MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 13 – THURSDAY, AUGUST 15
Contact on behalf of IUPAT:
John Doherty, (617) 592-2230, jdoherty@iupat.org
Libby Smelker, (617) 485-4801, libby@617mediagroup.com
Jeff Hall, (617) 281-8384, jeff@617mediagroup.com
Presidential candidates U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Mayor Pete Buttigieg to address thousands of Painters Union members at Las Vegas, NV convention
Candidates make pitch as fast-growing, politically active, progressive painters union gathers in key swing state
LAS VEGAS, NV — Amid an era of wage stagnation, diminishing worker protections, growing income inequality, and a general sense that the deck is stacked against the middle class, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) will convene in Las Vegas, NV this week.
The union is fighting across the country for what every working family in the 21st century needs: livable wages, decent benefits, safe and healthy work sites, and collaborative and respectful workplaces.
Beginning on Tuesday, August 13, 2019, several presidential candidates are expected to address union members both in-person and via satellite.
Confirmed Presidential candidate speakers include U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Mayor Pete Buttigieg, with other confirmations expected to occur throughout the week.
Presidential candidate addresses to the union will be OPEN PRESS with a validated RSVP request. Media may request RSVP confirmation by sending an email to Libby@617MediaGroup.com and Jeff@617MediaGroup.com. Streamed versions of the candidate speeches may be available upon request for media not able to attend the convention in-person.
In addition to hosting presidential candidates, the convention will provide a “from the front lines” look at what the IUPAT is doing to mobilize and educate its 110,000 members on fighting back and standing up for what workers need, especially important in the run-up to the 2020 election.
IUPAT represents painters, glaziers, wall coverers, flooring installers, convention and trade show decorators, glassworkers, sign and display workers, asbestos worker/hazmat technicians and drywall finishers in the United States and Canada.
“IUPAT is leading the fight for high-quality workplaces where workers have a voice, respect and dignity. At the same time, we are vigorously standing up to continued attacks on labor by the White House, members of Congress, and the judiciary,” said IUPAT General President Kenneth Rigmaiden.
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak welcomed attendees of the convention with a rousing speech on Monday morning.
“What’s good for organized labor, what’s good for unions, is good for America,” said Sisolak. “I will always put working families first.”
Other speakers at the convention will include AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, North America’s Building Trades Unions President Sean McGarvey, and more, outlined on the schedule below.
WHAT: IUPAT 32nd General Convention
WHEN: Tuesday, August 12 – Thursday, August 15
WHERE: Octavius Ballroom, Caesars Palace Hotel, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV
UPCOMING SPEAKER SCHEDULE AS OF 8/12/19
(SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR UPDATES AND SPECIFIC SPEAKER TIMES, CONTACT: Libby@617MediaGroup.com and Jeff@617MediaGroup.com)
Monday, Aug. 12
AFTERNOON:
Richard Trumka, President, AFL-CIO
Lee Saunders, President, AFSCME
Tuesday, Aug. 13
MORNING:
Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer
Pete Buttigieg, Mayor, South Bend, IN, and Candidate for U.S. President
Bernie Sanders, U.S Senator, Vermont and Candidate for U.S. President
Keynote Speech: Kenneth Rigmaiden, General President, IUPAT
AFTERNOON:
Sean McGarvey, President, North America’s Building Trades Unions
Stacey Abrams, Founder, Fair Fight
Wednesday, Aug. 14
MORNING:
Terry Melvin, President, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
D. Taylor, President, UNITE HERE
Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Senator, Minnesota
AFTERNOON:
James Boland, President, International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftsworkers
Thursday, Aug. 15
MORNING:
Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers
Bob Chalker, CEO, NACE International
Arlene Dunn, Director, Canada’s Building Trades Unions
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The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades represents a growing community of over 110,000 active and retired craftspeople in the United States and Canada. Recognized as one of the most active unions in the labor movement, IUPAT members help shape their communities in many ways: through an abiding commitment to service, by fighting passionately for workers’ rights that benefit all working families, and through effective worker education and mobilization. Learn more at www.IUPAT.org
