Organizing Our Industry

Justin Desmond
Director of Organizing 617-898-7969

Our District Council 35 Organizing Department continues to work on multiple short-term and long-term campaigns. Our outreach to open shop companies and workers within our trades, along with increased work opportunities, has allowed us to organize many new members in all crafts of DC 35. Our visits to jobsites across the region collecting information about future bidding opportunities has meant more work for our contractors and members. The uptick in work has provided the opportunity to build relationships with multiple open shop paint, tape, glass, and sign and display companies as well as specialty companies like new DC 35 signatory company, American Bench Craft.

American Bench Craft signing.

Residential

The Organizing Department has invested a lot of time and energy in the new Commercial Residential (multi-unit) venture with great success. As reported in the last DC 35 newsletter, our Residential Program has started and new members have been organized.

Wage Theft

The Organizing Department continues to help workers who are victims of wage theft by connecting them to community organizations, worker centers, and the Attorney General’s Office where cases are filed to obtain their stolen wages and taxes in court. Most recently, we helped five workers win $30,000 from bad employers. The Organizing Department is dedicated to cleaning up this market by exposing the bad contractors and shining a light on the good ones. In another victory for workers, the Lynn City Council passed a wage theft ordinance that was supported by the North Shore Labor Council. We continue to support a statewide wage theft ordinance to protect all Massachusetts working people and families.

Community Engagement

Recently, the Organizing Department has been involved in a couple of great charity projects. Our members volunteered to paint the Condon School Community Center in Boston. The fresh coat of paint made the Center look brand new. For the second year, DC35 partnered with Beyond Walls in Lynn. Last year, DC35 members volunteered to prep and prime the sides of twelve buildings to create a fresh canvas for artists to liven up Lynn’s downtown with beautiful murals. The program was such a success DC35 members will prepare a new round of buildings for 2018 Beyond Walls Festival.

I would like to personally thank all the District Council 35 members who helped in our community engagement projects and the Organizing Team for all their hard work and dedication to District Council 35, our members and partners.

Current Industry Needs

District Council 35 has secured more work opportunities for Painters at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard located in Kittery, Maine. Candidates must meet the specific qualifications of an SF-86 background questionnaire.

District Council 35 contractors have been awarded many projects that call for Glaziers.

There continues to be needed for Tapers in Drywall Finishing.

If you are interested in any of these opportunities please contact 617-898-7969.