BUILDING TRADES UNION MAKES ANNOUNCEMENT AS CLINTON TOURS LAS VEGAS TRAINING CENTER
Henderson, NV — On Wednesday, October 14, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (UPAT) endorsed Hillary Clinton in her bid to become president of the United States.
“As the next president of the United States, Hillary Clinton is ready to meet the priorities of the members of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades and working families,” said IUPAT General President Kenneth Rigmaiden to a crowd of IUPAT members. “She is committed to creating jobs with significant infrastructure investment to rebuild our roads, bridges and highways, and she is ready to advance training programs, like union apprenticeships, to fill those jobs. The proud men and women of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades are ready to work every day to elect Hillary Clinton as our next President of the United States.”
The event took place at the IUPAT District Council 15 training center where Secretary Clinton took a short tour and met with several instructors and apprentices to see a demonstration of how they learn their trades. The IUPAT represents men and women who work in the industrial and commercial painting, drywall finishing, glazing and glasswork, floor covering installation and sign and display crafts, among other trades.
In her remarks, Secretary Clinton praised the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades for the union’s commitment to building a skilled workforce. “Painters and Allied Trades is on the cutting edge of rebuilding and building our infrastructure,” she said.
“Hillary Clinton’s distinctive experience serving both as a senator and secretary of state is what makes her the clear choice to be our next president.” Rigmaiden continued. “She is the only candidate who, as president, will ably meet the challenges that face a world leader on a daily basis, while still embracing and focusing on the concerns working families have at home – including healthcare, education for our children and fair pay for all.”
In a letter to local IUPAT leaders, Rigmaiden explained that the choice for Clinton was made after the IUPAT polled its members and its General Executive Board met on the results. “I am writing to inform you that Secretary Hillary Clinton has won the polling of our membership via paper and electronic balloting with 34 percent of the vote,” Rigmaiden says in the letter. “The decision by the membership to endorse Secretary Clinton was only furthered by your General Executive Board’s belief that she is on the right side of the issues important to our union and the organized labor movement, as well.” Senator Bernie Sanders came in second with 24 percent of the vote.
The letter goes on to say that “in addition to supporting infrastructure investment for jobs, fair pay for all, protecting union collective bargaining rights and retirement security, Clinton has also made it clear in personal conversations with union leaders that she wants to advance the success of high-quality training programs, like union apprenticeships. The membership and the GEB believe Hillary Clinton to be the candidate who will fight for our interests beginning with training, through our members’ time on the job, and then in retirement.”
The event at IUPAT District Council 15 was well attended by members of the union and fellow trades. The training displays for Secretary Clinton included painting, wall covering, glass work and a demonstration of state-of-the-art virtual industrial painting sprayer. A mural of Secretary Clinton was also painted in anticipation of her visit by an IUPAT decorative painter, which she was kind enough to sign.
“It was our honor to welcome Secretary Clinton to the training center to see first-hand how the IUPAT and its fellow Building Trades unions are dedicated to training a workforce second to none in the construction industry,” said John Smirk, business manager/secretary-treasurer of IUPAT District Council 15. “We are looking forward to putting that same commitment work for her on the campaign trail.”