DC 35 has always been a very active union. During the political season, DC 35 is known among elected officials and candidates as a union that can mobilize the membership for sign holding, door knocking, phone banking, educating our members, and turning out votes. Members are called upon to attend community meetings, city council meetings, and assist the Organizing Department and Servicing Department with hand billing and bannering on job sites throughout its jurisdiction. Having an active membership builds strength and shows that our membership is committed to the growth of our union.
Another example of DC 35’s activism is displayed through community service and being a good partner to a society that we all live in. Recently, DC 35 had an opportunity to help with a project sponsored by Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors. This project was brought to our attention by a member, Doug Mitchell, and we were asked if DC 35 could be involved. DC 35 jumped in with both feet because this wasn’t just an average community service project, it was a house for a veteran severely wounded serving his country, who had suffered multiple amputations.
Homes for Wounded Warriors is an organization that builds houses specifically designed for service members that made the sacrifice of losing limbs in the defense of our country. In coordination with Eric Redding, Director of Apprenticeship and Training, and his whole staff, we were able to come up with a schedule that would utilize the apprenticeship classes with the backing of journey workers to complete this project. We were able to secure a donation of all taping supplies from TJ McCartney, and all the painting supplies from Select Paint (formally Paint Systems).
Over the course of six weeks, a handful of journey workers and members of several drywall finishing and commercial painting classes were at the Hanson, Massachusetts, project getting on-the-job training and instruction while giving back to a service member that sacrificed for us.
