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www.IUPAT.org 

26 

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48 

10 Union News & Events 

26 Government Affairs 

PAINTERS & ALLIED TRADES 

The Official Journal of the International 

Union of Painters and Allied Trades, 

Organized March 15, 1887, 

and the Only Publication 

Issued Under Its Auspices. 

James A. Williams, Editor 

George Galis, Publisher 

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Representing Protective and Decorative Coatings Applicators 

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J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 8 • V O L . 1 2 6 • N O . 3 

IUPAT for Barack Obama 

Why union voters need the Obama 

and Biden ticket in the White House. 

Take the Truth to Work 

Compelling facts about Obama vs. McCain. 

Our Vice Presidential Nominee 

Meet Joe Biden. 

2008 LMCI Finishing 

Industries Forum 

This premier industry event celebrates its fourth year. 

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New work and opportunities in an ancient craft. 

IUPAT Pension Fund Solid, 

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Fund remains in the ‘Green Zone.’ 

D E P A R T M E N T S 

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THE PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES 

JOURNAL (ISSN 1522-2241) is published 

quarterly for members of the International 

Union of Painters and Allied Trades by 

IUPAT at 1750 New York Avenue, N.W., 

Washington, DC 20006. Periodicals postage 

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J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 8 • J O U R N A L 

3

GENERAL PRESIDENT’S REPORT 

Put an End to Personal Politics 

Whenever I’m on travel for 

union business in different 

parts of the United States 

and Canada, I make it a point to attend as 

many local union meetings as I can. I enjoy 

the back-and-forth with the 

membership and the chance 

to talk to fellow members 

personally about some of 

the issues facing our union. 

I was recently at such a meeting 

and the time came to hear from the 

political director. He began his 

speech with an all-too-familiar 

opening line, “This election,” and 

it is here he added a long, dramatic 

pause. Too long of a pause 

as it turned out, because those 

attending the meeting finished his 

opening line with, “is the most 

important election of your life.” 

I’m guessing that, as you read this, you’re probably 

thinking that the same thing could happen at your 

union meetings as well. Okay. I fully admit that it’s an 

overused line. Consider it officially retired, and you 

won’t see it in my articles ever again. But don’t let a 

tired line get in the way of you taking this presidential 

election seriously. As union members and a part of 

the middle class, we have a lot riding on the outcome. 

As the saying goes, you can tell a lot about a man 

by the company he keeps. Let’s put Senator John 

McCain to that test. One of the very first endorsements 

he received in his run for the White House was 

from the Associated Builders and Contractors, or the 

ABC. The ABC is an organization that publicly lobbies 

to end the organized labor movement for the 

benefit of non-signatory contractors. What does that 

tell you about John McCain? 

4 J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 8 • J O U R N A L 

J A M E S A . W I L L I A M S 

G E N E R A L P R E S I D E N T 

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Wal- 

Mart, one of the most active and vocal anti-union 

companies in the history of the United States, was 

“mobilizing its store managers and department supervisors 

around the country to warn that if Democrats 

win power in November, they’ll likely change federal 

law to make it easier for workers to unionize companies 

-- including Wal-Mart.” 

These Wal-Mart employees were told that 

“employees at unionized stores 

would have to pay hefty union 

dues while getting nothing in 

return, and may have to go on 

strike without compensation. Also, 

unionization could mean fewer 

jobs as labor costs rise.” 

Whether Wal-Mart violated any 

laws by telling its employees how 

to vote is still being debated. 

However, it’s clear that this antiunion 

global monster is strongly in 

the corner of John McCain and 

will even risk possibly violating the 

law to get him elected. How do 

you think he feels about Wal-Mart 

putting all the mom-and-pop stores 

out of business and our brothers 

and sisters in the United Food and 

Commercial Workers union out on 

the street? 

The McCain campaign has labeled itself as giving 

“Straight Talk” to the voters. Well, let’s talk straight to 

one another about Senator Barack Obama. It’s 2008 

and we have an African-American man running for 

president of the United States. That man needs our 

vote. We need that man to win this election and we 

need to do everything we can to make it happen. Do 

not believe the hogwash the opposition is putting out 

there. The true “Straight Talk” is that we have one 

choice to help you, your family and your union, and 

that is to vote for Senator Barack Obama. He stands 

for what is right for us as working men and women. 

He will fight to secure a better life for us all now and 

in the future. That and that alone is what you as a 

voter need to concentrate on in this election. He is 

not running because of his race; he is running to 

Continued on page 51

Pongaun Fin a las Políticas Personales 

Cada vez que viajo en asuntos de la 

unión por diferentes partes de los 

Estados Unidos y Canadá, hago un 

esfuerzo por asistir al mayor número de 

reuniones de las uniones locales que pueda. 

Me complace el intercambio con la mem- 

brecía y la oportunidad de hablar personal- 

mente con mis colegas acera de algunos de 

los asuntos de nuestra nación encara. 

Recientemente asistí a una de estas reuniones y el 

momento llegó de oír del director político. Comenzó su 

discurso con palabras muy familiares. “Esta elección,” 

dijo, seguido de una larga pausa dramática. 

Aparentemente esa pausa fue demasiado larga, ya que 

los que asistieron a la reunión completaron su pensamiento, 

agregando: “es la elección de mayor importancia 

en su vida.” 

No dudaría que muchos de ustedes al leer esto 

piensen que eso mismo pudo haber sucedido en sus 

respectivas reuniones de la unión local. Cierto. Admito 

que esta frase es una que ha sido asada al extremo anteriormente. 

La consideraremos jubilada y ésta no aparecerá 

jamás en mis artículos en el futuro. Pero no dejen 

que esta frase ya gastada interfiera con su necesidad de 

tomar estas elecciones presidenciales muy en serio. Como 

miembros de la unión y como parte de la clase media, 

tenemos muchas cosas en juego en el resultado de éstas. 

Como dice el refrán, dime con quien andas y te diré 

quien eres. Pongamos al Senador McCain a la prueba. 

Uno de los primeros endosos que recibió en su campaña 

hacia la Casa Blanca fue de los Contratistas y 

Constructores Asociados, o el ABC. El ABC es una organización 

la cual cabildea públicamente para ponerle fin 

al movimiento sindical organizado para beneficio de los 

contratistas que no son signatarios. ¿Qué les dice esto 

acerca de McCain? 

El diario The Wall Street Journal recientemente que 

Wal-Mart, una de las compañías de mayor actividad y 

campaña anti-unión en la historia de los Estados Unidos, 

estaba “movilizando a sus gerentes de tiendas y supervisores 

de departamentos a través del país para advertir 

que si los Demócratas ganan el poder en noviembre, 

posiblemente cambiarán las leyes federales para facilitar 

que los trabajadores puedan sindicalizar a las compañías—incluyendo 

a Wal-Mart.” 

Se le dijo a estos empleados de la Wal-Mart que “los 

empleados en tiendas con la unión tendrían que pagar 

cuotas sindicales sustanciales sin recibir nada a cambio, 

y podrían irse a la huelga sin recibir compensación. 

También, la sindicalización podría representar menor 

empleos a medida que los gastos de empleo suben.” 

Si Wal-Mart violó alguna ley al decirle a sus empleados 

cómo votar es algo que todavía se está debatiendo. 

Sin embargo, está claro que este monstruo global anti.unión 

está anclado fuertemente en la esquina de John 

McCain y está dispuesto a violar la ley para lograr su 

elección. ¿Cómo creen ustedes que el se siente acerca 

del hecho de que Wal-Mart está forzando a muchas tiendas 

locales a cerrar sus puertas y a echar a muchos de 

nuestros hermanos y hermanas en la United Food and 

Commercial Workers Union a la calle? 

La campaña de McCain se ha identificado como una 

que le impartirá la “Línea Directa” a los votantes. Si es 

así, hablemos directamente acerca del Senador Barack 

Obama. Es el 2008 y tenemos un hombre afroamericano 

que está corriendo para presidente de los Estados 

Unidos. Este hombre necesita nuestro voto. Necesitamos 

que ese hombre gane estas elecciones y tenemos que 

hacer todo lo posible para hacer que eso suceda. No 

crean las babosadas con las cuales la oposición sale. La 

verdadera “Línea Recta” es que tenemos sólo una opción 

para ayudarles a ustedes, a sus familias y a su unión, y 

esa es la de votar por el Senador Barack Obama. El representa 

nuestros intereses como hombres y mujeres que 

trabajan. El peleará para lograr una mejor vida para 

todos ahora y en el futuro. Eso y sólo eso es lo que 

tienen que pensar en estas elecciones. El no está compitiendo 

en base a su raza, esta corriendo para un cambio 

mejor en la Casa Blanca y en América. 

Poniéndolo de otra forma para los aficionados a la 

historia: Los obreros organizados necesitan que esta 

elección sea nuestra Batalla de Midway, mientras que 

nuestros opositores desean que sea nuestro Waterloo. El 

resultado será un punto giratorio, ya sea para nuestra 

sobrevivencia o nuestra derrota final. 

Continúa en la página 54 


5

EXECUTIVE GENERAL VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT 

In this edition of our Journal, you will read 

several articles discussing the choice we 

need to make on Election Day in the 

United States. In my travels around the country, 

most recently at the IUPAT Central Regional 

Conference in Minneapolis and the AFL-CIO 

Executive Council meetings in Chicago, the 

talk has been politics, politics and more politics. 

I don’t think that surprises 

anyone. 

After all, we’ve had eight years 

of primarily anti-worker labor policies 

and bad economic decisions 

with this administration. And, as 

Senator Obama said in his acceptance 

speech at the Democratic 

National Convention, “Eight is 

enough.” That alone should be sufficient 

to motivate us to vote for a 

change, and I want to make sure 

that members of the IUPAT are motivated 

not only to get out and vote 

on Election Day, but also to be 

involved in the political action activities 

of your district council or local 

union. 

If you look at the IUPAT General Constitution, you’ll 

see that there is a connection between political action 

and several of our stated goals for our union, especially 

this one: “To protect and enhance the stature 

and well-being of workers and their families by promoting 

and securing the passage of progressive legislation.” 

Fighting for our rights on the jobsite isn’t 

enough as a union; we must fight our fight in 

Washington as well, so that we remain a dynamic 

organization that will continue to improve the lives of 

our members and our families. 

While in Minneapolis, the Labor Management 

Cooperation Initiative held a regional labor management 

roundtable. We hold these events with our signa- 


‘Eight is Enough’ 

K E N N E T H E . R I G M A I D E N 

EXECUTIVE GENERAL VICE PRESIDENT 

tory employers to discuss and resolve matters of mutual 

concern that affect the industries in which we work. As 

I said, politics and the upcoming election were major 

points of discussion. What might surprise you, though, 

is that those for whom we work have also suffered 

under this country’s turn for the worse in this administration. 

This president’s policy of outsourcing jobs, disregard 

for our infrastructure, and lack of 

comprehensive health and safety reforms, among other 

things, have severely affected the ability of our signatory 

contractors to bid and secure contracts that provide 

work opportunities for us. We are definitely not 

alone in our fight for change. 

“Change” was definitely the 

theme of the IUPAT Central 

R e g i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e i n 

Minneapolis. The normally “polite” 

atmosphere of this Midwestern 

town was shrugged off and attendees 

listened to speeches from current 

legislators, candidates and 

AFL-CIO leaders who punctuated 

their speeches with raised voices 

and fist-pounding. This election is 

clearly moving people to make 

their voices heard and take action. 

And the IUPAT is no stranger to taking 

action when it comes to campaigning 

for our candidates. 

This fact was recognized by 

all who spoke at this conference. 

Our astute political action strategies 

and our ability to mobilize our 

members to put “feet on the street” for our candidates 

have not gone unnoticed. We have the IUPAT 

Government Affairs staff to thank for this recognition 

and success. They make it work for us. 

Whether it is working with an affiliate to secure a 

government grant to construct a training center, provide 

health and safety training, or partner with our 

affiliates to develop and implement a mobilization 

plan that works in conjunction with the BCTD and AFL- 

CIO, Government Affairs representatives Steve 

Havens, Jack Hayn, Nelson Thompson and Chris 

Sloan work under the direction of Administrator Tim 

Stricker to make it all possible. They are responsible 


“Ocho es Suficiente” 

En esta edición de nuestro Journal, 

leerán varios artículos que discuten la 

selección que tenemos que hacer el 

día de elecciones en los Estados Unidos. En 

mis viajes a través del país, el más reciente 

parta asistir a la Conferencia Regional 

Central de la IUPAT en Minneapolis y a las 

reuniones del Concejo Ejecutivo de la AFL- 

CIO en Chicago, el tema fue de política, 

política y más política. No creo que esto le 

sorprenda a nadie. 

Después de todo, hemos tenido ocho años de políticas 

sumamente anti-obreras y malas decisiones 

económicas por parte de esta administración. Y, como 

dijo el Senador Obama en su discurso de aceptación 

durante la Convención Nacional Demócrata, “ocho es 

suficiente.” Ese hecho debe de ser suficiente para motivarnos 

a votar por un cambio, y quiero estar seguro de 

que los miembros de la IUPAT estén motivados no sólo 

a ayudar a sacar el voto el día de las elecciones, sino 

de que se envuelvan en las actividades políticas de su 

concejo de distrito o unión local. Si miran la 

Constitución General de la IUPAT, verán que hay una 

conexión entre la acción política y varias de nuestras 

metas establecidas para nuestra unión, especialmente 

la siguiente: “Proteger y enardecer la talla y el bienestar 

de los trabajadores y sus familias mediante la promoción 

y la aprobación de legislación progresista.” El 

pelear por nuestros derechos en el lugar de empleo no 

es suficiente como unión; tenemos que llevar nuestra 

pelea a Washington también, para poder permanecer 

como organización dinámica que pueda seguir mejorando 

las vidas de nuestros miembros y sus familias. 

Cuando estuve en Minneapolis, la Iniciativa de 

Cooperación entre Obreros y Gerencia celebró una 

mesa redonda regional de índole obrero-patronal. 

Celebramos estos eventos periódicamente con los 

patronos signatarios para discutir y resolver asuntos de 

importancia mutua que afecten las industrias en las 

cuales trabajamos. Como les he dicho, la política y las 

próximas elecciones fueron puntos principales de discusión. 

Lo que puede que les sorprenda es que aquellos 

para los cuales trabajamos también han sufrido 

bajo el giro para mal bajo esta administración. La 

política de este presidente de exportar empleos, ignorar 

nuestra infraestructura, la falta de una reforma de 

salud y seguridad, entre otras cosas, han afectado seriamente 

la habilidad de los contratistas signatarios a 

competir y lograr contratos que proveen oportunidades 

de empleos para nosotros. Definitivamente no estamos 

solos en nuestra lucha por lograr cambio. 

El “cambio” fue definitivamente el tema de la 

Conferencia Regional Central de la IUPAT en 

Minneapolis. La atmósfera usualmente “cordial” de 

esta ciudad del mediano oeste fue puesta a un lado y 

los que asistieron oyeron discursos por parte de legisladores 

actuales, candidatos y líderes de la AFL-CIO 

quienes agregaron en sus discursos un tono fuerte y 

enfatizando con el puño sobre la mesa. Estas elecciones 

están claramente motivando a la gente a hacer 

que sus voces se oigan y a tomar acción. Y la IUPAT 

en el pasado siempre ha tomado acción cuando se 

trata de hacer campaña a favor de nuestros candidatos. 

Este hecho fue reconocido por todos los que 

hablaron en esta conferencia. Nuestras estrategias 

astutas de acción política y nuestra habilidad de movilizar 

a nuestros miembros y poner sus pies sobre el 

pavimento por nuestros candidatos fue percibido. Las 

gracias por este reconocimiento y éxito se las debemos 

al personal de Asuntos Gubernamentales de la IUPAT. 

Ellos hacen que esto trabaje para nosotros. 

Ya sea trabajando con una afiliada para obtener 

fondos gubernamentales para construir un centro de 

capacitación, proveer adiestramiento de salud y bienestar, 

asociarnos con nuestra afiliada para desarrollar 

e implementar un plan de movilización que opere conjuntamente 

con la BCTD y la AFL-CIO, los representantes 

de Asuntos Gubernamentales Steve Havens, Jack 

Hayn, Nelson Thompson y Chris Sloan trabajan bajo el 

Administrador Tim Stricker para hacer que todo esto 

sea posible. Ellos son los responsables de la implementación 

de los planes de movilización y trabajar con 

sus gerentes de negocios y secretario-tesoreros para 

perseguir y obtener esos dólares de fondos (aún en 



7

GENERAL SECRETARY-TREASURER’S REPORT 

Most of the time when I write this 

article, I follow only one theme. 

This time, I will speak to you 

about several different subjects. Each one is 

an opportunity for IUPAT members and their 

families. 

POLITICAL 

In this issue of the Journal, you will read much 

about the upcoming presidential 

election in the United States. I am 

not going to tell you that this is the 

most important election of our lives 

(see the general president’s article 

in this edition) or that, if certain 

candidates don’t win, it will be 

devastating. What I will tell you is 

that we as union members and 

working-class Americans have a 

real opportunity in front of us. If we 

can elect Barack Obama as president 

and expand the democratic 

majority in both houses of 

Congress, the opportunity exists for 

real and substantial changes that 

will have a positive effect your 

standard of living. For the first time 

in many, many years, we will have 

a chance to change the health 

insurance system; to have real investment in the infrastructure 

of our nation; to have an energy policy that 

will reduce your costs and create jobs; to have substantial 

labor law reform, and to enact laws on policies 

that benefit union members and working families 

in general. Don’t miss this chance; vote and work for 

these candidates when your district council or local 

union calls on you. 

EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT 

In previous issues of the Journal, I have written to 

you about how important it is for working families for 

the Employee Free Choice Act to become law. I am 

not going to rehash all the reasons again; however, I 

ask you, if you have not already done so, to fill out 


Opportunities 

G E O R G E G A L I S 

G E N E R A L S E C R E T A R Y - T R E A S U R E R 

the postage-paid Employee Free Choice Act card 

attached to this issue of the Journal and mail it to my 

office. If you have already sent a card in, ask a family 

member or co-worker to use the one in this Journal. 

The more cards we have in support of the 

Employee Free Choice Act to present to the new president 

and Congress, the greater chance we have of 

enacting this important labor law reform. 

LIFE MEMBERSHIP 

All too often, I hear about a retired member who 

passed away and whose family was denied a death 

benefit because he stopped paying 

union dues upon retirement. I 

completely understand the rational 

that there is no reason to pay 

full dues if you’re not working. 

However, if you stop paying 

dues, you’re dropped as a member, 

and that means you don’t 

get the benefits associated with 

being a member. That’s why the 

General Executive Board of your 

union created the Life Member 

option for our retirees. As Life 

Members, retirees still receive the 

benefits of membership but benefit 

from a greatly reduced dues 

structure. 

I am writing to you now in hopes 

of preventing future retirees from 

losing their rights as members and, 

in particular, their death benefits, after so many years 

of membership. Members who are permanently retired, 

who have reached age 55 and have at least 30 years 

of consecutive membership in the IUPAT may transfer to 

life membership. Members who become totally disabled 

with 30 consecutive years of membership and 

who are under 55 years of age are also eligible. Those 

who qualify for life membership will then only pay $8 

per month in dues. 

Retired or disabled members who do not meet the 

30-consecutive-years-of-membership requirement, but 

do have 20 cumulative years of membership, may 

qualify for the LR class of life membership, which 

requires dues of $12 per month. LR life members can 


La mayoría de las veces que escribo 

este artículo, suelo presentar sólo un 

tema. Esta vez, les hablaré acerca de 

varios temas diferentes. Cada uno es una 

oportunidad para los miembros de la IUPAT y 

sus familias. 

POLITICA 

En esta edición del Journal, leerán mucho más 

acerca de las elecciones presidenciales que se avecinan 

en los Estados Unidos. No les voy a decir que esta 

es una de las elecciones de mayor importancia de 

nuestras vidas (vea el artículo del presidente general en 

esta edición) o que si ciertos candidatos no ganan, 

esto sería devastador. Lo que sí les voy a decir es que 

como miembros de la unión y americanos de la clase 

obrera tenemos una oportunidad real en frente de 

nosotros. Si podemos elegir a Barack Obama como 

presidente y expandir la mayoría demócrata en ambas 

cámaras del Congreso, la oportunidad existe para 

lograr cambios sustanciales y reales que tendrán un 

impacto positivo sobre su nivel de vida. Por primera 

vez en muchos y muchos años, tendremos una oportunidad 

de cambiar el sistema de seguro médico de 

lograr una verdadera inversión en la infraestructura de 

nuestra nación; de tener una política de energía que 

reducirá sus gastos y creará empleos; de tener una 

reforma substancial en las leyes laborales, y de aprobar 

leyes de normas que benefician a los miembros de 

la unión y sus familias en general. No dejen pasar esa 

oportunidad; voten y trabajen a favor de estos candidatos 

cuando su consejo de distrito o unión local le 

pida ayuda. 

ACTA DE LIBRE SELECCION DEL EMPLEADO 

(EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT) 

En ediciones anteriores del Journal, les he escrito 

acerca de la importancia para las familias obreras que 

el Acta de Libre Selección del Empleado se convierta 

en ley. No voy a repetir todas las razones nuevamente; 

sin embargo les pido que si no lo han hecho todavía, 

que llenen la tarjeta acerca del Acta de Libre Selección 

del Empleado con franqueo pagado que se aneja a 

Oportunidades 

esta edición del Jornal, que la envíen a mi oficina. Si 

ya han enviado una tarjeta, pídanle a un familiar o 

colega de trabajo que envíe una, usando la tarjeta que 

acompaña a este Journal. 

Mientras más tarjetas obtengamos apoyando el 

Acta de Libre Selección del Empleado, mayor la posibilidad 

de que esta importante reforma laboral se convierta 

en ley. 

MEMBRECIA VITALICIA 

A menudo oigo acerca de un miembro jubilado que 

falleció y se le denegó a su familia un beneficio por 

muerte debido a que había parado de pagar las cuotas 

sindicales al jubilarse. Entiendo completamente la noción 

de que uno no suele pagar cuotas si no está trabajando. 

Sin embargo, si usted no paga las cuotas, cesa de ser 

miembro, y eso quiere decir que deja de tener derecho 

a los beneficios asociados con la membrecía. Esta es la 

razón por la cual la Junta Ejecutiva General de su unión 

creó la opción de Membrecía Vitalicia para nuestros 

jubilados. Como Miembros Vitalicios, los jubilados 

pueden seguir recibiendo los beneficios de miembros y 

beneficiarse de una estructura de cuotas sustancialmente 

reducidas. 

Les escribo ahora esperando poder evitar que los 

futuros jubilados pierdan sus derechos como miembros, 

y en específico sus beneficios por muerte después de tantos 

años de membrecía. Los miembros que están jubilados 

permanentemente, que hayan llegado a la edad de 

55 años y que tengan por lo menos 30 años de membrecía 

consecutiva con la IUPAT pueden transferirse a 

una membrecía vitalicia. 

Los miembros que se incapaciten teniendo 30 años 

consecutivos de membrecía y que tienen menos de 55 

años de edad también son elegibles. Aquellos que cualifiquen 

para membrecía vitalicia pagarán solamente $8 

por mes en cuotas. 

Los miembros jubilados o incapacitados que no 

cumplan con el requisito de 30 años consecutivos de 

membrecía, pero que tienen 20 años cumulativos de 

membrecía, pueden cualificar para la categoría LR de 

membrecía que requiere cuotas de $12 mensuales. Los 

miembros de por vida bajo la categoría LR pueden 

usar esta categoría de miembro como puente para 

lego obtener la membrecía vitalicia una vez cumplan 

con el requisito de los 30 años. Aquellos que estén 



9

I N T E R N A T I O N A L U N I O N O F 

P A I N T E R S A N D A L L I E D T R A D E S 

UNION NEWS &EVENTS 

Decades of service honored 

at District Council 81in Iowa 

General Vice President Ray Sesma presented Years of Service 

pins to several members of District Council 81 (Iowa) 

recently. The entire District Council congratulates our members 

and their contribution to our union is much appreciated. 

Members presented with 40-year pins were Larry W. Nagle, 

Samual P. Shinn and Dan Sullivan. Not in attendance was 

William Stufflebeam. 

Years of Service honorees from District Council 81. 


45-year 

member 

Ralph 

Southern 

(center). 

Members receiving 35-year pins were Robert J. Brown, Irvin 

Fiala and Mark Jarnagin. Members receiving 30-year pins 

were Evagelos Kligopoulos and Randy F. Pearson. Not in attendance 

were 30-year members Dale Anderson Jr., Dennis R. 

Miller, Dennis Snyder, Richard E. Snyder and Lewis A. Wetzel. 

Sesma presented Dan P. Evans and Brian D. Mac Kinnon 

with 25-year pins. Not in attendance were Martin Gehringer, 

Danny R. Grandstaff, Edward J. Lint and Sarah A. Watson, 

who also have earned 25-year pins. 

General Vice President Ray Sesma (left), DC 81 Business Manager/ 

Secretary-Treasurer Deborah Groene present Terry Slawson, a 52-year 

member of Local Union 246, with a gold watch as well as his 50-year pin.

A HELMET TO HARDHAT SUCCESS STORY IN DISTRICT COUNCIL 5 (WASHINGTON) 

Mike Alexander just graduated from the Western 

Washington State Painters Apprenticeship Program, but his 

success did not begin there. Mike grew up in Columbus, 

Ohio, and graduated from high school in May 1999. That 

fall, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served his 

country for the next four years, stationed at Camp 

Pendleton, just north of San Diego, California. 

Upon being honorably discharged, Mike moved to 

Tacoma, Washington, and worked several temporary jobs 

until he began painting in the residential sector. He liked the 

work, but the paint shop where he worked offered no benefits 

other than medical, and even that cost him extra money 

out of his check each week. 

After two years in the trade, he heard about Helmets to 

Hardhats through the Marines and attended a seminar 

about the program. The Helmets to Hardhats representative 

put him in touch with IUPAT District Council 5 Business 

Representative Chris Winters, who was also the council's 

Helmets to Hardhats representative. 

Chris informed Mike of the details of the Painter’s 

Apprenticeship program and got him started in the right 

INDUSTRY PARTNERS SUPPORT IUPAT TRAINING 

FTI Apprenticeship Training Representative Bob Porto (right) shakes hands 

with Scott Cummins from Marco. The IUPAT is grateful for our industry 

partners who support our training programs by donating equipment and 

supplies. 

direction. Mike soon began his apprenticeship as a thirdbracket 

apprentice, earning credit for the painting he did 

during the previous two years. 

Mike is currently employed by Long Painting and is 

doing a great job for them. Mike explained that the 

Marine Corps training taught him many things, including 

discipline, respect and teamwork, and the Painter’s 

Apprenticeship training gave him the skills to perform his 

craft productively and safely. It is for these reasons that 

Mike’s career as a union member and painter is off to a 

successful start. 

Mike 

Alexander 

(center) and his 

wife, Valencia, 

at his 

graduation 

ceremony 

along with 

Business 

Representative 

and Helmets to 

Hardhats 

liaison Chris 

Winters. 

The IUPAT and its Finishing Trades Institute 

are fortunate to have supporters within our 

industry who help us maintain the best training 

programs in our industries. This summer, 

Marco, the leading supplier of abrasives, 

blasting, painting, safety equipment and 

supplies, donated tools and equipment to 

District Council 80 in New Orleans. The council 

is rebuilding its training program after 

Hurricane Katrina and the equipment will go a 

long way toward making the DC 80 training 

program the gold standard in the Big Easy. 

Our thanks to Marco! 



11




Keeping members healthy and helping the 

bottom line in District Council 4 (Upstate New York) 

At the District Council 4 Health 

Fair, 20 vendors came 

together to present products 

and services aimed at keeping members 

healthier. Business Manager Dan 

Boody summed up the effort by saying, 

“If our members are living healthier 

and making fewer trips to the 

emergency room, that means fewer 

insurance claims and less strain on 

our benefit funds.” 

Members and contractors appreciated 

the tremendous support from 

IUPAT Industry Pension Fund staff 

(shown at right), who attended the 

fair, in answering questions and providing 

pension projections to the 

membership. 

DISTRICT COUNCIL 14 OFFERS INDUSTRIAL APPLICATOR CERTIFICATION 


Executive 

Assistant to 

the Fund 

Administrator 

Ed Meyers 

provides 

some 

answers 

to DC 4 

members 

about their 

pension. 

On June 18, District Council 14 (Illinois) held a Pre- 

Industrial Applicator Certification Course at its 

Apprenticeship Facility, in conjunction with SSPC and CL 

Coatings. Apprentice Instructor Lance McCalla partnered 

with Alan Delange (CL Coatings) and Michael Damiano 

(SSPC) to do a dry run of the performance verification 

portion of the Industrial Applicator Certification from SSPC. 

Three members of Painters District Council 14 performed all 

phases of an industrial project, including dry abrasive blast, 

spray application and basic inspection. A written exam was 

given at the end of the performance verifications. Damiano 

accepted participant input throughout each phase of the course. 

Damiano said he was greatly pleased with the facility and the 

overall knowledge of the participants in the industrial field. The 

certification for the Industrial Applicator should be finalized by 

the end of the year. 

Participants in the Industrial Performance verification class held 

at District Council 14 (left to right Ron Alberico (Local 33), Jeff 

Delange (Local 33), Paul Wilber (Local 265) and Michael Damiano 

(SSPC) prepare for a learning experience.

AWARD-WINNING 

MEMBER OF INDIANA’S 

DISTRICT COUNCIL 91 

The Association of Union 

Constructors (TAUC) presented its 

Annual Craftsperson Awards for 

Ingenuity and Innovation in 

Construction on May 15 in Miami, 

Florida, in conjunction with TAUC’s 

s e c o n d a n n u a l L e a d e r s h i p 

Conference. This award recognizes 

journeymen, foremen or general 

foremen for their achievement on 

the job. 

DC 91 member Todd Zehner, a 

painter with Manta Industrial, Inc., 

earned second runner-up in the 

category of projects under 25,000 

craft work hours, for his work on 

the South Shoreline Project for the 

Northern Indiana Commuter 

Transportation District. 

“This was the most challenging 

job I’ve ever come across,” said 

Zehner. “I’m proud of the crew who 

worked with me, especially my 

apprentices, who helped turn a loser 

into a winner.” 

Manta Industrial, Inc. took over 

the project from another contractor 

after early cost projections showed 

the project running over budget and 

behind schedule. Brother Zehner 

was the supervisor and immediately 

investigated an alternative chemical 

stripping product. He also 

coordinated with the general 

contractor and owner on issues 

regarding the train, flagger, 

shutdown and weekend schedules 

to complete the project on time. 

SOFTBALL CHAMPS FROM DISTRICT COUNCIL 21/LOCAL 

UNION 252 

Congratulations to the softball players of Local Union 252 in Philadelphia on their 

championship season. 

Changing of the guard at 

Michigan’s District Council 26 

Steven Mitchell, Business Manager of District Council 26 (Michigan), 

announced his retirement effective June 30 at the June District Council 

meeting. At that meeting, the delegates elected Jeffrey Kelley to fulfill the 

remaining term of the Business Manager. About his appointment, now-BM/ST 

Kelley said, “Steve got the District Council started, and I want to follow in his 

footsteps and continue growing DC 26.” 

Brook Manley was appointed Business Representative for Local 1803, to fill 

the spot opened by Kelley’s election. 

DC 26 members 

(left to right) 

Delegate Chuck 

Fox, newly elected 

Business 


Brook Manley, 

retiring Business 

Manager Steven 

Mitchell, newly 

elected Business 

Manager Jeffrey 

Kelley and Senior 

Trustee Casey 

Hathaway. 



13




Graduation Season for IUPAT Apprentices across North America 

DISTRICT COUNCIL 58 (ILLINOIS) 

Congratulations to participants in the 

apprenticeship graduation ceremoney 

held on Saturday, June 7 at the District 

Council 58 training facility. (Row 1, 

closest to the table) Robert Roach, 

Patrick Parrent, John Wallace, Donald 

Anderson and Brandon Cannaday; 

(row 2) George Caulk, Instructor Bruce 

Millsap, Jake Malott, David Bright and 

Derek Francisco; (row 3) Instructor 

Steven Wayland, Apprenticeship & 

Training Coordinator Arthur Hurlburt, 

BM/ST Gregg Smith, Matthew Glover, 

Nathan Holt and Michael Montgomery. 

Other graduates not pictured: 

David Anders, David Armentrout, 

Kathy Claypool, Jason Crawley, Travis 

Eckstein, Christopher McKinnon, Terry 

Mitchell Jr., Robert Ohlsson, Nick 

Rohr, Ahmed Sakar, Lisa Straeter, 

Jason Warren and Bradley Worker. 

DISTRICT COUNCIL 57 (PITTSBURGH) 


DC 57/LU 549 in 

Erie, Pennsylvania 

graduated its first 

female apprentice this 

summer. Mary Ann 

Hauser is shown here 

receiving a jacket and 

congratulations from 

DC 57 Instructor Mike 

Hornyak.

DISTRICT COUNCIL 5 (WASHINGTON AND OREGON) 

GVP Ray Sesma (second 

from right) congratulates 

Glazier apprentice 

graduates (left to right, 

back row) Richard 

Weiss, Doug Wagner 

(Business Representative 

Local 188), Brian Korrell, 

Mike Gregory, Kenneth 

McKillup, Mike Carroll, 

Casey Maier’s mother, 

Casey Maier, Joe 

Benson; and (front row) 

Mark Santoyo, Carl 

Jacob, Ryan Heath, Matt 

Gilder, Mark Long. 

DISTRICT COUNCIL 36 (SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA) 

District Council 36 recently held graduations for its Paint, Drywall Finishing 

and Glazing apprenticeship programs. 

On July 11, 50 painters and 33 drywall finishers graduated to journeymen 

in a dinner ceremony attended by families, friends, and representatives from 

District Council 36, the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Department 

of Apprenticeship Standards. Along with a certificate of completion, each graduating 

apprentice received tools, a tool bag and raffle prizes. Painter German 

Ferro and drywall finisher Juan A. Salazar received watches as Apprentices of 

the Year. 

Glaziers Local Union 636 (Los 

Angeles) held i t s A p p r e n t i c e 

G r a d u a t i o n ceremony for the 

spring 2008 semester on July 1. 

The event included a barbecue 

dinner, followed by guest speaker 

Roland H a a s , W e s t R e g i o n 

f i e l d coordinator of Job Corps, 

and concluded with presentation of 

certificates. Each graduate also 

received new tools and a tool bag. 

Apprentices graduating to 

j o u r n e y m a n w e r e : M a r k 

Campanelli, Mike DeForrest, 

Antonio Elizalde, Mike Gastelum, 

Arturo Loza, John McGuire, Jose 

Mercado, Brian Santiago and 

Dominique Smith. 

P a r t i c i p a n t s n o m i n a t e d b y 

their instructors as Outstanding 

Apprentices in their classes were: 

Paul Sherrin, Mark Pacheco, Carlos 

Fregoso, Michael Rigdon, Falaniko 

Saupo, Jose Luis Villa, Jr., Daniel 

Moya and Michael Bruno. 



15




Veteran member gives 

advice to St. Louis 

District Council 2 

apprentices 

Brother Lawrence Raftery, a 

72-year member of Painters 

Local Union 115, visited the 

St. Louis Painters District Council 2 

(Missouri) Apprentice Class on 

Wednesday, June 25, 2008, to 

share some of his wisdom with the 

first-year apprentices. Brother 

Raftery still participates in local 

meetings and union activities. “He 

was an active member and officer 

when I started 30 years ago,” said 

DC 2 BM/ST Kevin Kenny, “and he 

helped guide me through my career 

as a member and union officer.” 

District Council 21 Raftery 

Scholarship winner Emily 

Lafferty (center) recently 

received her check from 

Business Manager/Secretary- 

Treasurer Harry Williams 

(right). Emily is the daughter 

of 30 year member Dennis 

Lafferty. Congratulations to 

Emily and best of luck in your 

studies. 


Brother Raftery sharing some of his past experiences with the apprentice class. 

SUPPORTING SCHOLARSHIP IN PHILADELPHIA’S DISTRICT COUNCIL 21 

DC 2 members 

(left to right) 

J i m J o h l e r , 

Justin Cray, 

Tim Dierkes, 

Ricardo Viera, 

Bob Latimore 

(instructor), 

Lawrence 

Raftery, Jeff 

Gulley, Matt 

Kiefer, and 

Bryian Mocke 

gather after 

session.

DISTRICT COUNCIL 82 MEMBERS SMELL A RAT 


members in 

Minnesota take job 

action against Geo’s 

Paint, a non-signatory 

painting contractor 

(left to right): Paul 

Richards, Rich 

Johnston, Mike Sloan, 

Rick Scheel, Scott 

Thompson, Warren 

Harder, Gordy Smith, 

Robert Kidd. 

CONNECTICUT DISTRICT 

COUNCIL 11 SUPPORTS 

PATCH WITH GOLF 

TOURNAMENT 

District Council 11’s Annual 

PATCH Golf Tournament was yet 

again a success, with co-chair 

Norbert Oliviera congratulating 

Local 1122’s Rob VanAchin on 

winning the putting contest. 

GOVERNOR OF WASHINGTON PAYS 

IUPAT WORKERS A VISIT ON THE JOB 

Governor Chris Gregoire of Washington State (third from left) recently paid 

a visit to IUPAT and other union members as they worked on one of the many 

construction projects in Seattle. From left to right; Phillip Lindquist, Don 

Demulling of Iron Workers 86 Seattle, Governor Chris Gregoire, Executive 

Secretary of Seattle King County Building Trades Chris Elwell, the IUPAT's Chad 

Smith and Washington's First Gentleman Mike Gregoire. 



17




IUPAT celebrates organizing victories 

Two district councils have come 

together to increase union market 

share in rural Missouri. 

After a long organizing campaign 

over the past few years, Imhoff 

Construction’s 13 painters and drywall 

finishers became part of Local 

1185 of Holts Summit, Missouri. 

Because Imhoff Construction performed 

work in counties under the 

jurisdiction of both district councils, 

DC 3 Business Manager Mike 

Williams teamed up with DC 2 

Business Manager Kevin M. Kenny to 

ensure that this unique organizing 

campaign would be successful. 

DC 2 Organizer Tim Myers and 

Business Rep. Joe Schallert worked 

together on the campaign with Greg 

Raftery, assistant to the general president, 

who helped lay the groundwork 

for cooperation between the 

district councils to compete with non- 

Local 1795 retirees are still 

active and continue to meet 

quarterly at the Tim Horton’s 

coffee shop at Fairview Mall, St. 

Catherine’s, Ontario, to discuss 

the issues of the day. Recently, the 

group received certificates of 

continuous membership. 


union contractors in rural middle 

Missouri. 

As of June 1, Imhoff Construction is 

a signatory with DC 2. Raising the 

active membership of Local 1185 

about 15 percent, this signing should 

help increase market share by almost 

25,000 hours. “Imhoff is a good company 

that does very well in this market,” 

said Myers. “Having them as a 

signatory benefits the company and 

the IUPAT.” 

Colleagues celebrate signing of agreement in Missouri (left to right): Organizer Tim Myers, 

Shannon Schreimann, Business Rep. Joe Schallert and company owner Walt Imhoff. 

EVEN THE RETIREES ARE ACTIVE IN ONTARIO DISTRICT COUNCIL 46 

Retirees stay involved over coffee (left to right): Ken Martin, George Peterson, Herb 

Holdernay, George Davidson, Werner Pierschalski, Avo Leemet, Manfred Rahe, Garth 

Bevan, Jack Walters, Gerald Mason, Stan Nash.

NEWS FROM ATLANTA DISTRICT COUNCIL 77 

Congratulations to Dan Webster on his 

32 year career and recent retirement. Ed 

Sturcken of District Council 77 is shown 

here presenting Dan with a plaque 

commemorating his service. 

A tornado touched 

down in Atlanta this 

s p r i n g a n d d i d a n 

enormous amount of 

damage to the downtown 

area. Members of District 

Council 77 did their part 

to put the city back 

together again. Business 

Representatives Shawn 

Wellborn, Ed Sturcken 

and Organizer Jorge 

Barrera delivered some 

on-the-job aerial platform 

training to meet the 

d e m a n d 

workers. 

f o r s k i l l e d 



19




20 

Los Angeles tradeshow workers volunteer at firefighters event 

Tradeshow and Sign Craft Local Union 831 Los 

Angeles members volunteered two days of their 

time to Fire Expo 2008, hailed as Southern 

California’s largest firefighting event. Fire Expo is an 

annual event that benefits the Burn Institute in San Diego 

and its programs, including the week-long Camp 

Beyond the Scars for children who have suffered severe 

burn injuries. For 18 years, members of Tradeshow & 

Sign Craft Local Union 831 have given their time to 

help make Fire Expo a success and support its mission 

of reducing the number of burn injuries and deaths. 

This year’s volunteers included Carol Renzulli, Gary 

Fouts, Bob Kennedy, Niki DiPalo, Brett Baehr, Mike 

Monahan, Larry Davis, Martha Marquez, Sandra Duran, 

Cal Meier, Rayola Vauchelet, Bonnie Jarvis, David 

Foster, David Dillard, Jamie Tollefson and Tom Rose. 

News from District Council 46 in Toronto 

THE SENIORS HOUSE-PAINTING PROJECT - 25 YEARS STRONG! 

On June 7, 2008, a quarter-century of 

generous goodwill and spirit once again 

was demonstrated by IUPAT Local 1824 

members, contractors and suppliers. Mr. 

Dave Riley of Kitchener was awarded a 

professional house painting through an 

event now in its 25th year. Participants in 

the seniors house-painting project were: 

Rene Bisson, Terry Kennedy Jr., Doug 

Hamilton, Kevin Spielmacher, Angus 

Beaton, Tom and Sue Stapleton, Les 

Rudrum, Rob Vincent, Rob Edwards, Bill 

Bauman, Ota Hvezda, Fred Nagle, Mark 

Bannon, Ken Steffler, Peter Kotecki, Sam 

McCarrison, Marty Ostertag, John Kulju, 

Business Representative, Local 1824 

Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer 

Ken Reid, George McMenemy and District 

Council 46 Business Manager/Secretary- 

Treasurer Bill Nicholls. 

Also, a very special thanks to Terry 

Kennedy Sr. and Lolly Sanchez, who put a 

lot of work into this project and donated a lot 

of equipment. 

J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 8 • J O U R N A L

All crafts are on-stage for District Council 16 

Members from every craft of 

District Council 16 in 

Northern California have 

been hard at work restoring the 

historic Fox Theater in Oakland, 

California, over the course of the last 

year. The Fox first opened its doors in 

1928 as a premier movie theater. It 

prospered for nearly 40 years, only 

to be closed in 1966 when the 

advent of television finally took its toll 

on attendance. 

In the years that followed, the 

theater nearly burned down and then 

was almost turned into a parking lot, 

among other structural ailments. 

Fortunately, the city of Oakland 

saved the theater from any further 

threats of demolition by declaring it a 

city landmark in 1978. The theater, 

for the most part, has remained 

closed since then, and it was only a 

few years ago that a local developer 

launched a community-wide effort to 

renovate it. 

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FLORIDA GRADUATES! 

The Fox is scheduled to reopen on 

October 27, 2008 (80 years to the 

day after its grand opening), and the 

members of District Council 16 are a 

part of making that possible. They 

are restoring its color and shine in 

grand fashion. When the red carpet 

rolls out on opening night, rest 

assured that it will be on floorcovering 

installed by the proud members of the 

International Union of Painters and 

Allied Trades. 

The newest journey workers of District Council 78 in Florida celebrated graduation day in late July. 



21




22 

District Council 30 Training 

Glazing apprentices from District Council 30 in DuPage County, Illinois attended a class installing LCN door closers this summer. 


CALIFORNIA SUN, 

FOOD AND FUN 

FOR MEMBERS OF 

LU 831 

Members of District 

Council 36/Local Union 

831 in Southern California 

held their annual picnic 

this July. Once again, 

m e m b e r s a n d t h e i r 

families had a great time.

A NOTE FROM THE GENERAL PRESIDENT: 

Calling All Leaders 

There’s no question that, when 

times are hard, we often don’t 

think about the future as much as 

we should. Instead, our thoughts are 

focused on today and how we’re going 

to hold on during a market that keeps 

driving our retirement savings down, a 

workplace that grows increasingly antiunion, 

and conflicts overseas where we 

may have family and neighbors who 

could be in jeopardy. No one can be 

blamed for thinking like this, and no one 

should be. However, we must make 

every effort to prepare for the future, no 

matter what the distractions of today 

might be. As a union, our preparation 

for the future involves grooming the next 

generation of leaders to guide and 

serve this great organization. 

With that in mind, we introduced 

an initiative at our General President’s 

Advisory Committee (GPAC) meeting 

in New Orleans last July. It is called 

the Young Lions program, and it was 

created to identify and train those 

IUPAT members who show promise in 

leading others. Our goal is to find 

these young men and women early in 

our district councils and local unions, 

and give them the additional training 

and experience to come into their 

own as effective IUPAT leaders. 

This initiative will work only if these 

Young Lions truly understand that, to 

lead effectively, they first have to know 

how to follow. That’s a principle I’ve 

followed my whole life, beginning 

with my own apprenticeship. As an 

apprentice, you listen and learn your 

craft by day with journey workers and 

your tools, and then in class in the 

evenings or scheduled day training. 

With dedication and hard work, you 

graduate to journey worker and then 

become another teacher on the worksite 

for the new apprentices coming in. 

The same kind of cycle of learning 

can be applied to becoming a leader in 

the union. If you choose to 

make that step, the proper first 

move is to run for office in 

your local union or to be a delegate 

in your district council. 

Now, I’m not saying that only 

previous office-holders in the 

union are allowed to become 

general president. I’m just saying 

that, like your apprenticeship, 

you need to learn the 

ropes before you become a leader your 

fellow members will respond to positively. 

You can be the smartest person in 

the room, but if you don’t have the experience 

to use those smarts wisely, you’ll 

never succeed at being a great leader. 

I have held many, many elected and 

appointed positions in this union, and 

one thing that I have always made a 

point of being on the lookout for is 

young talent in the field who may, one 

day, lead this union in one capacity or 

another. I am now calling upon the rest 

of you to make certain the young men 

and women you see on the jobsite who 

show signs of leadership come to the 

attention of your district council business 

managers/secretary-treasurers or general 

vice presidents. They will select the 

members of our Young Lions program, 

but they need your help. Who better 

than those of you on the job to know 

who is cut out for leading our local and 

International efforts? 

Those who are chosen to join will 

be sent to school and work field 

assignments for their district councils. 

It’s out in the field representing their 

union where we’ll see if the Young 

Lions we choose to become our next 

generation of leaders have what it 

takes—just like a journey worker 

closely watches his or her apprentices 

on a job, to see if they have 

what it takes to do the job right. 

I was fortunate enough to receive 

my own break and get a chance to 

lead my union at the young age of 

25. I was elected as president of my 

local union 33 years ago (it seems 

like yesterday). I remember I was 

cleaning my union hall with my 

father, and he told me that I had a 

real mess on my hands. He wasn’t 

talking about the trash on the floor in 

the hall that June night; he was talking 

about our union. Well, I told my 

dad that, one day, he would be 

proud of his local and his union. 

Unfortunately, he didn’t live long 

enough to see his local grow into the 

largest glaziers’ local in the entire 

union. I didn’t do it all, though—there 

were plenty of people who helped 

me, and I’m forever thankful that I 

had the experience in the field to 

know when to take that help and 

whom to take it from. 

I’m proud to say that my local 

has grown even more since I left, 

years ago. It grew because I and 

those around me laid down a foundation 

that inspired and pushed that 

local to grow. Today, your leadership 

has set the same foundation for 

the International. Now, what we 

need to grow and succeed is you— 

the members. We need you to talk 

to your BMSTs and your representatives, 

and point out who you think is 

a leader in the making on the job. 

Make certain our Young Lions are 

recognized, so we can groom them 

to lead our proud union. 



23



24 


IUPAT members add a shine to 

the International Training Center 

Van Hawk Painting 

employees and 

m e m b e r s o f 

District Council 21 from 

just outside Philadelphia 

recently gave the training 

floor of the International 

Training Center a new 

look as they applied a 

coating to the floor to protect 

it from the wear and 

tear it’s sure to receive in 

the coming years. Dave Kenny 

The new coating on the international training center floor 

not only protects it from wear and tear, it adds a nice 

shine to the room as well. 


Sean Coin 

Bob McGurk 

Back row, left to right - Mark Schoeder, Bill Delaney, Ken 

Scheiler, Terry Gott. Front row, left to right - Larry Reilly, 

Jim Klasman, Joe Davis. 

ANNOUNCING A.L. ‘MIKE’ MONROE/RALPH D. WILLIAMS III 

SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS OF 2008 

Ashley Certo Philadelphia, PA (Painters Local Union 345) 

Alex Mogilnicki Cleveland, OH (Painters Local Union 707) 

Kristi Palmer St. Louis, MO (Local Union 774) 

Congratulations to all. Go to www.IUPAT.org to 

learn more about the IUPAT scholarship programs. 

www.IUPAT.org

ASK THE PURDY PAINT DOCTOR 

HELPFUL ADVICE FOR PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS 

By Bruce Schneider, Training Coordinator and End-User Marketing Manager, Purdy 

Q: I have purchased a few White China bristle brushes to 

apply an oak stain and polyurethane to a banister in a hightraffic 

area. I need the smoothest finish possible. A fellow 

painter suggested I use Syntox or Ox-Hair brushes instead. 

Have I bought the wrong brushes? Also, what advice do you 

have for cleaning the brushes in a project such as this? 

PD: The White China bristle brush is a great choice for 

this banister project if you are working with solvent-based 

coatings. However, if the polyurethane you are using is 

water-based, the natural bristles will go limp quickly and 

you will be disappointed with the results. For waterborne 

products, Syntox is a much better choice because the synthetic 

filaments stay firm in water-based coatings. Syntox 

also performs great while applying solvent-based coatings, 

which is why it is the brush of choice by many pros 

who apply stains and varnishes. The natural Ox-Hair 

brushes you mentioned will provide an exquisite, furnituregrade 

finish. However, like White China bristle, Ox-Hair 

is designed for solvent-based coatings only. 

For cleaning brushes used with water-based coatings, 

all you need to do is buy a brush comb and gently brush 

the filaments from the ferrule outward as you rinse the 

brush filaments under a faucet. Continue to do so until the 

water under the brush runs clear. 

To clean solvent-based products, I have a simple suggestion: 

Drink lots of coffee. Why? Because you need two coffee 

cans. Pour about 1” of paint thinner over the bristles and 

into can #1. Gently clean the bristles with a brush comb. 

Then, repeat the same process in can #2. Next, pour the 

contents of can #2 into can #1. If the brush needs additional 

cleaning, simply repeat the process again in can #2 until the 

brush is completely clean. This simple coffee-can system also 

works great for cleaning up after applying a waterborne 

coating. Instead of paint thinner, simply use water. 

Q: I am submitting a bid to paint a rock house. The 

home has been painted previously but most of the old 

paint is now gone. I’m not sure what kind of rock it is but I 

am sure it is not sandstone. Any ideas on what kind of 

paint/primer to use? 

PD: I asked several individuals for feedback and the consensus 

is that this stone house should be treated in the same 

manner as any masonry substrate. Select a paint specifically 

designed for masonry projects and follow the manufacturer’s 

guidelines for applying the primer and/or topcoat. 

Be sure to thoroughly clean the surface before applying 

any primer. Let the stone dry completely. Chances are the 

paint manufacturer will recommend a latex or acrylic primer, 

which will allow some moisture from the stone to pass through 

the paint film without any peeling. The primer should not be an 

oil-based alkyd, because alkyds do not hold up well on alkaline 

surfaces. 

Q: I bought a new nylon sash & trim brush for use in a 

100% acrylic paint, and the bristles started clumping 

together after an hour or so, making it difficult to get good 

results. Any idea why this happened? 

PD: The fast-drying acrylic finish is the culprit. The paint is 

starting to set up on the filament tips and is acting like glue. To 

resolve this matter in the future, be sure to keep the brush wet 

with paint. If you need to leave the brush idle for more than a 

minute, cover it with a damp rag. 

Q: I have been using nylon-filament brushes for over 

twenty years. Often I use a water hose on the jobsite to 

clean my brushes. Recently, while cleaning up, another 

painter told me that spraying a stream of water into the filaments 

may ruin the shape of the brush. Any truth to this? 

PD: Professional-grade brushes should hold up to a 

good spraying. Speaking from my own experience, I know 

Purdy tools feature Solid Round Tapered (SRT) filaments. 

SRT filaments have memory, which means they are formulated 

to return to their original shape after clean-up. Look 

for SRT filaments whenever you buy a new brush. Using a 

brush comb every time you clean up will help the filaments 

retain their shape over time and will also eliminate the 

need for spraying a stream of water into the brush. 

The Paint Doctor is the alter-ego of 

Bruce Schneider, who serves on the 

IUPAT trade-school curriculum committee. 

With 30+ years of paint industry experience, 

if Bruce doesn’t know the answer to 

your question, he likely knows who 

does. Most questions are 

answered within 48 hours. 

Got a paint project question? 

Visit www.purdycorp.com 

and click on the “Ask the 

Paint Doctor” link. 

J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 8 • J O U R N A L 2 5

II N T E R N A TT II O N A L U NN I O N O F 


GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS 

The IUPAT is for 

Barack Obama 

Why Union Members Need Barack Obama 

and Barack Obama Needs Union Voters 

I 

t’s 

W. Bush. 

a plain fact—if we don’t work harder than we have in any 

political campaign to elect Barack Obama, John McCain will 

take office and we will essentially get a third term for George 

We’ve seen it all before—even 

though the pro-worker candidate 

enjoys popular support, takes positions 

on the issues that are right for 

America, or even, as was the case in 

the 2000 election between Bush and 

Al Gore, wins more votes—the president 

we need goes down in defeat. 

We can’t let it happen again. 

That’s why the IUPAT, along with 

other unions, is asking our members 

to work hard to elect Barack Obama 

and defeat those who would turn 

back the clock on wages, workplace 

safety, economic fairness, health care 

and all the other issues of such vital 

importance to our future. We have a 

historic opportunity to get this country 

working again—for everyone! And in 

Barack Obama, we have a candidate 

who will make history. 

If Obama wins, he will be the first 

president who began his public service 

career as a community organizer, 

helping working families fight 

against job loss, economic injustice 

and corporate greed. His experiences 

going door-to-door on Chicago's 

South Side, working with blue-collar 

families reeling from steel mill closings, 

shaped his thinking and his 

belief in what he came to call "the 

politics of hope." 

“I grew up to be a man, right 

here, in this area,” Obama later 

said. “It’s as a consequence of working 

with this organization and this 


community that I found my calling. 

There was something more than making 

money and getting a fancy 

degree. The measure of my life would 

be public service.” 

There’s no question about it— 

Barack Obama “gets it.” Barack 

Obama believes in an “aggressive 

strategy to create good, middleclass 

jobs” and would invest in 

education, training and workforce 

development to create high-wage 

j o b s a n d c o m p e t e i n a g l o b a l 

economy. 

Senator Obama understands the 

issues that matter most to workers 

and has a passion for getting things 

done. But can he withstand the 

attacks, distortions and negative ads 

bankrolled by special interests with 

unlimited warchests? Union voters 

may well hold the answer. Consider 

these facts: 

■ On Election Day, union household 

members will account for nearly 

one in four voters nationwide. 

■ In key battleground states such 

a s O h i o , M i c h i g a n a n d 

Pennsylvania, union household 

voters made up between 25 and 

35 percent of the total vote in 

2004. 

■ In 2004, turnout among registered 

AFL-CIO union voters was as much 

as 19 percentage points higher 

than turnout among nonunion voters 

in key battleground states. 

Barack Obama at the AFL-CIO Building and 

Construction Trades Department Conference, April 

15, 2008 

In a close election, union households 

could hold the winning hand, 

determining which path America will 

follow for the next four years. But 

remember what Benjamin Franklin 

said after signing the Declaration of 

Independence: ”Now we must hang 

together, because if we do not, we 

will most assuredly hang separately.” 

Do not think someone will vote for 

you. Union voters only keep our 

advantage if all of us do our part 

and vote in November’s election. 

OBAMA IS THE BEST FOR US 

Barack Obama says, “We’re 

ready to take the offense for organized 

labor. It’s time we have a president 

who didn’t choke saying the 

word ‘union.’ We need to strengthen 

our unions by letting them do what 

they do best --- organize our workers. 

If a majority of workers want a union, 

they should get a union. It’s that simple. 

We need to stand up to the business 

lobby that’s been getting their 

friends in Congress and in the White 

House to block card check. That’s 

why I was one of the leaders fighting 

to pass the Employee Free Choice 

Act. That’s why I’m fighting for it in 

the Senate. And that’s why we’ll make 

it the law of the land when I’m president.” 

Barack Obama knows that working 

families’ current economic hardships 

were not “inevitable.” They resulted

from irresponsible economic policies 

by the Bush administration that gave 

tax breaks to the rich while cutting 

working family priorities. Obama is 

committed to putting fairness and 

opportunity for working families back 

in America’s economy. 

MCCAIN WILL HURT 

WORKING FAMILIES 

In stunning contrast, John McCain 

consistently votes against working 

families and strong unions. Instead 

of fairness, McCain plays favorites, 

siding with the super-rich every 

chance he gets. He wants to extend 

the Bush tax breaks for the wealthy, 

at a time when families are struggling 

just to make ends meet. 

McCain's tax breaks for the rich 

would cost more than $2 trillion 

over the next 10 years, draining 

vital resources that pay for education 

and health care. McCain also 

favors billions in cuts to programs 

A SIGN FOR CHANGE 

Ohio District Council 6 Business 

Agent Jim Watroba and Training 

Coordinator Lou Ferrante spent their 

own time in August painting a barn for 

Barack Obama. Located in Trumbull 

County, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania 

border, the sign sends an important 

message to communities in both states 

that Obama cares about rural issues. 

“It took a few hours to make the 

patterns and about nine hours on the 

lift, painting,” said Watroba about the 

project. “The siding is not as smooth as 

it looks in the pictures. There was a lot 

to work around, including a basketball 

hoop, but we got it done.” 

Both proud IUPAT members were 

glad to donate time to send this 

important message. As Ferrante put it, 

“I’m glad to volunteer for a cause to 

help turn this country around.” 

The Obama campaign produced 

a video of the barn painting. It is on 

t h e I U P A T Y o u T u b e c h a n n e l – 

www.YouTube.com/GoIUPAT. 

like Medicare and Medicaid, which 

are a lifeline for many working families 

and seniors. 

McCain’s record of shame 

includes: 

■ McCain backed bad trade agreements 

like the North American 

Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 

and Central American Free Trade 

Agreement (CAFTA) that don’t 

protect workers. 

■ McCain stopped the Employee 

Free Choice Act and doesn’t support 

bargaining rights for federal 

workers. 

■ McCain blocked the minimum 

wage hike in 2005. 

■ McCain filibustered against the 

minimum wage hike in 2007. 

■ McCain worked to privatize 

Social Security. 

■ McCain cast 95 percent of his 

Senate votes with Bush in 2007. 

District Council 

6 Business 


Jim Watroba 

(left) and 

Training 

Instructor Lou 

Ferrante (right) 

in front of the 

finished sign. 

Continued on next page 

BARACK OBAMA’S 

PUNCH LIST FOR 

WORKING FAMILIES 

■ Provide middle-class tax cuts 

of up to $1,000 for working 

families. 

■ Guarantee workers paid sick 

days; expand Family and 

Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to 

include paid leave. 

■ Help Americans buy and keep 

their homes. 

■ Protect American families by 

reforming bankruptcy laws 

and ending predatory creditcard 

policies. 

■ Reduce health-care costs by 

$2,500 for a typical family. 

■ Put the cost of college in reach 

by providing a $4,000 refundable 

tax credit. 


www.IUPAT.org/government 

2 7

II N T E R N A TT II O N A L U NN I O N O F 



28 

Continued from previous page 

FIVE FOR THE FUTURE 

The difference between John 

McCain and Barack Obama is so 

stark, and the importance of electing 

a pro-worker president is so urgent, 

that the IUPAT is calling on members 

to join its “Five for the Future” voter 

drive. “If every IUPAT member can 

bring five voters to the polls on 

Election Day,” General President 

James A. Williams said, “we can 

withstand the juggernaut of attacks, 

big-money smear campaigns and 

anti-union propaganda.” 

So talk to your family and friends, 

copy the workplace flier available in 

this issue of the Journal and on the 

Web, join a phone bank, offer rides 

to the polls—work with your district 

council political program, and do 

whatever you can! As Harry Truman 

said, the greatness of America is in 

the homes, the hearts and the hands 

of America’s working families. This 

Election Day, let’s prove how positive 

a force for change we can be. 


Senator Barack Obama with IUPAT District Council 30 Business 

Manager/Secretary-Treasurer Chuck Anderson (right) and DC 30 

Director of Governmental Affairs Mark Guethle. 

On August 8, 2008, 

members of IUPAT District 

Council 50/Local Union 

1791 joined thousands of 

Obama supporters at Keehi 

Lagoon Park in Hawaii. 

From left to right: Allen 

Wong, Nathaniel Kinney, 

R y d e n V a l m o j a a n d 

Fernando Gonzales-Ramos. 

www.IUPAT.org/government

✓Obama YES 

✗McCain 

NO 

Obama supports prevailing wage and project labor 

agreements, saying, “The government uses project labor 

agreements to encourage completion of projects on time 

and on budget.” 

S.Amdt. 2844 to H.R. 3074, Vote 334, 9/12/07; Barack 

Obama speech to Building Trades Conference, 4/15/08. 

McCain voted against support for Davis-Bacon and 

voted against paying fair wages to workers helping us 

recover from disasters. 

Amdt. 4031 to S.C.R. 57, Vote 134, 5/22/96; S.Amdt. 

1844 to S. 1650, Vote 320, 10/7/99. 

M I N I M U M W A G E 

✓Obama YES ✗ McCain NO 

Obama Supports increasing the minimum wage 

S.Amdt. 4322 to S. 2766, Vote 179, 6/21/06; S.Amdt. 

44 to S. 256, Vote 26, 3/7/05; H.R. 2, Vote 23, 1/24/07; 

S.Amdt. 116 to S.Amdt. 100 to H.R. 2, Vote 24, 1/24/07. 

McCain opposes the minimum wage increase. 

H.R. 2, Vote #23, 1/24/07; Vote #24, 1/24/07; Vote 

#25, 1/25/07; Vote #37, 1/31/07; Vote #39, 1/31/07; 

Vote #42, 1/31/07; S. 2766, Vote #179, 6/21/06; S. 

256, Vote #26, 3/7/05. 

R I G H T T O O R G A N I Z E A U N I O N 

✓Obama YES ✗ McCain NO 

Obama co-sponsored and voted for the Employee 

Free Choice Act, which would restore workers’ full 

freedom to form unions. 

H.R. 800, Vote 227, 6/26/07. 

McCain voted against the Employee Free Choice Act, 

and supports legislation to eliminate unions altogether. 

H.R. 800, Vote #227, 6/26/07; S. 1788, Vote #188, 

7/10/96. 

2 N D A M E N D M E N T R I G H T S 

✓Obama YES 

✓McCain 

YES 

✁ P R E V A I L I N G W A G E 

Obama supports 2nd Amendment protections of gun 

ownership. 

Chicago Tribune, 11/25/2007. 

McCain supports 2nd Amendment protections of gun 

ownership. 

McCain campaign website. 

Important information from the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. 

For more information, visit www.iupat.org.

II N T E R N A TT II O NN A L U NN II O N O F 

P A I N T E R S A N D A LL LL I E D TT R A D E S 


Take the Truth to Work 

Conversation Starters—and Argument Answers—about the Presidential Election 

All the expensive TV ads or 

campaign rallies in the world 

can’t match the power of 

one-on-one conversation. When we 

talk about politics with friends, family 

and co-workers, it helps everyone 

stand up to the blizzard of false accusations, 

misinformation and distortions 

that happens in a presidential 

campaign. 

At work, you talk about last night’s 

ball game, next weekend’s barbecue 

or what’s happening with your kids. 

Today it’s time to talk about why 

working families need Barack Obama 

elected president. 

DO THE CANDIDATES AGREE ON 

PREVAILING WAGES? 

No. 

John McCain has repeatedly tried 

to eliminate the prevailing wage over 

his career. Recently, McCain voted 

against “sense of the Senate” support 

for the Davis-Bacon Act, which protects 

workers’ paychecks on public 

construction projects. 

Barack Obama says construction 

workers must make the prevailing 


wage. Obama said, “We need to 

make sure workers building America’s 

infrastructure are making the prevailing 

wage and getting the benefits they 

deserve.” He voted against a proposal 

to strip prevailing wage requirements 

from bridge construction projects. 

DO THE CANDIDATES BOTH 

SUPPORT RAISING THE 

MINIMUM WAGE? 

No. 

John McCain voted against raising 

the federal minimum wage to $7.25 

an hour. McCain also voted to allow 

states to opt out of future federal minimum 

wage increases, which would 

effectively repeal the federal minimum 

wage requirement. 

Barack Obama voted to raise the 

federal minimum wage in 2005, 

2006 and 2007. Obama voted for 

an increase from $5.15 an hour to 

$7.25 for the federal minimum wage 

in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, Obama 

voted for a “clean” increase to $7.25 

an hour, free of another round of corporate 

tax breaks sought by 

Republicans. 

Obama voted against a measure 

to allow states the right to determine 

the minimum wage, which would 

have abolished a federal minimum 

wage protection. 

IS THIS ELECTION ABOUT CHANGE 

VS. MORE OF THE SAME? 

Yes, it is about change. 

John McCain supported President 

Bush’s positions 95 percent of the 

time in 2007 and an average of 89 

percent over Bush’s two terms in 

office. 

In 2006, Obama voted alongside 

the president 49 percent of the time, 

and, in 2005, Obama voted with the 

president only 33 percent of the time. 

NAFTA—DO WE HAFTA? 

No. 

John McCain voted for NAFTA and 

CAFTA, and to allow China to enter 

the World Trade Organization 

(WTO), even though the United States 

has lost more than 1 million jobs 

because of NAFTA. We lost 1.8 million 

jobs since China entered the 

WTO. John McCain has called himself 

“an unapologetic supporter of 

NAFTA.” 

Barack Obama says, “I don’t 

think NAFTA has been good for 

America–and I never have…I will 

not sign any trade agreement as 

president that does not have protections 

for our environment and protections 

for American workers. And I’ll 

pass the Patriot Employer Act that 

I’ve been fighting for ever since I ran 

for the Senate, so we can end tax 

breaks for companies that ship our 

jobs overseas, and give those 

breaks to companies that create 

good jobs with decent wages here 

in America.” (National Gypsum 

p l a n t s p e e c h , L o r a i n , O h i o , 

2/24/08)

WILL BOTH CANDIDATES 

STRENGTHEN WORKPLACE 

SAFETY? 

No. 

John McCain voted against stronger 

criminal penalties for employers that violate 

health and safety standards. He supported 

a filibuster against establishing a 

federal health program to identify and 

notify workers at high risk of developing 

occupational diseases and to counsel 

them on appropriate medical surveillance 

procedures. McCain also voted to strike 

down ergonomic standards and limit 

future OSHA standards. 

Barack Obama is a member of the 

Senate Subcommittee on Employment 

and Workplace Safety. Obama has 

pledged to increase OSHA’s funding 

“so it can conduct more investigations 

and provide more health and safety 

training programs for small business 

employers, as well as workers in highrisk 

trades like construction.” 

He would also expand OSHA to 

cover all public employees, increase 

protections for whistleblowers and 

require that employers pay for the 

safety equipment that their workers 

need. As president, Barack Obama 

would reinstate OSHA’s ergonomics 

rule and make sure that we create a 

policy that supports workers. 

IS BARACK OBAMA A MUSLIM? 

No. 

Barack Obama is a committed 

Christian who was sworn into the 

Senate on his family bible, but 

unscrupulous right-wing operatives are 

repeating the lie that he was raised a 

Muslim. These assertions are completely 

false and designed to play into 

the worst kind of stereotypes. 

DID MICHELLE OBAMA SAY SHE 

ISN’T PROUD OF HER COUNTRY? 

No. 

Michelle Obama loves the United 

States and the opportunities it has 

given her. Even Laura Bush has 

defended her comments. 

WILL BARACK OBAMA TAKE 

AWAY LAWFULLY OWNED GUNS? 

No. 

Barack Obama supports the 2nd 

Amendment, the rights of hunters and 

sportsmen, and the inherent American 

right of self-defense. 

DOES MY VOTE REALLY MATTER IN 

THIS ELECTION? 

Absolutely yes. 

While non-union voters provided a 

two-point margin of victory for 

Democratic congressional candidates 

in 2006, union households made it a 

five-point difference—turning a modest 

victory into a wave. 

Union households voted 3 to 1 for 

Democratic pro-worker candidates— 

and one out of every four voters was 

a union member. The math is simple— 

if union voters come to the polls, 

worker-friendly candidates are more 

likely to win. So tell everyone: Your 

Vote is Your Voice. Use it to protect 

your family and future. 

LOCAL POLITICS IN 

WEST VIRGINIA 

District Council 53 Business 

Manager/Secretary-Treasurer Richard 

Hackney (second from left) presenting a 

check to West Virginia Governor Joe 

Manchin to support the Democratic 

Governors Committee. 



3 1




Joe Biden: A Fighter for American Workers 

Our Vice Presidential Nominee 

“Every day, we see more evidence this economy is not working for middleclass 

Americans. If we honor work, we have to reward it.” 

Joe Biden has always worked 

to keep America working 

PROTECTING WORKER 

RIGHTS TO ORGANIZE 

As vice president, Joe Biden will 

help Barack Obama put a stop to 

George Bush’s war on labor. Both 

Obama and Biden are co-sponsors of 

the Employee Free Choice Act, and 

he will always work to ensure workers 

have the right to join unions without 

interference from employers. 

Senator Biden has always credited 

unions with the birth of the American 

middle class. 


—Joe Biden 

“The Bush administration is waging 

a war on labor’s house.” 

“This administration has lined up 

ten deep to strip away 100 years of 

labor progress.” 

[Speech to the IAFF 2008 Presidential 

Forum, 3/14/07] 

PROTECTING RETIREMENT 

Joe Biden believes that, after a lifetime 

of work, the last thing people 

should worry about is their retirement 

being in jeopardy. 

Joe Biden has fought against dangerous 

plans to privatize Social Security 

that would slash benefits for future 

retirees. He also supports making it easier 

for workers to save for retirement. 

Joe Biden is working to protect 

workers from pension bankruptcy by 

strengthening the government backstop 

and insisting that pensions are 

adequately funded. 

FOCUSING ON 

WORKPLACE SAFETY 

Joe Biden believes that all employees 

should be covered by regulations 

that ensure a safe working environment 

and their personal safety on the 

job. He has been a supporter of 

OSHA regulations since his early 

days in the Senate and, time and time 

again, he has voted to extend OSHA 

regulations and has vigorously 

opposed efforts to restrict the application 

of OSHA coverage. 

DEFENDING OVERTIME 

Joe Biden has fought attempts to 

undermine overtime rights and reduce 

overtime pay for American workers. 

PROTECTING DAVIS-BACON 

WAGES 

For over 30 years, Joe Biden has 

stood with the Building Trades in support 

of the federal Davis-Bacon Act. 

He vigorously fought against the Bush 

Administration’s attack on workers 

and helped save Davis-Bacon prevailing 

wage requirements for the rebuilding 

of the Gulf Coast region 

destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. 

SUPPORTING PROJECT LABOR 

AGREEMENTS 

Joe Biden will work with Barack 

Obama to overturn the George W. 

Bush executive order prohibiting project 

labor agreements on federal construction 

projects. 

“There is a middle class for one reason and only 

one reason in America - organized labor. 

That’s why it exists.” 

[Speech to the IAFF 2008 

Presidential Forum, 3/14/07]

MINNESOTA MAKES ITS FIRST ENDORSEMENT 

Members and leaders of District Council 82 in Minnesota recently gathered at a fundraising event to support the first 

congressional candidate endorsed by the union in the state: Ashwin Madia. Mr. Madia is running for Congress to represent the 

state’s third congressional district. He is an attorney and a Marine veteran who served in the Iraqi war. Pictured here is Ashwin 

Madia (front row, center) with DC 82 Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer Terry Nelson (second from right in front row). Also 

pictured are Business Representative Rich Johnston, Organizer Rob Kidd, Organizer Francisco Altamirano, Business Representative 

Paul Richards, Political Director Rod Hogetvedt, activist Tony McGarvey, Business Representative Mark Christianson, Organizer Al 

Hanson, Business Representative Scott Thompson and Director of Organizing Warren Harder. 

Having Problems 

with Debt? 

WEB-03/05 

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The new Union Plus Credit Counseling program can help you 

eliminate debt and stop the collection calls. 

Take advantage of these great benefits. 

Free credit counseling from certified counselors 

Extensive website with free financial tools 

Debt Management Plans with discounted initiation fees for 

union members 

Call for your free financial analysis today! 

1-877-833-1745 or visit www.unionplus.org/creditcounseling 



33

EdMail-10/07 

Union Plus—working for you, even when you’re not working. 

Facing 

Hardship? 

Your Union Plus benefits provide a lifeline. 

When financial hardship strikes, you can count on the Union Plus 

benefits to standbehindyou with special help andsupport. 

Our unique Safety Net programs protect your financial security and 

help see you through unexpectedemergencies andhardtimes. We keep 

working for you—even when you’re not working. 

When you’re on strike 

or laid off… 

We standready to help: 

• Make your Union Plus 

Mortgage payments. 

Call 1–800-848-6466. 

• Skip payments on your 

Union Plus Credit Card. 

Call 1-800-551-2873. 

• Skip payments on your 

Union Plus insurance. 

Life/Accident call 

1-800-393-0864. 

Auto call 1-800-294-9496. 

• Get discount prescriptions 

and vision care. 

Call 1-877-570-4845. 

When you suffer a 

disaster or disability… 

andhave a significant loss of 

income, your Union Plus Credit 

Card offers additional aid: 

• Disaster Relief Fund helps 

you weather the storms 

of a natural calamity. 

(We provided $400,000 

to union cardholders hit 

hardby Hurricane Katrina.) 

Call 1-877-761-5028. 

• Lifeline Trust provides 

one-time grants and 

payments to cardholders 

facing long-term 

disability and illness. 

Call 1-877-761-5028. 

Always at your side. 

Whatever difficulty you face, 

Union Plus is here to help you. 

We’ll make sure you get the 

most from your union benefits, 

including: 

• Free credit counseling 

and budget advice. 

Call 1-877-833-1745. 

• Free legal consultation 

up to 30 minutes. 

Call 1-888-993-8886. 

For more details, visit 

www.UnionPlus.org/Help


HOW LABOR CAN STRENGTHEN THE 

MIDDLE CLASS, IMPROVE OUR 

ECONOMY, AND REGAIN POLITICAL 

INFLUENCE 

“Phil Dine tells a compelling tale (and he writes 

beautifully) of the decline, fall and potential 

rebirth of a powerful labor movement in the U.S.” 

- Mike Wallace, CBS News 

In State of the Unions, Philip Dine, a two-time Pulitzer Prizenominated 

labor reporter who has covered the beat for 20 years, 

offers insight in what happened to organized labor in America and 

what can be done to restore it to its role as the defender of middleclass 

values and economic wellbeing. 

Look for it at a bookstore near you!

www.scotch-blue.com 

1-800-494-3552 

3M, Scotch, Scotch-Blue, the Plaid Design and 

the BLUE color of the tape are trademarks of 3M. © 3M 2008 

“ From the reliable stick 

to the way it comes 

clean off the roll 

every time, I depend 

on the consistency of 

” 

Scotch-Blue 2090. 

“It only has to happen once—you pull 

some cheap tape off the roll and it rips 

when you don’t want it to, or the stick 

is almost non existent. We’re in and out 

of most jobs in three days. I can’t rely 

on chance. I demand performance. My 

company does around 1,000 jobs every 

year. Scotch-Blue 2090 is part of the 

protocol on every job. Not sometimes. 

Not once in a while. It’s the way we 

do things.” 

Kevin Nolan 

President, Nolan Painting 

Partner, Nolan Consulting Group 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

Making your job a whole lot easier.

P A I N T E R S & A L L I E D T R A D E S 

L A B O R M A N A G E M E N T 

C O O P E R A T I O N I N I T I A T I V E 

LMCI QUICK UPDATE 

In the inaugural year of the Finishing 

Industries Forum (FIF) back in 2005, 

the primary objective was to personally 

introduce the signatory 

employers of the International Union of 

Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) to 

the many new programs developed by 

the Painters and Allied Trades Labor 

Management Cooperation Initiative 

(LMCI), IUPAT, and the Finishing 

Contractors Association (FCA). 

“It was really our first opportunity to 

meet with such a large share of our 

industry partners in one venue and formally 

present the tools we had to offer 

them,” said Bill McDevitt, administrator 

of the LMCI. “The response was fantastic, 

and our attendance in the following 

years nearly doubled.” 

The formula for the success of FIF 

is being boosted this year with new 

workshops on some cutting-edge programs 

in the finishing trades that aim 

to give our industry partners an 

advantage in doing business. 

“One of the programs we’re very 

excited about offering this year is 

called Interpreting Green Specs,” 

said McDevitt. “It’s no secret that 

‘green building’ is gaining more 

momentum in our industries every 

day. Our goal is to give our industry 

More than 500 

union and industry 

leaders attended the 

2007 Finishing 

Industries Forum at 

Caesars Palace in 

Las Vegas. 

The 2008 LMCI Finishing Industries Forum 

PREMIER EVENT TAKES ON TIMELY INDUSTRY ISSUES IN ITS FOURTH YEAR 


partners a solid start on bidding for 

the work and give them an opportunity 

to grow their own business and 

market share.” 

The Interpreting Green Specs workshop 

is being presented by Leo Russo, 

executive director of the Green 

Academy and Center for Sustainability 

of Cuyahoga Community College in 

Cleveland, Ohio. The workshop will 

provide attendees with a methodology 

to navigate and interpret the sometimes 

intimidating and restrictive language 

inherent to specifications in 

green design. 

Another workshop being offered 

this year that is generating a lot of 

interest is Workers’ Compensation: 

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). 

This is a process that allows employers 

and employees to resolve workers’ 

compensation claims through a facilitator. 

It encourages a faster return to 

work, which means fewer lost wages 

and benefits compared to waiting for 

a resolution through the state system. 

The IUPAT Finishing Trades Institute 

(FTI) has also implemented a new 

recruitment and retention program 

and will present its initial strategies in 

recruiting new IUPAT members. The 

workshop will feature a substantial 

block of time for interested attendees 

to present their ideas for effective 

recruitment as well. “The FTI has put 

together an aggressive new recruiting 

program that I think both union and 

industry leaders will find of great 

value and interest,” said McDevitt. 

“This is already turning into one of 

our most well-attended events at FIF.” 

FEATURED SPEAKERS 

In addition to the great workshops 

that union and industry leaders can 

choose from, the LMCI has arranged 

for each day to begin with a dynamic 

speaker relevant to the issues we face 

every day in the finishing trades 

industries. 

These speakers include Mark 

Ayers, president of the AFL-CIO 

Building and Construction Trades 

Department; Mark Breslin, a leading 

industry consultant and popular 

author; and Richard Teerlink, former 

chairman of Harley Davidson and 

part of the management team that 

worked with their union partners to 

give new life to that American icon 

back in the 1980s. Burleigh Morton, 

senior director of McGraw Hill 

Analytics, will also present a construction 

forecast for attendees.

This “A-List” roster of speakers 

promises to provide those attending with 

information and ideas that will offer a 

better way of doing business back home. 

FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS 

Above all, the 2008 Finishing 

Industries Forum is an unparalleled 

OTHER WORKSHOPS SCHEDULED 

FOR FIF 2008 INCLUDE: 

Project Management Program 

An introductory presentation of the new 

training course for IUPAT members. Those who 

attend will be ready to begin to effectively 

manage projects in a manner that benefits the 

owner, the contractor and the IUPAT. 

The Labor Management Reporting Disclosure 

Act Update 

A legal panel will review some significant 

court decisions of the last year regarding 

LMRDA reporting requirements, as well as 

changes to the laws and regulations of the act. 

Immigration Control, Access Control and the 

Future of the Building Trades 

This panel will explore the combined effects 

that recent changes to the enforcement of 

immigration laws and new measures designed 

to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure 

from terrorist attacks are having on the 

nation’s construction workforce. 

Killer Clauses in Construction Contracts 

A presentation on how to spot and deal 

with clauses that appear in many contracts and 

negatively affect a subcontractor’s bottom line. 

Bridging the Generations 

Four generations now populate the U.S. 

workforce and, as millions of Generation Y’ers 

(those born between 1980 and 2000) become 

full-time employees, tensions can mount as older 

workers have difficulty communicating with their 

younger counterparts. This workshop focuses on 

defining and understanding generational issues 

in the workplace. 

opportunity for our industry partners to 

meet face-to-face and share some of 

the challenges and issues each of us 

see in business every day. Nothing 

can replace the benefits gained 

by personally meeting with your peers 

in the industry, and no event in our 

industry is a better place to meet than 

Attorneys Seminar 

Also Returns with FIF 

the LMCI Finishing Industries Forum. 

The 2008 LMCI Finishing Industries 

Forum will take place November 10 – 

13, 2008, at Caesars Palace in Las 

Vegas, Nevada. 

There still might be time to 

register if you’re interested! Go to 

www.LMCIonline.org to find out. 

As all attorneys in the field know, labor law has undergone 

changes in leaps and bounds in recent years. In an effort to 

provide a productive way of keeping apprised of the latest 

developments, the LMCI created the annual Attorneys Seminar five 

years ago. Once again, this year’s seminar will immediately precede 

the 2008 Finishing Industries Forum at Caesars Palace. All attorneys 

who counsel IUPAT union leaders and employers are welcome to 

attend. And, for the second year, seminar presentations will count for 

CLE credit. 

Scheduled topics to be covered include an update on the National 

Labor Relations Board, Project Labor Agreements, LMRDA and Pitfalls 

of Sub-Contracting Language. 

The 2008 LMCI Attorneys Seminar will be held November 8-10 

(arrival on the 8th), 2008, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. To register, 

contact the Painters and Allied Trades LMCI at 1-888-934-6474. 

More than 50 attorneys and union leaders attended the 2007 Attorneys 

Seminar at Caesars Palace. 


www.LMCIONLINE.org 

39

P A I N T E R S & A L L I E D T R A D E S 

L A B O R M A N A G E M E N T 

C O O P E R A T I O N I N I T I A T I V E 

40 

LMCI QUICK UPDATE 

LMCI and NACE International Collaborate 

to Provide Operator Qualification Training 

for the Coatings Industry Workforce 

T 

he Painters and Allied Trades Labor 

Management Cooperation Initiative (LMCI) and 

NACE International have collaborated to provide 

training and qualification to address the 

Operator Qualification (OQ) rule for the oil and natural 

gas pipelines industry. The NACE International 

OQ Program provides training and qualifications that 

address 40 covered tasks for corrosion, including 13 

coatings-related covered tasks. 

NACE International is partnering with LMCI, the 

labor management arm of the International Union of 

Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), to offer high-quality 

coatings-focused OQ training to IUPAT members working 

in the pipeline industry. Coatings are one of the 

key defenses against corrosion for the pipeline industry. 

Ensuring proper coatings application is a critical 

part of a corrosion control program. 

NACE International developed the OQ program to 

address federal pipeline regulations in the United 

States. The training provides the necessary skills to 

qualify personnel working on pipelines. 

“The LMCI is excited to partner with NACE 


International to provide coatings training and qualifications 

that address the OQ rule. Working with the leader 

in corrosion control and prevention enhances the quality 

of the training we are able to offer IUPAT members and 

the industry,” said LMCI Administrator Bill McDevitt. 

The LMCI, in conjunction with the IUPAT Finishing 

Trades Institute, will play a key role in assisting NACE 

International to provide this training and qualification 

to the coatings industry workforce as the industry 

seeks to address the OQ Rule. This partnership will 

improve the quality of the current level of training 

available to employees working on pipelines. 

“Through this partnership, we believe we have 

raised the standard for all OQ providers addressing 

coatings-covered tasks. The endorsement of the LMCI is 

an exceptional opportunity,” said Tony Keane, executive 

director of NACE International. “LMCI’s leadership 

and prominence throughout the coatings industry will 

ensure the success of this program and will be a great 

resource for IUPAT members.” 

For more information, go to www.LMCIonline.org 

or contact the LMCI at 1-888-934-6474. 

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www.LMCIONLINE.org

S. Frank “Bud” Raftery 

Scholarship 

At the 25th General Convention, held in 

Washington, D.C., in August 1984, a resolution 

was passed creating the S. Frank “Bud” Raftery 

Scholarship Fund in honor of this renowned leader’s 

service to the International Union, his accomplishments 

and his progressive thinking. 

At the 27th General Convention, held in 

Washington, D.C., in August 1994, then-General 

President A. L. “Mike” Monroe and the General 

Executive Board, who strongly believed in the principles 

for which the scholarship was created, 

passed another resolution, to increase the S. Frank 

“Bud” Raftery Scholarship Fund to $20,000, allowing 

for 10 scholarships of $2,000 annually. 

All sons, daughter and legal dependents of 

IUPAT members in good standing are eligible to 

apply for this scholarship award. 

Every applicant must submit an essay, not less 

than 1,000 or more than 2,000 words, on a topic 

chosen by the IUPAT Scholarship Committee. 

SSN/SIN __________________________________________________ 

Name_____________________________________________________ 

Address ___________________________________________________ 

City/State/Zip _____________________________________________ 

Male ____________________ Female___________________________ 

Date of Birth _______________________________________________ 

Single/Married ____________________________________________ 

Date of Graduation _________________________________________ 

Mail to: 

IUPAT Scholarship Committee 

1750 New York Avenue, NW 

Washington, DC 20006 

General President 

March 1965 – June 1984 

This year’s essay topic is: 

A P P L I C A T I O N F O R M 

(Must be submitted with the essay) 

“Why Should IUPAT Journey Workers and 

Members Take Responsibility for Training 

and Mentoring Apprentices?” 

Scholarship awards are contingent upon the student 

attending a certified college, university, vocational 

tech/trade school or other such institute of higher learning. 

Award winners must enroll in the school of their 

choice within a year of the award date or forfeit the 

award. 

This year’s deadline to submit an application is 

December 12, 2008. Winners will be announced 

in April 2009. 

Dependents of IUPAT International Headquarters 

staff, general officers or fund administrators and 

employees; previous scholarship winners of this award; 

and past winners of the Monroe/Williams Sports 

Scholarship are not eligible to apply. 

List the college, university, voc. tech./school or other institution of 

higher learning you are attending or planning to attend. 

__________________________________________________________ 

Briefly describe the course of study you intend to pursue and the 

educational goals you have established for yourself. 

__________________________________________________________ 

IUPAT Local Union number of parent who is a member ___________ 

IUPAT Member’s Name ______________________________________ 

Member’s Signature _________________________________________ 

Member’s SSN/SIN _________________________________________ 

Date ___________________________________________________ 

SPECIAL NOTE: Dependents of IUPAT International Headquarters, staff, general 

officers, employees, and previous scholarship winners, are not eligible for this 

scholarship program. 


41

F I N I S H I N G T R A D E S I N S T I T U T E 

42 

FTI CURRENT NEWS 

Decorative Finishing: New Work in an Ancient Craft 

The “faux” in faux finishing, or 

decorative finishing, is French for 

“fake.” But there is nothing fake 

about the Decorative Finishing industry 

that today is worth more than $30 billion 

a year and promises great opportunities 

for contractors of the International 

Union of Painters and Allied Trades 

(IUPAT). This is why IUPAT is partnering 

with Faux Effects International, Inc. 

and Faux Design Studio of Chicago, 

Illinois, to revitalize training in the 

grand old art of Decorative Finishing. 

This past June, the Finishing Trades 

Institute (FTI) in Hanover, Maryland, 

hosted the launch of a new alliance 

between traditional painting crafts and 

the innovative new techniques and 

materials in Decorative Finishes. “The 

IUPAT is the clear leader in putting 

skilled commercial and industrial 

painters on jobs throughout the United 

States and Canada,” said FTI Director 

Dan Penski. “Now our goal is to be 

just as successful at putting the highend 

finishing touches on home and 

commercial space with that same 

workforce.” 

“It’s a high-value 

market; it’s very 

elegant. It’s in demand 

by a lot of architects 

and designers right 

now.” 

IUPAT trainers “are totally dedicated, 

totally believe this market is accessible,” 

said Penski. Armed with new knowledge 

and enthusiasm, trainers who have been 

through the program “go back and have 

that passion to teach,” said Penski. 

These trainers, in turn, are teaching their 

apprentices, as well as journeymen who 


want to upgrade their skills, and spreading 

a passion for Decorative Finishing 

throughout the country. 

DECORATIVE FINISHING 

IS CUTTING EDGE 

The FTI is partnering with Decorative 

Finishing industry leaders Faux Effects 

International, Inc. and Faux Design 

Studio. This union-industry partnership 

will move Decorative Finishing from a 

scattering of practitioners to a highly 

organized occupation integrated with 

other aspects of the finishing trade. 

“I know first-hand that the demand for 

Decorative Finishing is high in the market, 

and that one of the main things holding 

contractors back from doing more is 

a limited qualified workforce,” said Sheri 

Zeman of Faux Design Studio. 

“Together, we’re going to change that.” 

That edge was clear during the FTI 

training, when IUPAT instructors from 

across the country saw a variety of fin- 

Instructors from the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades at the first Faux 

Finishing course hosted by the IUPAT Finishing Trades Institute.

ishes and learned the right products, 

tools, and techniques for each. Every 

instructor completed 30 different panels, 

each with a different finish or design. 

Training consists of three sessions. First, 

students learn the basics on flat surfaces. 

The second and third sessions apply more 

advanced techniques; participants learn 

to cover large areas quickly and work 

with corners and other obstacles. 

As with anything new, there are those 

who worry about the challenges in 

WORLD-CLASS IUPAT DECORATORS IN ACTION 

This past May, for the first time, the prestigious international 

gathering of decorative painters called SALON, showcasing the 

finest techniques available in the industry, was hosted by the FTI 

and the IUPAT at the new, 74,100-square-foot District Council 30 

headquarters in DuPage County, Illinois. The yearly conference, 

usually held in Europe, lets decorators admire each other’s work, 

watch and discuss techniques, and exchange new information 

about the trade. 

The theme for this year’s SALON was “Music.” 

Steve Lefaver, coordinator of Curriculum and Assistant 

Administrator, District Council 30 JATF, says, “I have long claimed 

that decorative painting is at the core of our industry. It is the type 

of activity that reminds us that we are artists as well as construction 

Decorative Finishing. Yet, learning the 

craft is easier than one might think, building 

on skills most members already 

have. Working with such materials as tissue 

paper, participants can add new, 

artistic touches to their finishing and 

crafting. Explains Ray Sandor, Faux 

Effects president, Decorative Finishing is 

“more or less straightforward finishing 

with exotic products.” 

And instructor Michael Krawiec, from 

the Chicago Area Painters & Decorators 

Mike Kraweic (right), 

an instructor from IUPAT 

District Council 14, and 

Instructor Omar Robinson 

from District Council 9 in 

New York City. Kraweic 

is one of the creators of 

the new IUPAT training 

program. 

JATC of District Council 14, explained 

that “anybody who has an inherent eye 

for detail will be very good at this 

trade.” 

WORK TODAY IN 

AN ANCIENT CRAFT 

The craft can be traced back to stoneage 

cave paintings, and to ancient 

Egypt, where it graced the tombs of the 

pharaohs. In Europe, Decorative 

Finishing took on a new level of sophistication. 

“Traditionally, this was done by 

European craftsmen to imitate marbles 

and wood,” said Krawiec. This ancient 

craft is getting a whole new look thanks 

to new materials, including textures, plastics, 

metallics, and glazes. Using these 

materials, IUPAT contractors are giving 

buildings and homes a lovely sheen, 

and marbled, textured and suede effects. 

Some IUPAT contractors may hesitate, 

due to not understanding the economics 

of Decorative Finishing. Explained Art 

Hurlburt of DC 58 in Southern Illinois, 

“They’re going to be worried about 

price at first; then we’ll have to convince 

them and then I think they’ll like this 

idea.” Once the process is in place, 

Continued on next page 

craftspersons, and there are some among us that are very skilled 

in creating textures, realistic-looking marble and stone, and wood 

grains of all types. For most who are unfamiliar with the painting 

trade, this type of work often produces a ‘wow’ reaction that 

borders on disbelief.” 

Open to the public, SALON 2008 featured demonstrations and 

lectures by famous and master decorative painters from the United 

States, England, France, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Italy, 

Germany, Japan and elsewhere. Attendees enjoyed the 

“American experience” and expressed a desire for this important 

conference to return to these shores sometime soon. 

For more information about SALON 2008, visit 

www.salonforever.com. 

www.FinishingTradesInstitute.org 

J U L Y - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 8 • J O U R N A L 43

F I N I S H I N G T R A D E S I N S T I T U T E 

FTI CURRENT NEWS 

Continued from previous page 

fears should dissipate. “It’s going to be 

very easy to bid,” said Hurlburt. 

“The question isn’t why should you do 

this,” said Krawiec. “The question is why 

shouldn’t you do it. You’re already on 

the project.” 

Decorative Finishing is spurring 

excitement within and outside the finishing 

trades. “This, to me, is just like creative 

art,” explained Rony Luna of 

District Council 9 in New York City. “It 

piques the interest of a lot of young 

apprentices.” 

The technique offers huge opportunities 

for growth in lucrative markets, 

such as higher-end hotels and casinos. 

It is popular in such cities as 

New York, Chicago and Las Vegas. 

“It’s a high- value market; it’s very elegant,” 

said Krawiec. “It’s in demand 

by a lot of architects and designers 

right now.” 

“We have to be able to do production-based; 

that’s huge,” said William 

Glover of DC 11 in Connecticut and 

Rhode Island. He estimated that payment 

would go up from 75 cents a 

square foot for ordinary painting to $4- 

$6 for Decorative Painting, though 

other estimates run as high as $13 a 

square foot. 

“A lot of the apprentices will adapt 

quickly because the mystique, I think, is 

taken away about how difficult decorative 

work–decorative finish–is. This is 

very, very simple. They can get very 

effective finishes in pretty much no 

time,” said Omar Robinson of District 

Council 9. 

Decorative Finishing is allowing 

IUPAT members to integrate and 

upgrade their finishing skills, slowly 

adding artistic twists and developing a 

bit of a personal style. Krawiec pointed 

out that combining skills is easy, “I’m 

able to use the skills of 14 different 

apprentices, blending styles throughout 

the week and kind of acting like the 


Sheri Zeman of 

Faux Design Studio 

in the Chicago area 

participated in the 

development of the new 

IUPAT training program. 

orchestra leader.” In the field, this 

means that a contractor with a steady 

crew of two or three can draw on the 

strengths of individuals for a powerful 

finished product. 

CREATIVE ORGANIZING 

And our union is right on top of this 

trend, training our members in this artistic 

twist on finishing to ensure decent pay 

and work conditions. Artists, too, are interested 

in the craft, offering new opportunities 

to grow the IUPAT membership. 

According to Bill Hines, Training 

coordinator for District Council 78, 

“the work is being done there now, 

but it’s mostly mom-and-pop companies 

doing this. This is a great oppor- 

tunity for us, to take a piece of that 

market share.” In the long run, 

Krawiec sees the need for “a very 

high caliber” in Decorative Painting; 

“to compete, we have to have people 

dedicated to that market to capture 

it.” 

Robinson also sees greater potential 

for Decorative Finishing: “It definitely 

could be used as an organizing tool,” he 

said, for recruiting eager young apprentices. 

“It’s going to take us some time, 

but we’ll regain this market.” 

The new training program “will help 

the union grow,” said Penski. “It’ll help 

our membership be more employable; 

it’ll help our contractors be more profitable.” 

“I know first-hand that the demand for 

Decorative Finishing is high in the market and that 

one of the main things holding contractors back 

from doing more is a limited qualified workforce. 

Together, we’re going to change that.”

DECORATIVE FINISHING ALSO MAKING ITS MARK IN HAWAII 

Master painter and guest 

instructor Wolfgang Heinritz 

demonstrates the techniques 

used in Decorative Finishing. 

Wolfgang conducts a special 

class annually for DC 50’s 

a d v a n c e d a p p r e n t i c e s , 

sharing his experience and 

techniques to teach the many 

things that can be done with 

paints and finishes. Classes 

like this help meet the 

demand for the Decorative 

Finishing specified for many 

of Hawaii’s hotels and highend 

residences. Apprentices 

learn how to apply artistic 

f i n i s h e s u s i n g t h e s e 

specialized techniques. 

LOOK FOR THE FTI SEAL OF APPROVAL ON PURDY 

BRUSHES 

In its mission to promote the best tools for the job in construction, 

the Finishing Trades Institute (FTI) of the International Union of 

Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) is proud to name the Purdy line of 

paint brushes as FTI-approved. 

“The FTI values its partnership with Purdy in testing and developing 

some of the best tools for our members to use in the field,” said Dan 

Penski, director of the Finishing Trades Institute. “With the inclusion 

of our logo on the brush cover, our IUPAT members and the public can 

see that the best painters in the construction workforce recognize 

Purdy brushes as among the top choices in tools.” 

INTERNATIONAL 


www.FinishingTradesInstitute.org 

45

46 

As L o n n i e 

T i n d e r , a 

member of 

IUPAT local 86, 

knows too well, it’s 

tough to be a bass 

fisherman without a 

bass boat. Tinder resides in Phoenix, Arizona, which he 

describes as a fisherman’s paradise, with many mountain 

lakes to choose from. As a long-time hunter and 

angler, though Tinder takes full advantage of the outdoor 

opportunities available in Arizona, including the fishing. 

Without a boat, Tinder spends time with his wife and his 

brother, fishing from the bank and in trout streams. “I 

used to always go fishing with somebody who had a 

bass boat – I love bass fishing!” said Tinder. “But lately, 

I haven’t had any friends with boats to go fishing with.” 

Now, thanks to the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance 

(USA) and Triton Boats, bass fishing is back on the 

menu for Tinder, who learned in early June that his 

name was drawn as the lucky winner of a brand-new 

Triton 18 Explorer bass boat and a matching trailer. 

The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance is North America’s 

premier hunting and fishing club exclusively for union 

members, retirees and their families. As a program of 

the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership 

(TRCP) and 20 AFL-CIO affiliated unions, including 

IUPAT, the USA extends union member benefits beyond 

the workplace to the woods and water. One of those 

benefits is ongoing giveaways for USA members, 

including firearms, knives, trips and the Triton boat. 

According to Earl Bentz, the dynamic founder and 

president of Triton Boats, “USA members are our customer 

base, and we’re proud of this association. Our 

boats are made in America, the Mercury engine is unionmade 

here in America and we’re excited to be able to 

support these union members here in North America.” 

Tinder learned about the USA while participating in 

TRCP initiatives. The TRCP is a coalition of many of 


Arizona IUPAT Member Wins 

$25,000 Triton Bass Boat 

the nation’s leading conservation organizations and 

individuals, working together to preserve the traditions 

of hunting and fishing. As a union member and a 

sportsman, Tinder thought the concept of an alliance 

of union members with a common interest in the outdoors 

sounded like a great idea, so he joined the USA 

as one of its founding members in October 2007. 

Tinder’s first thought upon learning he won a Triton 

boat and matching trailer valued at approximately 

$25,000 was “is this true or is somebody pulling my 

leg?” He knew, from visiting the USA website 

[www.UnionSportsmen.org], that the USA was giving 

away a boat, but he had never won more than a tshirt 

or hat in his life. “Whenever these things are 

given away, it seems like it’s always someone back 

East. I just couldn’t believe I had won.” 

Tinder’s wife, Debbie, was just as shocked about 

the news. “She thought I was just giving her a story,” 

said Tinder. “She’s become quite the angler, and 

she’s as excited as I am to get boating experience 

and to go bass fishing.” 

With Arizona’s mild winters, Lonnie and Debbie 

can enjoy their new boat year-round, though they 

may have plenty of company. “My coworkers are all 

jealous, and a lot of my fellow union members have 

asked, ‘When are we going fishing?’” said Tinder. 

Winning the Triton bass boat powered by a 

Mercury engine further demonstrates just how well the 

USA fits Tinder’s union-outdoor lifestyle. “USA-made 

and union-made is something I always try to support, 

because I know it is excellent quality,” said Tinder. 

“The USA makes me even prouder 

to be an IUPAT member, because 

the outdoors is something I 

love, and it’s nice to see that 

my union agrees with me. I 

would just like to thank the 

USA and Triton boats. This is 

fantastic—it’s hard to believe.” 

www.TRCP.org

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE AFL-CIO 

Barack Obama Would 

Protect Retirement Security 

Barack Obama wants to strengthen Social Security and block attempts to privatize it. 

He has fought against cuts in Social Security and Medicare and worked to lower prescription drug 

prices for seniors. 

Obama Says He Will NOT Cut Benefi ts or 

Raise Retirement Age. Obama wrote, “I do not 

want to cut benefits or raise the retirement age. I believe 

there are a number of ways we can make Social Security 

solvent that do not involve placing these added burdens on 

our seniors.” (Quad-City Times, 9/21/07) 

Obama Opposed Deep Cuts to Social 

Security Benefi ts. Obama opposed a Social Security 

plan that would require deep benefit cuts or a massive 

increase in debt. That same year, Obama supported 

legislation to prioritize Social Security solvency over tax 

cuts for the wealthy. (S.C.R. 18, Vote 49, 3/15/05; S.Amdt. 144 to 

S.C.R. 18, Vote 47, 3/15/05) 

www.WorkingFamiliesVote08.org 

Obama Opposed Steep Increases in Seniors’ 

Medicare Premiums. Obama voted to protect seniors 

from steep increases in their Medicare Part B premiums, 

which they faced because Congress increased Medicare 

payments to physicians but failed to enact savings from 

Medicare payments to private health plans. (S. 1932, Vote 287, 

11/3/05) 

Obama Voted to Allow Medicare to 

Negotiate Lower Drug Prices for Senior 

Citizens. Obama voted to allow Medicare to negotiate 

with the drug makers for lower prices for senior citizens. 

Republicans filibustered the bill. (S. 3, Vote 132, 4/18/07) 

Paid for by the AFL-CIO PA


I N D U S T R Y P E N S I O N F U N D 

IUPAT Pension Fund Solid, Despite Hard Economic Times 

As with most employee pension 

funds, the IUPAT Pension Fund 

faced turbulent economic 

waters for most of the year, but, 

thanks to prudent planning and risk 

control by our trustees and investment 

managers, our pension fund remains 

secure. 

“When the market goes against all 

our hard work, there are losses,” said 

IUPAT Pension Fund Administrator 

Gary J. Meyers. “But the fund remains 

in what pension experts call the ‘green 

zone’ for 2008. This term is an industry 

benchmark used when describing 

pension plans that are at acceptably 

funded levels per the 2006 Pension 

Protection Act (PPA). 

“Needless to say, the IUPAT pension 

plan is proud to be labeled as a ‘wellfunded’ 

industry leader because we 

know the concern our members have 

about retirement security,” said Meyers. 

“Plan trustees understand these concerns 

and all their actions are guided by 

them. These are difficult economic times, 

so the trustees will continue to take 

appropriate steps to ensure the financial 

stability of the plan.” 


The fund’s financial stability is also 

encouraging when you consider the 

overall state of U.S. defined benefit 

pension plans. A recent report issued 

by the Government Accountability 

Office (GAO) indicates that approximately 

half of employers with defined 

benefit pension plans have frozen one 

ore more of those plans, putting the 

retirement incomes of millions of workers 

at risk. 

IUPAT Pension Fund trustees carefully 

monitor current and future market 

trends, and meet to discuss options 

that best benefit plan participants. 

Their most recent decisions include 

lowering the allocation in U.S. equity 

markets and moving to investments 

such as infrastructure that offer a 

higher rate of return. 

“Our IUPAT pension plan has 

always been financially sound,” 

Meyers said. “Our well-funded status, 

under compliance with the PPA, is evidence 

of how the trustees continue to 

make decisions that benefit and 

reward our retirees.” 

Overall, compared to the majority 

of employee pension funds, the IUPAT 

employee pension fund remains stable 

and better-positioned than most for 

future growth. The trustees will take 

every action necessary to ensure the 

pension benefit of our over 26,000 

retirees and beneficiaries receiving 

checks remains secure now and for 

the future generations of retirees. 

There’s strength in numbers… 

…and $AVINGS, too! 

Special deals and everyday savings on dozens of products and services 

are available only for union members and their families. Some union 

families could save up to $3,600 a year! Just go to 

www.unionplus.org/savings and try the easy-to-use 

Savings Calculator for yourself. 

www.unionplus.org/savings 

WEB-6/04

RETIREELIVING 

GERALD K. SCHOCK 

Local Union 1555 

Fairbanks, Alaska 

Gerald Schock of Local Union 1555 in Fairbanks, 

Alaska, started his union career as a laborer. After a neardeath 

incident and some persuasion by some friends at the 

local IUPAT, Schock decided being a union painter was the 

safer and better way to go. “There was no OSHA when I 

started out my union career,” Schock said. “After almost 

being killed, I decided that being a painter was a better 

way to go. I am glad I made the switch; I have learned 

many trades that helped me keep busy all year-round.” 

Once Schock decided to join the IUPAT, he needed to 

find a sponsor. “Joining the IUPAT back when I started 

was not the same as joining today,” Schock said. “You 

needed to have a sponsor, which I luckily did; he was a 

Vietnam buddy of mine. And then you had to compete 

with 50 guys to be accepted into the program.” 

Schock was accepted and found a home early in his 

career at Local 7 in Toledo, Ohio. But after getting 

divorced, Schock decided it was time for another change 

and moved to Alaska, where he found a home with Local 

1555. “I was a painter, taper, and vinyl hanger,” Schock 

continued. “I needed to have more than one trade in order 

to keep me busy and working all year round.” 

Retired since January 2008, Schock is enjoying time 

with his family. “I love going out on the river and fish- 

ROBERT D. HARMS 


Raytown, Missouri 

Local Union 9 

Kansas City, Missouri 

After retiring in February 2008, Robert Harms from 

Local Union 9 in Kansas City, Missouri, is keeping himself 

busy fixing up his house. “I am playing catch-up on 

the property and on the home,” Harms said. “I am mowing 

the lawn, fixing up the garage and doing things I 

didn’t have time to do while I was working.” 

Harms is mixing business with pleasure. He is a member 

of an eight-ball pool league, and is gearing up to go 

overseas one more time to visit the Greek Islands. “I love 

to travel,” Harms said. “But there is no place like home.” 

A Vietnam veteran with the 9th Infantry Division who 

served in the Mekong Delta, Harms saw life very differently 

when he returned from the service. “My life plans changed 

when I came back from serving my country,” Harms said. 

“I wanted a job that would provide me and my future family 

with stability, health care and a livable wage.” 

Schock with 

his grandson 

with one of 

their many 

catches. 

ing,” he said. “I love taking my grandkids out on the 

water; it’s very peaceful and relaxing.” Schock is still 

active in the union as the acting apprenticeship coordinator, 

a position he has held on and off since 1984. “I 

attended the General President’s Master Training 

Program and found it very beneficial, as an instructor, to 

make me a better teacher for the apprentices,” Schock 

continued. 

“The union doesn’t owe me anything, but I owe the 

union a lot,” Schock concluded. “Everything I have is 

because I am a union worker.” 

“Jerry is a very hard worker; he always puts the union and 

community first,” Local Union 1555 General President’s 

Representative Patrick Lane said. “Jerry loves the community in 

Alaska. He is good to the natives with providing information 

and training in the trade. Everyone at Local Union 1555 

would like to wish Jerry the best of luck on his retirement.” 

Harms worked with the 

IUPAT as a painter and commercial 

vinyl hanger for 24 

years before he served as 

Local 9’s financial-secretary, a 

position he held for six years 

before retiring. “Becoming a 

union man was one of the 

best things I could have ever 

done for me and my family,” 

Harms said. “In the begin- Robert D. Harms 

ning, it was about good 

wages and health care. The 

more years I put in, the more I thought about my retirement 

and what a great pension plan the IUPAT has put in 

place for their members.” 

“Bob will be missed at the union,” Local Union 9 

Financial-Secretary James Green said. “He is a great 

union member and has been great to work with. 

Everyone here at Local Union 9 wants to wish Bob the 

best of luck. It’s great to see one of our guys enjoying the 

benefits he has worked years to receive.” 


www.IUPAT.org/pension 

49


I N D U S T R Y P E N S I O N F U N D 

OURRETIREES 

Listed below are the pensioners 

awarded pension benefits 

through the International Painters 

and Allied Trades Industry 

Pension Fund from May 1, 2008, 

through June 30, 2008. On 

behalf of the Board of Trustees, 

please join us in wishing them 

the best of luck and a long and 

fruitful retirement. 

GERALD ALEXANDER . . . . .LU 169 

JACK ANDERSON . . . . . . . .LU 79 

NICK ANGELLOTTI . . . . . .LU 1819 

CARL ARDOIN . . . . . . . . .LU 1244 

DAVID ASHTON . . . . . . . . .LU 847 

DAVID BADE . . . . . . . . . . .LU 277 

RALPH BALL JR . . . . . . . . .LU 1094 

EMILIO BANDA . . . . . . . . .LU 848 

LEON BARDER . . . . . . . . .LU 1595 

CARLOS BASSETT JR . . . . . . .LU 19 

JORGE BEDOLLA . . . . . . . . .LU 256 

MOMCHILO BOGDANEVICH LU 61 

HARVEY BOLTZ . . . . . . . .LU 1269 

MICHAEL BOTKIN . . . . . . . .LU 256 

THOMAS BOWERS . . . . . . .LU 707 

IVAN BUBANJ . . . . . . . . . .LU 806 

DONALD BURRELL . . . . . . . . . .LU 6 

SERGIO CACERES . . . . . . .LU 113 

STEPHEN CALHOON . . . . . .LU 47 

ARDUINO CARINCI . . . . . .LU 557 

JOHN CARLTON . . . . . . .LU 1094 

RALPH CAROTENUTO SR . .LU 368 

RICHARD CASHION . . . . . .LU 765 

JAMES CINESI . . . . . . . . .LU 1309 

DANNY COLLINS . . . . . . . .LU 891 

LARRY COLLINS . . . . . . . . .LU 841 

ANTHONY COTHRAN . . .LU 1942 

NORMAN CROWTHER . . .LU 1955 

AUSBERTO CRUZ . . . . . . . . .LU 18 

THOMAS D`AMICO . . . . .LU 1281 

CLARENCE DAIGLER SR . . . . .LU 43 

LARRY DANIELS SR . . . . . . . . .LU 3 

JOHN DEBRUYCKER SR . . .LU 1009 

CHRIS DEYOUNG . . . . . . . .LU 312 

JOSEPH DEMARB . . . . . . .LU 2001 

FOREST DENNIS . . . . . . . . .LU 567 

VITTORIO DEPAOLIS . . . . .LU 1891 

KEITH DEVINE . . . . . . . . .LU 1281 

ARTHUR DEVINS . . . . . . . . .LU 257 

DENES DEZSI . . . . . . . . . . .LU 557 

ATHANASIOS DREMPELAS . .LU 18 

NICK DUNAT . . . . . . . . . . .LU 138 

DENNIS DUNCAN . . . . . .LU 1075 

ROBERT DUPRIEST . . . . . . .LU 1179 

GARY ECKHARDT . . . . . . . . .LU 77 

CHARLES EDWARDS . . . . . .LU 456 

CARL EGBERS . . . . . . . . . . .LU 681 

ROD ERICKSON . . . . . . . .LU 1964 

JUAN ESQUIBEL . . . . . . . . .LU 823 

LLOYD FLINT . . . . . . . . . . . . .LU 61 

BILLIE FULLEN . . . . . . . . . . .LU 639 

FRANK GAGLIANO . . . . . .DC 711 

DENNIS GALBRAITH . . . . . .LU 109 

ROBERT GALL . . . . . . . . . . .LU 333 

DARRELL GALLEA . . . . . . . .LU 159 

JOSEPH GARBO . . . . . . . . .LU 707 

JAVIER GARCIA . . . . . . . .LU 1140 

LEONARD GARCIA . . . . . . .LU 256 

MICHAEL GASINSKI . . . . . .DC 36 

ELWIN GAUTIER . . . . . . . . .LU 829 

HENRY GAYLE . . . . . . . . .LU 1719 

GEORGE GEIGNETTER . . .LU 1274 

JOHN GEMMER III . . . . . . .LU 159 

SIM GLASS . . . . . . . . . . .LU 1165 

PEDRO GONZALEZ . . . . . . .LU 365 

ROBERT GRANGIER . . . . .LU 1165 

ROBERT GREISMER . . . . . . . .LU 86 

EDLEY GUIDRY . . . . . . . . .LU 1244 

JOHN HADDEN . . . . . . . . .LU 740 

STANLEY HAFNER . . . . . . .LU 581 

MICHAEL HANSON . . . . .LU 2001 

CLARENCE HAWKINS . . . .LU 963 

MIKE HEBERT . . . . . . . . . . .LU 130 

VERNON HENDRICKSON . .LU 880 

HASSELL HENSLEY . . . . . .LU 1072 

WILLIAM HERRON . . . . . .LU 1009 

LAVERN HETH . . . . . . . . . . .LU 48 


GERALD HICKOX . . . . . . .LU 1169 

EDDIE HIGGINS . . . . . . . . .LU 567 

RICHARD HOLMES . . . . . . .LU 740 

CLAIR HOPKEY . . . . . . . . . . .LU 48 

ROBERT HUG . . . . . . . . . . .LU 201 

KENNETH HUGHES . . . . .LU 1555 

WILLIAM HUSSEY . . . . . . . .LU 155 

CARL IANNUZZI . . . . . . . . .LU 195 

EDWARD IVORY . . . . . . . . .LU 409 

BRIAN JENNINGS . . . . . . .LU 357 

LESLIE LEE JERNIGAN . . . .LU 2001 

JOSE JIMENEZ . . . . . . . . .LU 1007 

FREDRICK JONES . . . . . . . .LU 829 

ROGER JONES . . . . . . . . . .LU 481 

ROBERT JOYCE . . . . . . . . . .LU 155 

LASZLO KACSOH . . . . . . .LU 1976 

RONALD KARABACZ . . . . .LU 357 

JOHN KAVOURAS . . . . . . . . .LU 6 

PETER KEENAN . . . . . . . .LU 1281 

FRANCIS KENNA . . . . . . . .LU 206 

ANTHONY KENNAH . . . . .LU 201 

MICHAEL KEON . . . . . . . .LU 1034 

RICHARD KERNS . . . . . . . .LU 249 

FRANK KERSIKOSKI . . . . .LU 1309 

PAUL KING . . . . . . . . . . . .LU 137 

RICHARD KING . . . . . . . . .LU 356 

WILLIAM KING . . . . . . . . . .LU 377 

MARLIN KIXMILLER . . . . . .LU 1165 

KIM KOHLER . . . . . . . . . . .LU 386 

KNUTE KNUDSEN . . . . . . .LU 138 

RAY KROLCZYK . . . . . . . . .LU 130 

JACK KUNCE JR . . . . . . . . . .LU 39 

JIMMY LACKEY . . . . . . . . . .LU 456 

RAFAEL LAMPON . . . . . . .LU 1004 

HENRY LANCASTER . . . . . .LU 356 

DALE LANTZ . . . . . . . . . . . .LU 567 

GLENN LASLEY . . . . . . . . .LU 1118 

DANIEL LISTER . . . . . . . . .LU 1094 

RANDALL LITTON . . . . . . . . . .LU 7 

HOWARD LLOYD . . . . . . .LU 1281 

EMIL LOKAR . . . . . . . . . . . .LU 200 

JOHN LONGAZO . . . . . . .LU 1940 

WALTER MACFEAT . . . . . . .LU 703 

LIBRADO MAGANA . . . . . .LU 636 

ELTON MAGEE . . . . . . . . .LU 1778 

JAMES MCCAN . . . . . . . . . .LU 98 

ROGER MCCRARY . . . . . . .LU 718 

WILLIAM MCMILLAN . . . . .LU 1005 

MICHAEL MCGUIRE . . . . .LU 1165 

PHILLIP MCCAIN JR . . . . . . .LU 402 

MARK MEINERT . . . . . . . . .LU 676 

CHRISTOPHER MELI . . . . . .LU 391 

KERMIT MELLON . . . . . . . .LU 1555 

LOYD METZ . . . . . . . . . . . . .LU 79 

STEVEN MEVISSEN . . . . . . .LU 386 

PETER MIKULCA . . . . . . . .LU 1269 

JACK MILLER . . . . . . . . . . . . .LU 3 

JERRY MILLER . . . . . . . . . . . . .LU 9 

LARRY MILLER . . . . . . . . . . .LU 774 

ROBERT MILLER . . . . . . . . . .LU 312 

JAMES MITCHELL . . . . . . .LU 1324 

ROBERT MOHR JR . . . . . . . . . .LU 7 

CRAIG MOORE . . . . . . . . .LU 157 

ELAINE MOORE . . . . . . . . .LU 257 

MIGUEL MORCIEGO . . . . .LU 1010 

LARRY MORRIS . . . . . . . . . . .LU 47 

JOHN NELSON . . . . . . . . .LU 686 

JAMES NEWELL JR . . . . . . .LU 269 

TERRELL NICOLUDIS . . . . . . . .LU 6 

KENNETH NOESEN . . . . . . .DC 36 

WILBUR NORTH JR . . . . . . .LU 411 

MERRILL OHM JR . . . . . . . .LU 1269 

TOM OLGUIN . . . . . . . . . .LU 567 

PEDRO ORTIZ . . . . . . . . . . .LU 256 

RONALD OSBORN . . . . . . . .LU 79 

SAMUEL OSBORNE . . . . . . .LU 25 

CARLOS OWENS . . . . . . . . .LU 27 

JUANEILL PAIGE SR . . . . . . .LU 164 

THADDEUS (TED) PALICKI . .LU 159 

NICOLA PAPA . . . . . . . . . .LU 159 

RAYMOND PAPP . . . . . . .LU 1275 

JOSE PARRA . . . . . . . . . . . .LU 256 

HUMBERTO PARRAVICINI . .LU 156 

DAVID PHILIBOTTE . . . . . . .LU 703

CHARLES PIAZZA JR . . . . .LU 1244 

STUART POCHA . . . . . . . . .LU 739 

GUILLERMO PRIETO . . . . .LU 1456 

JAMES QUENTIN . . . . . . . .LU 256 

LUIS QUEZADA . . . . . . . .LU 1004 

LEROY QUIGLEY . . . . . . . .LU 8A28 

RODRIGO QUINTANA . . . . .LU 48 

FELIX RAMIREZ JR . . . . . . . . .LU 27 

THOMAS REYNOLDS . . . . .LU 707 

EDWARD RIBLON . . . . . . . . .LU 27 

WILLIAM RICHARDSON . .LU 1333 

JOSEPH RIVERA . . . . . . . . .LU 775 

ROYAL ROBERTS JR . . . . . . .LU 694 

GUADALUPE RODRIGUEZ . .LU 314 

ROGELIO RODRIGUEZ . . . .LU 256 

RUBEN RODRIGUEZ . . . . . .LU 419 

SERGIO RODRIGUEZ . . . . . .LU 130 

GABRIEL ROLON . . . . . . .LU 1281 

PEDRO ROSA JR . . . . . . . . . .LU 18 

ETTORE ROSSIELLO . . . . . .LU 1891 

JAIME SALAZAR . . . . . . . .LU 1010 

CARLOS SANDOVAL . . . . .LU 831 

ROBERT SANTMAN . . . . . .LU 312 

EARL SCHNITZER . . . . . . . . LU 703 

DANNY SCIOLI SR . . . . . .LU 1331 

VINCENT SCOMOLLA JR . .LU 252 

LINDA SEALS . . . . . . . . . . .LU 820 

RONALD SEARS . . . . . . . . . .LU 21 

MYERL SEIBERT JR . . . . . . . .LU 411 

GREGORY SEMMEL . . . . .LU 1269 

ANTAL SENYI . . . . . . . . . .LU 1891 

JOSEPH SGAMBATI . . . . .LU 1486 

MICHAEL SHORT . . . . . . . .LU 345 

EDWIN SHUDT . . . . . . . . . .LU 201 

TERRY SINTKOWSKI . . . . . .LU 460 

MARK SMITH . . . . . . . . . . .LU 115 

THOMAS SMITH . . . . . . . .LU 1976 

WAYNE T SPEETZEN . . . .LU 1176 

MICHAEL STAGICH . . . . . .LU 1009 

CARL STANTON . . . . . . . .LU 1331 

PERCY STEPHENS . . . . . . . . .LU 53 

PAUL STEWART . . . . . . . . .LU 813 

MIGUEL SUAREZ . . . . . . . . . .LU 20 

PAUL SUBOTIC . . . . . . . . . .LU 256 

JIMMY TALLEY . . . . . . . . . .LU 226 

ROGER TAO . . . . . . . . . .LU 1621 

JAMES TARPLEY JR . . . . . . . .LU 95 

JOSE TAVARES . . . . . . . . . . .LU 18 

EDDIE TAYLOR . . . . . . . . .LU 1756 

LAWRENCE TORRE . . . . . . .LU 186 

JOHN TOTH . . . . . . . . . . .LU 1555 

JAMES TOWNSEND . . . . . .LU 157 

TERRY TREMONTI . . . . . . .LU 1176 

DONALD TUCKER . . . . . . . .LU 365 

GEORGE TULLIER JR . . . . . .LU 728 

LEMAR TURNER . . . . . . . . .LU 365 

BRUCE TURPEN . . . . . . . . .LU 156 

EDWARD VALDEOLIVAR . . .LU 718 

DONALD VAUGHAN . . . . . .LU 48 

DIANNE WAGNER . . . . . .LU 1010 

EDWARD WEEKS . . . . . . . . .LU 25 

CHARLES WEIGLE . . . . . . . .LU 411 

EUGENE WEINERT . . . . . . .LU 130 

JIMMY WEIR . . . . . . . . . . .LU 242 

LAWRANCE WILLSON . . . .LU 246 

LONNIE WILSON . . . . . . .LU 1293 

ROBERT WOLF JR . . . . . . . .LU 707 

ROBERT WOLFORD . . . . . .LU 1331 

WAYNE WOLTER . . . . . . . .LU 106 

GARY YORK . . . . . . . . . . . . .LU 52 

CLARENCE YOUNG . . . . .LU 1179 

GREGORY YOUNG . . . . .LU 1976 

GENERAL PRESIDENT’S REPORT 

Continued from page 4 

make a change for the better in the White House and 

America. 

To put it another way for the history buffs out there: 

Organized labor needs to make this election our Battle 

of Midway, while our opponents want to make it our 

Waterloo. The outcome is a turning point for either our 

ultimate survival or our downfall. 

Let’s discuss the veteran issue. I know that Senator 

McCain is a Vietnam veteran; so am I. That fact does 

not solely qualify him or me to be the president of the 

United States. If the war is the issue at the top of your 

concerns for this country, consider that there are four 

serving U.S. senators who are veterans; three oppose 

the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the fourth predicts 

we could be there for the next 100 years, with our children 

and grandchildren fighting and dying for this 

cause. It is time for a change. 

Where will we be in four years or eight years if we 

are not successful in getting Barack Obama elected? 

The mere thought of eight more years of Bush policies 

fills me with dread. That’s why I am imploring each and 

every member of the IUPAT to contact your district council 

or local union and volunteer to do your part in this 

election. 

You might have the opportunity to work side-by-side 

with me, Executive General Vice President Kenneth 

Rigmaiden or General Secretary-Treasurer George 

Galis, and the rest of the IUPAT General Executive 

Board, in some of the battle ground states this October 

and November. We will be in Florida, Minnesota, 

Kentucky and Iowa, knocking on doors, making phone 

calls and cheering at Obama rallies. 

So, as November 4—Election Day—fast approaches, 

you need to make certain you and your eligible family 

members are registered to vote, and you need to learn 

everything you can about the candidates. You can do 

both by visiting www.IUPAT.org/vote. 

Please vote this November—your job and livelihood 

depend upon it. My thanks to you, the greatest members 

any general president could have the honor of 

leading. See you in the field. 


www.IUPAT.org/pension 

51

April 1, 2008-June 30, 2008 

LOCAL NAME AMOUNT 

0001 Stelianos I. Houmis ................$2,500.00 

0003 Edmundo Armendariz ............ $2,500.00 

0003 Clark Barber ........................ $2,500.00 

0003 George Katsuleres ................ $2,500.00 

0003 Harry Nelson ........................ $2,500.00 

0003 Alex B. Soranno.................... $2,500.00 

0006 John J. Flaherty.................... $2,500.00 

0006 Richard Franko .................... $2,500.00 

0006 Ronald M. Hornick ................ $2,500.00 

0007 Frank L. Burke...................... $2,500.00 

0007 Daniel N. Goncz.................... $2,500.00 

0007 Walter Rife .......................... $2,500.00 

0010 Fred W. Daniels III ................ $2,500.00 

0012 Kit Allen Baughman .............. $2,500.00 

0012 George Cease ...................... $2,500.00 

0012 John Simonsen .................... $2,500.00 

0012 Fred Watson ...................... $2,500.00 

0013 William E. Nare, Sr. .............. $2,500.00 

0018 Enrique Sanchez .................. $2,500.00 

0020 Joseph Skopinich .................. $2,500.00 

0027 Thomas Deisher.................... $2,500.00 

0027 Donald Franzen .................... $2,500.00 

0027 Kenneth Gilbert.................... $2,500.00 

0028 Asher Grosbad ...................... $2,500.00 

0037 Silas Iovan .......................... $2,500.00 

0041 Joseph Bogdan .................... $2,500.00 

0046 Monroe J. Glore.................... $2,500.00 

0046 Donald A. Scott .................... $2,500.00 

0047 Robert E. Corn...................... $2,500.00 

0049 I.D. Jennings........................ $2,500.00 

0050 Robin Chance ...................... $2,500.00 

0052 Elmar Kannel........................ $2,500.00 

0053 Blain E. Haney .................... $2,500.00 

0053 Clyde (Benny) Perry.............. $2,500.00 

0053 Morris L. Skidmore................ $2,500.00 

0057 Howard Lacey ...................... $2,500.00 

0061 Gurney J. Andress ................ $2,500.00 

0086 Milton F. Baker .................... $2,500.00 

0086 Fernando Hernandez ............ $2,500.00 

0086 John G. Markel.................... $2,500.00 

0088 John T. Bragg ...................... $2,500.00 

0088 Terry Lee Self ...................... $2,500.00 

0095 Alfred Dreher........................ $2,500.00 

0095 Leland Slote........................ $2,500.00 

0096 John W. Coon ...................... $2,500.00 

0100 Richard D. Christopher .......... $2,500.00 

0109 Willard T. Curry .................... $2,500.00 

0113 Nicholas DeNisco .................. $2,500.00 

0113 Silvio J. Planamento.............. $1,250.00 

0115 Elmer Klasek ........................ $2,500.00 

0115 John E. Stumpf .................... $2,500.00 

0130 James F. Anderson................ $2,500.00 

0130 Alvin Gill.............................. $2,500.00 

0130 James Hilton ........................ $2,500.00 

0130 James R. Ingerham .............. $2,500.00 

0130 Joseph Mueller .................... $2,500.00 

0137 Charles H. Ballmann.............. $2,500.00 

0138 Karl H. Hoheisel.................... $2,500.00 

0138 James G. Lavallee ................ $2,500.00 

0138 Josef Lewand ...................... $2,500.00 

0138 James Ernest Page................ $2,500.00 

0138 Bruce Lynn Prophet .............. $2,500.00 

0138 Gordon Raymond Steep ........ $2,500.00 

0147 Adam P. Focht...................... $2,500.00 

0147 Calixto Vargas ...................... $2,500.00 

0154 Lawrence Larsen.................. $2,500.00 

0156 Joffrey B. Hunt .................... $2,500.00 

0156 Donald R. Vincent, Jr. ............ $2,500.00 

0156 Wesley A. Walker ................ $2,500.00 

0159 James P. Adams .................. $2,500.00 

0159 Robby L. Gill ........................ $2,500.00 

0159 Jesus Ruiz............................ $2,500.00 

0169 Cameron B. Fulkerson .......... $2,500.00 

0169 Salvatore J. Lipari ................ $2,500.00 

0169 Lloyd Pelster ........................ $2,500.00 

0169 Anthony F. Sanzo ................ $2,500.00 

0177 Luis Alvarado........................ $2,500.00 

0188 Leonard R. Bentley................ $2,500.00 

0188 Stephen Busek .................... $2,500.00 

0188 Vincent Doyea .................... $2,500.00 

0188 Loren H. Marshall ................ $2,500.00 

0191 Francis J. Goff ...................... $2,500.00 

0191 Anthony Manzella ................ $2,500.00 

0195 Vito Di Maio ........................ $2,500.00 

0203 James Mills.......................... $2,500.00 

0205 Joseph Fitzpatrick ................ $2,500.00 

0214 Gary A. Mansfield ................ $2,500.00 

0256 Jack D. Arnold ...................... $2,500.00 

0256 Eugene H. Ciauri .................. $2,500.00 

0256 Elmer H. Everett .................. $2,500.00 

0256 Alfred F. Fitzgerald................ $2,500.00 

0256 Blas Guerrero ...................... $2,500.00 

0256 James McDade .................... $2,500.00 

0256 Charles J. McMahan.............. $1,000.00 

0256 Kurt W. Mierau .................... $2,500.00 

0256 William Portillo, Jr................. $1,875.00 

0256 Donald Walton .................... $2,500.00 

0265 Morrie Dorocke .................... $2,500.00 

0265 Louis Otterman .................... $2,500.00 

0275 Winfred J. Mathes ................$2,500.00 

0333 Robert O. Anderson ..............$1,000.00 

0333 Ralph E. Miller......................$2,500.00 

0357 Gerald A. Duda ....................$2,500.00 

0357 Serafine Scardino..................$2,500.00 

0372 Walter Linville ......................$2,500.00 

0372 Carl A. Logan ......................$2,500.00 

0376 Wayne R. Hickman ..............$2,500.00 

0376 Heartsill V. McCoy ................$2,500.00 

0376 Jack M. Newland..................$2,500.00 

0386 Richard D. Ahl ......................$2,500.00 

0386 Oliver M Larson ....................$2,500.00 

0386 Arthur O'Donnell ..................$2,500.00 

0409 Kenneth McFadden ..............$2,500.00 

0437 Lennis E. Bearden ................$2,500.00 

0452 Fred Bodensiek....................$2,500.00 

0452 Vincent Poma ......................$2,500.00 


LOCAL NAME AMOUNT LOCAL NAME AMOUNT LOCAL NAME AMOUNT 

0452 Kenneth Turner ....................$2,500.00 

0456 Elmer F. Carson ....................$2,500.00 

0460 Charles F. Tipton, Jr...............$2,500.00 

0466 Daniel J. Foster ....................$2,500.00 

0469 David L. Lengacher................$2,500.00 

0469 Oscar L. Lynch......................$2,500.00 

0471 Robert T. Chappell ................$2,500.00 

0477 Bert L. Allen ........................$2,500.00 

0481 Ralph Romano ....................$2,500.00 

0487 Stanley Dorn........................$2,500.00 

0507 Thomas Leppere ..................$2,500.00 

0507 Kazimierz Nowicki ................$2,500.00 

0507 James Ochinero ....................$2,500.00 

0507 John Sylvia ..........................$2,500.00 

0507 Harold Theisen ....................$1,000.00 

0510 Raymond R. Roy ..................$2,500.00 

0530 George Kohl ........................$2,500.00 

0558 Ray C. Crouch ......................$2,500.00 

0558 Robert Eugene Helm..............$2,500.00 

0567 Donald Brandt ......................$2,500.00 

0581 Harvey F. Blosch ..................$2,500.00 

0607 Francis W. Bauer ..................$2,500.00 

0636 Gildardo A. Carreon ..............$2,500.00 

0636 Robert D. Crain ....................$2,500.00 

0636 Peter Irvine ........................$2,500.00 

0675 Aubrey Dawson ....................$2,500.00 

0677 Robert T. Strohmeyer ............$2,500.00 

0681 Gregory E. Stevenson ............$2,500.00 

0691 Thomas Demarco..................$2,500.00 

0694 Mario L. Failla ......................$2,500.00 

0707 Robert J. Brown....................$2,500.00 

0707 Carl Allen Jindra....................$2,500.00 

0707 James E. Jones ....................$2,500.00 

0707 Franklin D. Rogers ................$2,500.00 

0718 Jeffrey R. Amend ..................$2,500.00 

0718 James E. Solis......................$2,500.00 

0739 Barry Zacharkow ..................$2,500.00 

0741 Edward Dewitt......................$2,500.00 

0741 Phillip Sesar ........................$2,500.00 

0741 Dirk Vandermeulen................$2,500.00 

0751 Henry S. Johnston, Jr. ..........$2,500.00 

0751 Mario G. Sanna ....................$2,500.00 

0751 Melvin J. Whitling ................$2,500.00 

0767 Roy Trumbly ........................$2,500.00 

0775 Lewis L. Gray ......................$2,500.00 

0779 Derrick Jefferies....................$2,500.00 

0781 James K. Chase ....................$2,500.00 

0781 Poi Facchini ..........................$2,500.00 

0781 Richard Fritz..........................$2,500.00 

0781 Alfred Hofmann ....................$2,500.00 

0781 Paul A. Nennig ......................$2,500.00 

0781 William Walker......................$2,500.00 

0802 Joseph R. Ponti......................$2,500.00 

0806 Nediljko Dukic ......................$2,500.00 

0806 Michael Tsapos......................$2,500.00 

0807 Marshall Etchieson ................$2,500.00 

0823 Robert May ..........................$2,500.00 

0826 Raymond Supulski ................$2,500.00 

0830 Timothy Moran......................$2,500.00 

0831 Norman W. Turner ................$2,500.00 

0841 Daniel T. Pankey....................$2,500.00 

0849 William A. Deutsch ................$2,500.00 

0863 Walter Burzinski ....................$2,500.00 

0913 Anthony Betti ........................$2,500.00 

0921 John W. Queflander ..............$2,500.00 

0930 Leonard Hattan......................$2,500.00 

0930 Harry B. Hunter ....................$2,500.00 

0930 James Spoonemore................$2,500.00 

0934 Paul Besch............................$2,500.00 

0934 David M. Naidicz ..................$2,500.00 

0997 Joseph H. Van Osten, Jr. ........$2,500.00 

1007 Herbert K. Wenstrom..............$2,500.00 

1009 Charles J. Cross ....................$2,500.00 

1010 John P. Jarreau ....................$2,500.00 

1044 Roland W. Bernier..................$2,500.00 

1094 Donald E. Hendrickson............$2,500.00 

1122 Gerard Blanchette ..................$2,500.00 

1138 James E. Cobbett ..................$2,500.00 

1140 John Galanopoulos ................$2,500.00 

1144 William G. Jones....................$2,500.00 

1165 Nathan Ameigh ....................$2,500.00 

1165 David E. Davis, Jr...................$2,500.00 

1175 Reinaldo Lopez, Sr.................$2,500.00 

1199 Robert P. Laclede ..................$2,500.00 

1204 Frank Ruffalo ........................$2,500.00 

1225 Jacob Bauer, Jr.....................$1,250.00 

1238 George W. Brown ..................$2,500.00 

1238 John D. Melvin ......................$2,500.00 

1244 Billy R. Cothern......................$2,500.00 

1247 Louis R. Britz ........................$2,500.00 

1247 George T. McGarragh..............$2,500.00 

1247 Louis Muha ..........................$2,500.00 

1247 Richard Tomlin ......................$2,500.00 

1247 Gilbert F. Trujillo ....................$2,500.00 

1275 Mark Doone..........................$2,500.00 

1275 William Triplett, Sr. ................$2,500.00 

1281 Lester Cohen ........................$2,500.00 

1281 David Glassgold ....................$2,500.00 

1281 Lester A. Waters ....................$2,500.00 

1285 Gene W. Bosold ....................$2,500.00 

1292 Joshua K. Holshouser..............$2,500.00 

1299 Dewitt Perkins, Jr...................$2,500.00 

1324 Virgil Sahli ............................$2,500.00 

1331 Robert Houser, Sr. ................$2,500.00 

1332 Maurice Buckner....................$2,500.00 

1486 William Skoc ........................$2,500.00 

1621 Richard R. Silva ....................$2,500.00 

1719 Angelo DiGiorgio ....................$2,500.00 

1719 Raymond Krikorian ................$2,500.00 

1756 Floyd Carr ............................$2,500.00 

1819 Christopher Welling ................$2,500.00 

1891 Vittoro Contatto ....................$2,500.00 

1974 William Whitehouse ..............$2,500.00 

1976 Christopher Canas ..................$2,500.00 

2341 Daniel J. Bathon ....................$2,500.00

IUPATFINANCIAL 

JANUARY 1, 2008 - JUNE 30, 2008 

INTERNATIONAL 

UNION OF 

PAINTERS AND 

ALLIED TRADES 

CASH BALANCE 

REPORT 

(ALL FUNDS) 

EXECUTIVE GENERAL 

VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT 


ACCIDENTAL DEATH 

GENERAL CONVENTION DEATH BENEFIT 

FUND FUND FUND FUND 

BEGINNING CASH BALANCE 01/01/2008** $25,489,741.73 $3,582,060 $226,505 $14,479,780 

RECEIPTS: 20,588,157.72 621,898 39,193 1,684,137 

DISBURSEMENTS: (18,986,873.85) (4,596) (50,000) (1,364,813) 

INC/DECR IN MARKET VALUE OF INVESTMENTS: 60,854.78 (1,909) – (1,173,462) 

INTERFUND TRANSFER 0.00 – – – 

CANADIAN EXCHANGE: (13,280.13) (1,235) 58 (1,002) 

ENDING CASH BALANCE 6/30/2008 $27,138,600 $4,196,218 $215,639 $13,624,641 

for implementing mobilization plans and working with 

your business manager/secretary-treasurers to pursue 

and secure those grant dollars (even in this tight economy). 

They work every day to pursue legislation that 

benefits working families in the local, state and national 

legislatures. It is all a part of working together as a 

team. 

I believe that our union has turned the corner on 

working to create a culture of teamwork and partnership. 

It is not that there is complete agreement on how to 

approach or resolve a particular issue, but that there is 

an acknowledgement that we are all pursuing the same 

goal of growing this union in members and influence 

throughout our industries. We do this through organizing, 

training and education; labor management relations; 

benefit improvements; and, yes, political action. 

Much of what it takes to attain these goals starts with 

your own leadership. Electing leaders who have the 

intensity and fortitude to direct their staff and work with 

our employer partners to grow our influence is critical to 

this effort. It does not matter where that leader started 

his or her career. What matters is if that leader has 

fought to improve the lives of the membership and has 

effectively used the tools, programs and policies 

afforded to him or her. The race, gender and cultural 

background of a leader is of no consequence. 

I have more than 30 years of membership in the 

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. I have 

been a local union officer, business representative, business 

manager, general representative and assistant to the 

general president. Today, I am your executive general vice 

** Building Fund Balance is not included in General Fund 

president. I earned these positions and titles by demonstrating 

my ability to successfully lead and direct those around 

me to grow our union and service our membership. 

Can I honestly say that my experience and abilities are 

the only things I was judged by when I ran for these positions? 

Unfortunately, no, I can’t say that. And although 

that is disappointing, what should buoy all of our hopes 

for this union and this country is the fact that I was still 

elected despite the shortsightedness and shallowness of 

some. In fact, any resistance I did receive because of the 

color of my skin only strengthened my resolve to do more. 

We should be proud of the fact that, when push comes to 

shove, we, as a union, make the right decisions on what is 

best for us and our organization. 

This is a historic presidential election. Senator 

Obama prevailed in the nomination process not 

because of where he came from, but where his life, education 

and experience have led him. In this presidential 

election, the choice is easy. If you are satisfied with the 

last eight years of “progress” under the current administration 

and its failure to adequately fund infrastructure 

improvements; its lack of compassion for our fellow citizens 

who have suffered from natural disasters; its failure 

to invest in the education of our children and its economic 

policies that have decimated the middle class— 

then don’t vote. If you agree with this administration’s 

campaign to block the Employee Free Choice Act and 

hinder our ability to organize and grow—don’t vote. 

But, if you have had enough of the past eight years 

and want change, then your choice, our choice, the 

choice of the members of the IUPAT is clear: BARACK 


53

GENERAL SECRETARY-TREASURER’S REPORT 


use this class of membership as a bridge to life membership 

once they meet the 30-year requirement. Those 

interested in applying for life membership should contact 

their district council or local union to forward the appli- 

INFORME DEL PRESIDENTE GENERAL 

Continuación de la página 5 

Discutamos el asunto de veteranos. Se que el Senador 

McCain es un veterano de Vietnam, al igual que yo. Este 

hecho por sí no lo cualifica a él o a mí para ser presidente 

de los Estados Unidos. Si la guerra fuera el asunto 

principal que le concierne al país, consideren que hay 

cuatro senadores actuales que son veteranos; tres de 

ellos se oponen a la guerra en Iraq y Afganistán, y el 

cuarte predice que estaremos allí por los próximos 100 

años, con nuestros hijos y nietos peleando y muriendo 

por esa causa. Es tiempo de cambio. 

¿Dónde estaríamos dentro de cuatro u ocho años si 

no logramos elegir a Barack Obama presidente? El mero 

hecho de pensar en ocho años más de políticas de Bush 

me llega de pánico. Es por eso que les imploro a todos y 

cada unos de los miembros de la IUPAT que se comuniquen 

con sus concejos de distrito u unión local y ofrezcan 

sus servicios de voluntarios para tomar parte en esta 

elección. 

Puede que tengan la oportunidad de trabajar a mi 

This program is only available in NY, CT, RI, and NJ. 


cation to my office. Eligibility for life membership is fully 

described in Section 100 of the IUPAT Constitution. 

Don’t miss out on any of these opportunities. May God 

bless our nation with the right leadership. 

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Union Plus and HEAT USA have teamed up to bring you a great way to save money on 

your home heating oil bills. Take advantage of these great benefits! 

Free service contract 

25 gallons of free heating oil 

Savings that average $200-$300 a year 

Save $10 on the first-year membership fee 

Plus, HEAT will donate $5 to the Union Plus Scholarship Fund. So don’t delay, join today. 

www.unionplus.org/heatingoil or call 

1-800-660-0691 

lado, o al lado del Vicepresidente Ejecutivo General 

Kenneth Rigmaiden o el Secretario-Tesorero General 

George Galis y el resto de la Junta Ejecutiva General de 

la IUPAT en algunos de los estados de batalla en octubre 

y noviembre. Estaremos en Florida, Minnesota, Kentucky 

y en Iowa tocando puertas, haciendo llamadas telefónicas 

y participando en manifestaciones a favor de 

Obama. 

A medida que el 4 de noviembre—el día de las elecciones—se 

aproxima, tienen que asegurarse que ustedes 

y los miembros elegibles de sus familias estén inscritos 

para votar, y deben de aprender lo más que puedan 

acerca de los candidatos. Usted puede hacer ambas 

cosas visitando la dirección electrónica en 

www.IUPAT.org-vote. 

Por favor vote este noviembre—su empleo y su bienestar 

dependen de ello. Mis gracias a ustedes—los 

mejores miembros que cualquier presidente general 

pueda tener el honor de presidir. Los veré en el campo. 

1/04

INFORME DEL VICEPRESIDENTE GENERAL EJECUTIVO 


esta economía apretada). Trabajan cada día para promover 

legislación que beneficia a las familias obreras en 

las legislaturas locales, estatales y nacional. Esto es todo 

parte del trabajo conjunto como equipo. 

Creo que nuestra unión ha logrado un cambio mediante 

su labor de crear una cultura de trabajar como 

equipo y de asociación. No es que haya siempre 

acuerdo total en cuanto a cómo encarar o resolver un 

problema en específico, sino que se trata de reconocer 

que todos estamos persiguiendo la misma meta de hacer 

crecer esta unión en términos de sus miembros e influencia 

a través de nuestras industrias. Hacemos esto mediante 

la organización, el adiestramiento y educación, las 

relaciones obrero-patronales, la mejoría de beneficios, y 

sí, mediante la acción política. 

Mucho de lo que se requiere para lograr estas metas 

comienza con su propio liderazgo. El elegir líderes que 

tengan la intensidad y fortaleza para dirigir su personal 

y de trabajar con nuestros socios empresariales para 

hacer crecer nuestra influencia es crítico para este 

esfuerzo. No importa donde ese líder comenzó su carrera. 

Lo que importa es si ese líder ha luchado para 

mejorar las vidas de los miembros y ha usado efectivamente 

las herramientas, programas y políticas que se le 

han facilitado. La raza, sexo o trasfondo cultural de un 

líder no tienen importancia. 

Llevo más de 30 años como miembro de la Unión 

Internacional de Pintores e Industrias Aliadas (IUPAT). He 

sido oficial de una unión local, representante comercial, 

gerente comercial, representante general y ayudante del 

presidente general. Hoy soy su Vicepresidente Ejecutivo 

General. Logré estos puestos y títulos demostrando mi 

INFORME DEL SECRETARIO-TESORERO GENERAL 


interesados en solicitar una membrecía vitalicia deberán 

de ponerse en contacto con su concejo de distrito o 

unión local para que envíen la solicitud a mis oficinas. 

La elegibilidad para membrecía vitalicia se describe en 

habilidad de encabezar y de dirigir a aquellos a mi 

alrededor a crecer nuestra unión y a servir a nuestra 

membrecía. 

¿Puedo decir honestamente que mi experiencia y 

habilidades eran las únicas cosas que tomaron en cuenta 

al competir por estos puestos? Desafortunadamente, no, 

no puedo decir eso. Y aunque eso puede que nos descorazone, 

lo que sí nos puede traer esperanzas para esta 

unión y para este país es el hecho de que fui electo a 

pesar de la falta de visión y profundidad por parte de 

algunos. De hecho, cualquier resistencia que recibí por 

motivo del color de mi piel, solo sirvió para fortalecer mi 

compromiso por hacer más. Debemos de estar orgullosos 

de que en los momentos difíciles, nosotros como unión, 

tomamos las decisiones correctas en cuanto a lo que es 

mejor para nosotros y nuestra organización. 

Esta es una elección presidencial histórica. El senador 

Obama ganó en el proceso de nominación no debido a 

de donde salió o de donde vino, sino a donde su vida, 

su educación y su experiencia le han llevado. En estas 

elecciones presidenciales, la opción es fácil. Si usted 

está satisfecho con los últimos ocho años de “progreso” 

bajo la administración actual y su fracaso en términos de 

mejoras adecuadas de nuestra infraestructura; su falta de 

compasión para con los conciudadanos que han sido 

víctimas de desastres naturales; su falta de inversión en 

la educación de nuestros hijos u sus políticas económicas 

que han mermado a la clase media—entonces no vote. 

Su usted está de acuerdo con la campaña de esta 

administración de bloquear el Acta de Libre Selección 

del Empleado y de estorbar nuestra habilidad de organizar 

y crecer—no vote. 

detalle en la Sección 100 de la Constitución de la 

IUPAT. 

No dejen pasar ninguna de estas oportunidades. Que 

Dios bendiga a nuestra nación con el liderazgo correcto. 


55

is KILZ® 

my primer. 

“When it comes to sealing 

walls, blocking tough stains 

and achieving a perfect top 

coat, KILZ is the only primer 

I load into my truck.” 

Robert Keating, 

Pro painter for 20 years 

The perfect start to a great finish 

www.kilz.com

2008 Purdy. - IUPAT

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