FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts on behalf of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
Ryan Kekeris, 410-564-5884, rkekeris@iupat.org
IUPAT Joins Thriving Labor-Environmental Coalition to Build a Clean, Thriving, and Equitable Economy
HANOVER, MD (March 1st, 2021) – The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) is proud to announce today our union is joining BlueGreen Alliance, a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations.
Founded in 2006 by the United Steelworkers (USW) and Sierra Club, the BlueGreen Alliance unites labor unions and environmental organizations collectively representing millions of members and supporters. IUPAT is delighted to join BlueGreen Alliance in working to solve today’s environmental challenges in ways that will create and maintain good-paying jobs and build a clean, thriving, and equitable economy.
Our union, IUPAT, represents a growing force of over 160,000 active and retired men and women in the United States and Canada. Our members work in the Finishing Trades as industrial and commercial painters, drywall finishers, wall coverers, glaziers, glass workers, floor covering installers, sign makers, display workers, convention and show decorators and in many more exciting occupations. Our union’s trades and skills are in high demand at every construction project in North America. We stand ready to retrofit schools, hospitals and buildings, to coat, paint, glaze and so much more.
General President of IUPAT, Kenneth E. Rigmaiden: “We can see that Congress is serious about investing in our infrastructure systems, but we must make sure those investments deliver good-paying, union jobs for workers and deliver environmental benefits for the communities where our members live and work. We’re excited to join this partnership and to work together to build a better future for our members.”
BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director, Jason Walsh: “IUPAT is one of the most active unions in the labor movement and their members are doing the work needed to build a clean, thriving, and equitable future for us all. The Biden administration and Congress need to get America’s economy back on track by creating millions of good, union jobs rebuilding and modernizing our infrastructure and retooling and rebuilding our manufacturing sector. IUPAT and its members know this and are joining their voice with ours to make sure our leaders deliver.”
USW International President, Thomas M. Conway: “Americans should never have to choose between good jobs and a clean environment. They can and must have both. Investing in our critical infrastructure and rebuilding our long-neglected supply chains will make our country more efficient and get Americans back to work in good paying, union jobs. We’re proud to have IUPAT join our ranks to help us in this fight.”
Executive Director of the Sierra Club, Michael Brune: “Addressing the climate crisis is not only critical for the future of our humanity, but it is also an opportunity to create millions of good union jobs. We are thrilled to partner with the IUPAT as we continue to grow our movement to create an equitable, just, and livable future for all.”
THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES (IUPAT)
Represents a growing community of over 160,000 active and retired craftspeople in the United States and Canada. The IUPAT membership extends far beyond the workplace. 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. Visit www.iupat.org to learn more.
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