses can happen anywhere, and this training ensures our members are prepared to act, whether on the job or in their communities. We’re proud to support this life-saving initiative and grateful to our partners for helping make it possible. Workplace Training, Education & Safety 21 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
22 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL DISTRICT COUNCIL 17 | ALBERTA, SASKATCHEWAN, MANITOBA, NUNAVUT, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, DISTRICT OF MACKENZIE TRAINING ACROSS THE PRAIRIES DISTRICT COUNCIL 51 | MARYLAND, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, VIRGINIA WOODLAND JOB CORPS GRADUATES Workplace Training, Education & Safety From trade shows to skills practice to apprenticeships, District Council 17 staff and members are hard at work training throughout Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. They look forward to hosting the pre-apprenticeship program in the fall, open houses, AMPP courses, and more. District Council 51 would like to congratulate the latest group of Woodland Job Corps preapprenticeship graduates. We’ve watched them blossom throughout their journey, and their hard work and dedication have paid off. Their futures are bright, and we look forward to seeing all they will accomplish in the trades and beyond. District Council 51 deeply values its partnership with Woodland Job Corps Center because it creates real opportunity, giving young people a strong start toward a bold and successful future through skilled trades education, mentorship, and support every step of the way. 22 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
23 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL DISTRICT COUNCIL 81 | IOWA, COLORADO, ILLINOIS, NEBRASKA, SOUTH DAKOTA, WYOMING LOCAL 1075 STRENGTHENS SAFETY WITH SMARTLIFT TRAINING Workplace Training, Education & Safety Members of Glaziers, Architectural Metal & Glass Workers Local Union 1075 in Des Moines, Iowa, recently completed a hands-on training session on Smartlift equipment. The course emphasized safe operation, proper maintenance, and best practices for preventing workplace accidents when using specialized lifting gear. The training reflects the program’s commitment to practical education that enhances member safety and job site proficiency. Continuous skill-building with equipment like Smartlift helps protect workers and supports the trade’s overall advancement. Please join us in commending them for their dedication to professional development. 23 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
24 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL JOB CORPS UPDATE C ollege wasn’t the right fit for Tyshae Shields, but like most workers, she still wanted the independence afforded by a stable paycheck and good benefits. She looked for another way to move out on her own, build a solid career, and have a better life – and that’s how she found Cassadaga Job Corps Center (New York) and the painting pre-apprenticeship program. “I’ve always been an artist, and I love to paint,” said Shields. Making the decision to launch a career in painting was easy, even though the construction field was entirely new to her. That was no problem for the Job Corps instructors – they knew they could teach her everything she needed to be successful. Tyshea said of her Job Corps Instructor, Rick Powell, “Mr. Rick taught me the fundamentals of construction and all the vocabulary, like skimming, wallpaper, and finishing. Job Corps prepared me very well for the apprenticeship.” Her pre-apprenticeship wasn’t easy, but with the support of her instructors and other staff, she graduated and quickly secured her next steps. She also credits her grandfather, John Hodge, for encouraging her to stick with the program. In June 2025, Tyshae graduated from the Cassadaga Job Corps Center and was immediately accepted into the District Council 9/FTI NYC Apprenticeship in July 2025. “My Job Corps teachers helped me stick it out and stay the course. I wouldn’t have finished without them,”said Shields. Now, she’s close to finishing the first year of her apprenticeship, and she’s becoming much more comfortable with her skills on the job. She said, “I love the benefits and insurance. I didn’t have insurance until I joined, and now I even have insurance for my cat. I love the vacation pay and the increased pay over time.” For other young people who are struggling in college or unsure about their next steps, she has some advice: “Go to Job Corps, lock in and learn, and get out and join a union apprenticeship.” A CASSADEGA JOB CORPS CENTER SUCCESS STORY: TYSHAE SHIELDS NATIONAL PROJECT COORDINATOR LAWRENCE BURGESS John Hodge, Tyshae’s grandfather and one of her biggest supporters. Tyshae Shields 24 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
25 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL CELEBRATING OUR LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY 25 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
26 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL The strengthening of our union is happening in break rooms, parking lots, and hallways, with one honest conversation at a time. In the IUPAT, solidarity is not a slogan; it is a practice that begins with the most fundamental human skill, truly listening to the person in front of you. The conversations on the job site are just as important as the conversations at the negotiating table. Empathy is a key component of solidarity. When a coworker walks through the door carrying anxiety about rent, a family illness, or a foreman who makes their shift unbearable, they don’t need a pamphlet; they need to feel seen and heard. Empathy — the ability to recognize and share another person’s emotional experience — is what transforms a dues-paying member into a committed advocate. This is members helping members. This is peer support. Compassion goes beyond empathy; it compels you to act. A union built on compassion doesn’t just acknowledge suffering; it organizes around it. Compassion is providing a fellow member with the correct assistance in a time of crisis. When members show up for each other during illness, family emergency, or any other tough time, we are Building Union Power at its core. Our most powerful tool when listening to a fellow union member who is struggling is our full, undivided attention. Active listening means more than staying quiet while someone talks; it means leaning in, making eye contact, and signaling through your body language that this person and their problem genuinely matter to you. Resist the urge to jump ahead mentally, formulate solutions, or dismiss concerns as minor. Instead, let them finish their thought completely before you respond. Reflect on what you heard and allow them time to elaborate, so they know they’ve been understood, not just heard. Ask open-ended questions that invite them to go deeper. Silence is not awkward; it’s space for honesty. When a member feels truly listened to, trust builds, and that trust is the foundation on which a strong union stands. Empathy, compassion, and active listening are vital pieces when Building Union Power and providing a helping hand to a struggling member. One Union. One Family. One Fight. EMPATHY AND COMPASSION THROUGH ACTIVE LISTENING JOHN DOWD, IUPAT HELPING HAND IUPAT HELPING HAND John Dowd 26 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
27 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL CELEBRATING WOMEN IN THE TRADES The IUPAT recognizes and celebrates all of the contributions women have made to our trades, our union, and our world. Women have been key organizers and leaders in the IUPAT and the labor movement as a whole. The IUPAT is committed to creating an environment where women’s voices are not just heard but empowered, because there is no limit to what women in our union can accomplish. Sue Klinker, a retired District Council 5 staff member and Local Union 364 drywall finisher out of Seattle, Washington, shares her union story. 001 VIDEO 27 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
28 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL Union Pride DISTRICT COUNCIL 14 | ILLINOIS ABBI DONOVAN, DISTRICT COUNCIL 14, LOCAL UNION 194 After graduating from high school, Abbi Donovan moved to Los Angeles to build an acting career, but her life took a turn when COVID began, forcing her to move back to Chicago and pursue alternative careers. One Google search changed her life: she found the Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT). She quickly got hooked on learning tools at numerous trade schools, where she could use her boundless energy and work with her hands. She fell in love with the Finishing Trades Institute of District Council 14, run by Director of Apprenticeship Training Dan Penski Jr., in part because painting drew on her artistic background. As a woman in the trades, she worried about feeling like an outsider, but Penski made it abundantly clear that women are welcome and represented, speaking highly of CWIT graduates who excelled in the program and in the IUPAT. As a woman in a male-dominated field, Abbi deeply values community and representation, which she found immediately in the Women’s CORE Committee. The moment she joined, she was welcomed with open arms into a boisterous, fun, and supportive group. Helen Chung especially made her feel at home by inviting her to their monthly meetings and going the extra mile for her. All of these women live and breathe the union, dedicating years of their lives to Abbi Donovan L to R: DC 14 commercial painters Ruby Levin, Hope Liddell, Abbi Donovan, Bridgett Watson, Cynthia Avalos, and Sofia Vazquez. 28 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
29 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL bettering the opportunities it provides its members. Sister Donovan quickly became an active member in this group, supporting this community through her artistic skills and entrepreneurial spirit. When she created a video for Women’s History Month, it quickly gained traction across many social media platforms. With this positive feedback from tradeswomen around the world, Abbi realized she had found the perfect way to showcase the badass women of DC 14, and used this momentum to share their stories on social media. Before she knew it, she landed an interview with People, Carhartt was sending her gear packages, and the Daily Mail reached out. She watched her passion project turn into global exposure for herself and her sisters in the trades. Because Abbi pushed boundaries, both by being a woman in the trades and by showcasing other women in the trades, opportunities found her. The Finishing Trades Institute of DC 14 encouraged her creativity, and the Women’s Committee utilized it. Today, she drives content for the Women’s Committee. She is also slated to paint a mural at a school, and recently designed and hand-painted a permanent mural at McCormick Place in Chicago, the largest convention center in North America. Amazing things can happen when you join the IUPAT! Union Pride Click here to watch Abbi’s videos. SHARE YOUR UNION PRIDE Click here to submit your union pride stories 29 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
30 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL DISTRICT COUNCIL 53 | WEST VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, OHIO, KENTUCKY, VIRGINIA The IUPAT Communications team spoke with District Council 53 Business Manager/ Secretary-Treasurer (BM/ST) Brian Stanley and his staff about their members and work. Other key staff members interviewed were DJ Eddy, Director of Organizing; Harold Keller, Director of Servicing, North Jurisdiction; and Rodney Skaggs, Director of Servicing, South Jurisdiction. Other directors include Tyler Bennett, Director of Communications, and David Barker, Director of Training. Please introduce yourself and share a bit of your history with the IUPAT. Tell us about your key staff members and their roles. I joined the union in 2005; I was organized as a drywall finisher. In 2008, I worked on a political campaign for District Council 53 and then became an organizer. I then became the Director of Organizing before being elected to fill the unexpired term as BM/ST, and I was just re-elected for another term this June. Our Director of Organizing, DJ Eddy, also joined our union in 2005. He’s a fourth-generation industrial painter and came in through the apprenticeship. He worked side by side with our members in gas plants, on bridges, and on water towers until nine years ago, when he came on staff as an organizer and was later appointed a business agent. He was always very involved in the union and served as president of Local Union 438 (Steubenville, Ohio) and as a delegate. In 2023, I appointed him Director of Organizing. Our Director of Servicing in the North, Harold Keller, has been a member since DISTRICT COUNCIL SPOTLIGHT DC 53 BM/ST Brian Stanley Hydrovac training in Charleston, West Virginia. Local Union 804 at West Virginia University. Local Union 93 at an airport renovation project in Athens, Ohio. 30 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
2006. He started as an industrial Hydro/Vac Technician, and then started an industrial paint apprenticeship. He worked in the field until 2014, when he came on staff to help with political work, before becoming an organizer and then a business agent. In 2023, I appointed him to his current position. Prior to that, he served as recording secretary of Local Union 1144 (Parkersburg, West Virginia) and was also a delegate. Our Director of Servicing in the South, Rodney Skaggs, joined our union in 1998 as an apprentice. He started as an industrial painter, switched to commercial, and ran work for his company before joining the staff as an organizer in 2016. After two years, he was appointed as a business representative, then elected as a business agent, and then I appointed him to his current position. Our Director of Communications, Tyler Bennett, joined District Council 53 after spending several years in broadcasting and print journalism. Accepting this position has been one of the best decisions of his life. He grew up in Ravenswood, West Virginia, and knows the union difference through his grandfathers, who were union steelworkers at Kaiser Aluminum and were involved in the 1990–1992 Ravenswood Aluminum strike. Our Director of Training, David Barker, has been a member of our union since 1997 and was also a delegate for Local Union 1144 (Parkersburg, West Virginia). He worked in the field until 2017, when he became an industrial instructor. His family is made up of union members from the Ironworkers, Boilermakers, Pipefitters, Sheet Metal Workers, and Teamsters. Tell us about the areas and members represented by District Council 53. We have a very large geographical jurisdiction. We represent all of West Virginia, 34 counties in Virginia, 16 counties in Ohio, 11 counties in Eastern Kentucky, and 2 counties in Maryland. We represent glaziers, drywall finishers, industrial and commercial painters, and hydro blasters. Currently, we have about 2600 members. Local Union 1144 at the Bureau of Fiscal Service in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Local Union 1195 at a Form Energy project in Weirton, West Virginia. 31 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
32 | FALL 2025 | JOURNAL DISTRICT COUNCIL SPOTLIGHT What are some projects or campaigns you’re currently working on? Our Council is equally focused on internal and external work. Internally, we are prioritizing member empowerment trainings like Building Union Power, hitting job sites daily, and doing one-on-ones with our members. We recently gained five new counties in Ohio, which is hugely exciting, and we are focused on learning the area, figuring out the lay of the land, and building relationships there. Our Organizing and Servicing departments are tracking all mega projects – those valued at $50 million or more – throughout our jurisdiction, to ensure that we are organized and united and getting our members to work. We currently have more than 20 data centers planned for our territory, totaling $2 trillion in work. We also track all of the bridge work done in our jurisdiction to ensure that our members are working on them. We have been very busy with organizing and servicing. Last year, we signed 16 contractors, secured 7 project labor agreements, and gained 100,000 worker-hours for our District Council, touching each of our crafts. We have two National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) campaigns that are currently in flux at painting companies in Virginia, but we are hopeful to have bargaining finalized in both soon. We are also getting ready to launch a glazing campaign in Kentucky. What projects or campaigns are you most proud of? At the end of last year, we ran an NLRB election campaign at Nail City in Wheeling, West Virginia. They had 13 workers; 12 went to the election wearing their union shirts and voting yes. They are now under contract after signing the master agreement. Please tell us about diversity within your District Council. For a District Council that’s 98 percent white in our region, we have more diversity in our union than people may realize. In certain parts of our jurisdiction, we have many Latino DC 53 Director of Communications Tyler Bennett received the Rising Star Award at last year’s IUPAT Communications Summit. Local Union 1195 at a Richwood K-12 Project in West Virginia. Local Union 1144 at a chemical plant in Pleasants County, West Virginia. 32 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
members, and we are trying to grow in that area further. We have many women members and an active women’s committee. Our doors are open to everyone, and we really try to be welcoming. We have moved the needle quite a bit on diversity. We struggle with young people, and we are trying hard to recruit them right out of high school. As many people are probably aware, our region of Appalachia was the epicenter of the opioid epidemic thanks to the Sackler family. We have a drug and education fund, we pay for rehabilitation if a member fails a drug test, and we have a Helping Hand ambassador. We have many members in active recovery. There are a lot of mental health issues in our area, and I am proud that our union can be a resource to our members. What advice would you give to new members? Be more involved with the union. That’s where we’re lacking, and hopefully the Building Union Power Campaign will bring more people back into the fold. Read your Constitution, know your duties as a member, and learn your history. West Virginia used to have the highest union density in the country. We have a lot of history, and we teach it to our apprentices. District Council 53 launched the first phase of the Building Union Power Campaign in October 2026. General President Jimmy Williams Jr., General Vice President Paul Canning, and other members of the IU staff were in attendance. Local Unions 970, 1072, and 1144, at Prizm Painting (Charleston, West Virginia). Local Union 970 at the University of Charleston (West Virginia). 33 | SUMMER 2026 | JOURNAL
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