On April 22, more than 2,000 members of the Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) across the United States and Canada put their hearts and skills to work for their neighbors to honor the union’s second annual IUPAT Community Day of Action.
With materials donated by the IUPAT, union employers and industry partners, volunteers teamed with community groups to clean up, paint, and replace the windows of churches, schools and community centers across North America. IUPAT volunteers also worked with a number of organizations to collect food and to cook for and feed those in need.
The goal of the Community Day of Action is to show the world that the members of the IUPAT and the rest of the labor movement are more than advocates for fair wages, rights and benefits on the job. They are good neighbors who have a long tradition of building up their communities. The IUPAT Community Day of Action is yet one more example of how organized labor is a positive force for working families—both union and nonunion.
IUPAT General President Kenneth Rigmaiden said:
It is our hope that the work we have done today, coast to coast in the United States and Canada, will inspire others to do their part for our communities. I'm proud of our members who have dedicated their time, their skills and their hearts to such worthy causes, and I truly believe that we made a difference. It shows just how much a united group of volunteers can accomplish in one day. My thanks to our community partners for helping us make our second annual Community Day of Action a success.
It was a great day (that's not over yet) where one union made a difference across North America in just one day!
The Painters and Allied Trades represents men and women in the United States and Canada who work in the finishing trades—commercial and industrial painting, drywall finishing, glazing and glass work, sign and display, and floor covering installation, among other crafts. Learn more about the IUPAT at IUPAT.org and follow us on Twitter @GoIUPAT.