News
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News
Democratic Attorneys General, painters union recognize effective partnerships to fight wage theft and worker exploitation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 15, 2023 IUPAT DC 35 CONTACT: Libby Smelker, Libby@617MediaGroup.com, 617-485-4801 Mass. Attorney General Campbell, IUPAT DC 35 highlight lessons from [...]
TURNING CAMPAIGN POETRY INTO PRO-WORKER PROSE
It was once noted by former New York Governor Mario Cuomo that elected officials “campaign in poetry, and govern in prose.” The oft-used quote is typically meant to convey that the big ideas and [...]
HITTING THE GROUND AS A NEW ORGANIZER BY BILLY LANG
As my first entry in the DC 35 Newsletter, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the Brothers and Sisters whom I may not have met yet but have the privilege of representing. [...]
ALWAYS REMEMBER THE MEMBERS BY RODRIGO BADARO
“In all you do, ALWAYS remember the members.” I heard this phrase multiple times from retired BM/ST Jeff Sullivan since I joined the staff of DC 35 in January of 2022. After 26 years in the [...]
ORGANIZING OUR INDUSTRY BY JORGE RIVERA
The Organizing Department is going through transitions with a few of the organizers becoming Business Reps/Organizers. This is a testament to the department doing a great job evolving our [...]
ACTIVITY IN THE GLASS AND GLAZING WORLD BY JOE NARDELLI
I would like to start off by saying thank you to the new Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer Chris Brennan for giving me the opportunity to represent and work for the men and women of District [...]
MEMBERS WITH BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS REACH NEW CONTRACT BY MICHAEL LAFFERTY
We finally reached an agreement with the Boston Public Schools in December on a new contract. It was a long and exhausting process with the school department. The contract is split into two [...]
KEEPING UP THE PRESSURE BY RAY PICKUP
To say the team at District Council 35 has hit the ground running would be an understatement. Over the last six months, our entire team has punched above their weight class. We have added key [...]
Distinguished Leadership Award: John Drinkwater
This June, our Director of Government Affairs John Drinkwater was honored at the Massachusetts AFL-CIO’s 2023 Richard L. Trumka Educational Conference alongside former Secretary of Labor Marty [...]
THE BEAT OF OUR DISTRICT COUNCIL BY CHARLES FOGELL
The beat goes on and we continue to build on the foundation of this District Council. Our Business Manager Christian Brennan now has several months of experience weighing in on the day-to-day [...]
MEETING THE CHANGES OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY BY CHRISTIAN BRENNAN
In the labor movement, our mission is simple: to fight for the wellbeing of working families everywhere. We are constantly adapting to a changing industry to ensure our members have what they [...]
THE WINDS OF CHANGE BY ERIC REDDING
No matter what, tomorrow always comes, and things are always changing. Our Business Manager Jeff Sullivan has decided to make a change in his life, too. He has celebrated an incredible career of [...]
A FOND FAREWELL BY TONY HERNANDEZ
Thank you, DC 35 members. It was an honor and a privilege to work and represent you for the past 21 years. My career as a Bridge/Industrial Painter began on June 4, 1979, with George Campbell [...]
ORGANIZING OUR INDUSTRY BY JORGE RIVERA
Our department has been infused with new blood, and every single organizer is eager to be involved in this labor movement. We are a very diverse group, and everyone brings something different to [...]
PASSING THE TORCH BY RAY PICKUP
We have had an incredible run the last 13 years with Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer Sullivan and our team. Incredible things have been accomplished for our members under the direction of [...]
A FOND FAREWELL BY JEFF SULLIVAN
After 42 years with IUPAT District Council 35, I am proud to have been a part of an organization that fights for workers’ rights every single day, never shies away from a challenge, and takes [...]
NEW BEGINNINGS BY CHRISTIAN BRENNAN
As District Council 35 moves into a new year with many new opportunities, we have much to be thankful for in the past year. I would like to start with congratulating and thanking Jeff Sullivan on [...]
Maura Healey, Our Next Governor!
Jorge Rivera, Director of Organizing As an attorney general, Maura Healey has been a champion for all workers. She has been a partner when we need help standing up to the big bully corporations [...]
Announcing the FTI-NE Website Launch!
IUPAT DC 35 is proud to announce the Finishing Trades Institute of New England’s website launch! Now, all your course registration, apprenticeship and continuing education program needs are [...]
PENSION BENEFIT IMPROVEMENT BY DEBORAH COTTER
The Board of Trustees of the Painters & Allied Trades D.C. 35 Pension Fund is pleased to announce an increase in the pension accrual rate effective July 1, 2020. These improvements are [...]
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: BRYAN O’SULLIVAN, ORGANIZER & PRESIDENT, IUPAT DC 35
Bryan O’Sullivan’s time with District Council 35 started in 1979, when his father called up the stairs to him: “You’re going into the glaziers union.” Back then, Bryan didn’t even know what a [...]
STILL BOOMING ALONG BY JOSEPH ITRI
Here are some of the upcoming projects in the Boston area: Back Bay South End Gateway A transformational air rights development in Back Bay that will be constructed above the existing Back Bay [...]
ORGANIZING OUR INDUSTRY BY JORGE RIVERA
I would like to begin by congratulating our very own Bryan O’Sullivan on his well-deserved retirement. I have learned a lot from your cool, level-headed approach to all situations and all of our [...]
LOOKING FORWARD BY ERIC REDDING
Looking back at 2020, last year put unheard of challenges in our path, yet our District Council and the Training Department continued a steady forward progression. COVID–19 set us back in a way [...]
HELPING OUR AREA SCHOOLS BY MICHAEL LAFFERTY
As a result of the ongoing pandemic, the District Council 35 members in Boston and Quincy have been working extra hours sanitizing and wiping down all the common area in the schools, restocking [...]
PROJECTS IN BOSTON AND BEYOND BY BILL LEGRAND
Sisters and Brothers, I hope the delivery of this newsletter finds you and your family doing well. Projects and jobs continue despite the challenges of COVID-19. Safety and health guidelines are [...]
A SENSE OF NORMALCY BY RAY PICKUP
This past year has challenged each of us personally, in our homes and on the job sites. It has not been easy by any stretch of the imagination, but we can finally see the path that leads us out [...]
BRIGHTER DAYS ARE AHEAD BY JOE GUARINO
It’s important not to let our guard down. We must continue safety measures like wearing masks, social distancing and washing your hands until the majority of our state’s population is [...]
KEEPING OUR MEMBERS SAFE AND INVOLVED BY CHARLES FOGELL
Since my last message to our members, we have all encountered many changes in our lifestyle and the way we go about normal business in a working environment. Since we have been gripped by this [...]
SPRING BRINGS NEW PROJECTS TO OUR MEMBERS BY TONY HERNANDEZ
As reported on the previous newsletter, due to COVID-19 restrictions, some of the aforementioned projects had been stopped in December and are now getting back to work in mid-March to early [...]
WHEN THERE’S A GOOD FIGHT TO BE HAD, GET IN IT! BY CHRIS BRENNAN
On the north side of Boston, DC 35 has been fighting the good fight for our members and their families, creating work opportunities for our members where we can and exposing greedy contractors [...]
ES UN NUEVO DÍA BY JEFF SULLIVAN
Ha sido un año duro para todos. Acabamos de marcar el aniversario de un año desde que la pandemia de COVID-19 arrasó en nuestras ciudades, pueblos y comunidades. Nos trastocó a cada uno de [...]
IT’S A NEW DAY BY JEFF SULLIVAN
It has been a tough year for all of us. We have just hit the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic which has ravaged through our cities, towns, and communities. It has touched each of us [...]
MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES BY WAYNE MURPHY
Good luck is not lucky; it is a combination of preparation and opportunity. District Council 35 does the small stuff, every day, to seize an opportunity when the time arrives. The Government [...]
RESETTING THE SCALES OF WORKER POWER BY ROGER BRUNELLE
“Right to Work” – for less – was filed in New Hampshire, as expected, in the State Senate, as S.B. 61. The New Hampshire Building Trades was ready and prepared to launch their campaign against [...]
IUPAT DC 35 Congratulates Marty Walsh on his Confirmation as U.S. Labor Secretary Under President Joe Biden’s Administration
IUPAT DC 35 Congratulates Marty Walsh on his Confirmation as U.S. Labor Secretary Under President Joe Biden’s Administration Boston — IUPAT District Council 35 congratulates Martin J. Walsh on [...]
Do Your Best Today by Jeff Sullivan
The world has certainly changed since the last District Council 35 newsletter. Just before we were ready to go to print with the spring edition, COVID-19 hit, and since then all of us have been [...]
Hoy, Haz Tu Mejor Esfuerzo by BMST Jeff Sullivan
Es cierto que el mundo ha cambiado desde la ultima edición de nuestra revista del Concilio del Distrito #35. Justo antes de estar listos para distribuir nuestra edición de primavera, comenzó el [...]
Our Members Are Essential, Not Expendable by Paul Canning
With the unprecedented times we are now living in, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 continues to climb around the country. However, here in the Northeast, we luckily seem to be seeing a [...]
Building Relationships In The Community Creates Work Hours For Our Members by Joe Guarino
Local work hours continue to be strong for our District Council crafts. Our staff works day and night to try to increase work opportunities for our members by attending local community public [...]
We’re Building A Strong Union by Charles Fogell
A quick look back at the start of 2020 tells a story of accomplishment here at District Council 35. Many of our members have and continue to work on large projects since the start of the new [...]
Announcing My Retirement by Wayne Cummings
In 2004, I started teaching both commercial and industrial classes for the FTI. Two years later, I came on full time and was asked to develop an industrial/bridge painting program. Luckily, the [...]
You Are The Union by Bill Legrand
The most important asset in this union is YOU, never forget that. I hope this newsletter finds you and your family well. Every one of us has been impacted by this terrible pandemic, but to ensure [...]
Working To Keep You Safe by Chris Brennan
With the COVID outbreak upon us, along restrictions not seen in over 100 years, all of our members must adhere to strict protocol when working so we can all get back home safely to our families [...]
We Are Second To None by Joseph Itri
My dad, who had just turned 93, passed away in February. Between the hospital stay, rehab, and hospice, my brothers and sisters and I were never really sure how his bills would be paid and by [...]
We’re Building New England by Tony Hernandez
Infrastructure work is considered by the federal government essential work at bridge, water treatment plants, MBTA stations and garages, military and naval facilities. We had members working [...]
What Does Being Union Mean To You? — By Ray Pickup
My earliest memory I can remember is my family talking about the “UNION” — a monolithic entity that everyone in my South Boston neighborhood seemed to be involved in. I knew my family members [...]
Updates In Western Massachusetts And Announcing My Retirement by Vern Gaylor
Worcester inserted a Community Betterment Agreement into the new ballpark, which means all contractors must meet the requirements for Worcester’s residents, women, minorities and veterans. The [...]
Organizing Our Industry by Jorge Rivera
District Council 35 is proud to welcome South Side Tees, and owner, Sean Conroy, as our contractor partner. South Side Tees is our newest full-service screen print company with DC 35. The [...]
We Have To Be All In by Wayne Murphy
2020 has seen continued attacks on working families, but hope remains. The deck is stacked against us, but if history is instructive, organized labor won’t fold. It will brace for the fights [...]
Restart by Roger Brunelle
2020 began full of new possibilities and DC 35 hit the ground running with a number of things on the agenda. In January, we completed the filming of the third party certification video commercial [...]
We’re Back To Work by Michael Lafferty
Since the second week of March, Boston and Quincy schools closed their buildings to students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since that time, the members in Boston and Quincy have deep cleaned and [...]
Finishing Trades Institute Of New England Challenges by Eric Redding
COVID-19 Saying 2020 did not get off to a good start is a bit of an understatement; COVID-19 hit us hard, but, as usual, DC 35 and your training department hit back. First, we had to postpone all [...]
Member Spotlight: Paul Sullivan, Vice President, IUPAT DC 35
Most young apprentices or journeymen don’t give a lot of thought to what’s going to happen 35 or 40 years down the road. Understandably, most live in the present and are focused on doing their [...]
Fund Office Changes by Debbie Cotter
It is with a mixture of joy and sorrow that the Board of Trustees of the Painters & Allied Trades DC 35 Benefit Funds announces the retirement of William McDevitt. Mr. McDevitt has served [...]
BM/ST Jeff Sullivan’s statement on the current climate unfolding in the wake of events in Minnesota surrounding the death of George Floyd
Today, BM/ST Jeff Sullivan issued the following statement on the current climate unfolding in the wake of events in Minnesota surrounding the death of George Floyd. #BlackLivesMatter Recent [...]
Shutdown of Boston Construction Sites
As you may have heard, Mayor Marty Walsh announced today that all Boston construction sites will be shut down starting tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17. This is in response to the coronavirus pandemic [...]
Op-ed in Medford Transcript: Local partnerships are vital for Medford’s development by Jeff Sullivan
Partnerships between labor unions and local communities are quintessential to development. As a leading building trades union in the region, Painters Union District Council 35 is committed to the [...]
Quincy Sun: Local Painters Union Repaints YMCA’s Germantown Neighborhood Center
In the holiday spirit, members of Painters Union District Council 35 donated their time, supplies, and skills to repaint the South Shore YMCA’s Germantown Neighborhood Center, a key community [...]
Dorchester Reporter: Unions to help Madison Park students create and maintain their own business
It was all business at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School last month when union representatives from District Council 35 and The Paint and Glass Association of New England joined with [...]
Dorchester Reporter: Unions Join Forces To Support BGCD
Painters Union District Council 35 and Painting and Glass Employers Association of New England donated $2,500 and multiple bags of toys for the children of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester [...]
Painters Union Repaints South Shore YMCA’s Germantown Neighborhood Center
In the holiday spirit, members of Painters Union District Council 35 donated their time, supplies, and skills to repaint the South Shore YMCA’s Germantown Neighborhood Center, a key community [...]
Local Painters Union and Employers Association Makes Third Annual Donation to Dorchester Boys and Girls Club
To support the outstanding work and efforts of the Dorchester Boys and Girls Club towards the community, Painters Union District Council 35 and Painting and Glass Employers Association of New [...]
Painters Union and Contractors Association Announce Hands-On Training Opportunities for Madison Park Students
IUPAT DC 35 and PFEANE/GEANE donated $10,000 at the grand opening of the Madison Park Vocational High School’s Cardinal Gift Shop. This new gift shop will provide the business and marketing [...]
Worked Up by Jeff Sullivan
The end of a calendar year is always a good time to assess accomplishments, set new short and long-term goals and determine the path forward. Our work hours for the past twelve months have been [...]
Agitados by Jeff Sullivan
El fin de un año natural es siempre un buen momento para evaluar logros, establecer metas nuevas de corto y largo plazo y determinar el camino por delante. Nuestras horas de trabajo estos últimos [...]
The Road Ahead by Paul Canning
Looking back at this year’s General Convention — the issues, initiatives, and the strategy — it would be an understatement to say that it can be a challenge to digest such an overload of [...]
Strong Economy Building Our Future by Joe Guarino
A strong economy here in the Northeast continues to drive development and growth in all the areas represented by our District Council. All crafts represented by our union have been busy over the [...]
Member Spotlight: Alex Colonna from Local 1138
“Too good to be true” – that was Alex Colonna’s first thought when her friend told her about the union life. She dreamed of earning enough to support herself and her wife, and eventually [...]
New and Upcoming Projects on Our Radar by Charles Fogell
Work opportunities for all the crafts that we represent here at our District Council have continued to be strong over the past few months. At the forefront, we will see some jobs affected by [...]
Prosperity in the Building Trades by Bill Legrand
I hope 2019 has been very fulfilling and prosperous. I can’t think of a better time to be a union member in the Building and Construction Trades. We have been experiencing numerous ground [...]
Tackling the Tough Issues by Chris Brennan
DC 35 continues to be a leader among the Building Trades when it comes to issues affecting our members. No industry has been more affected by the opioid epidemic than the construction industry. [...]
New Contractors, Big and Small by Joe Itri
Boston’s iconic One Post Office Square is getting a makeover! First completed in 1981, this massive project’s 41-story structure redesign will feature 775,000 square feet of available [...]
A Look to the North by Ray Pickup
The construction boom has been on a significant run and there seems to be no end in sight. Boston gets all the high-profile projects, but let’s take a closer look at some projects that will break [...]
Organizing into the New Year by Tony Hernandez
I am grateful; it is an honor and a privilege to work for all our members. 2019 brought more work opportunities for our members and opportunities to organize new members. Our opportunities have [...]
Staying Busy into the New Year by Vern Gaylor
The Worcester area is going to be busy for the next year or so with several upcoming projects. There are two jobs at Holy Cross College, as well as the YWCA’s renovation and addition, and the [...]
Organizing Our Industry by Justin Desmond
The District Council 35 Organizing Department would like to congratulate all members on another successful STAR rally and offer a special congrats to all the grand prize winners. Moving into the [...]
It’s Not One Day that Changes Your Life—It’s Every Day by Wayne Murphy
The Government Affairs Department continues its support of each of the other District Council Departments in realizing increases in work opportunities, job hours and improved quality of life for [...]
A Sustained Effort By All Pays Off by Roger Brunnelle
A couple of years ago, when word came down that the City of Lowell was awarded approval by the Massachusetts School Building Authority to build a $350 million high school, it was all hands on [...]
School’s Out, DC 35 is In by Michael Lafferty
With the Endicott school vacant, we will be using the school for our training program this upcoming year. The members will have the opportunity to learn how to drum sand, diamond-cut terrazzo [...]
Exciting Updates from FTI New England by Eric Redding
AGMT Certification Program One thing is certain– 2019 was a busy year. When we started it was busy and by all accounts, we’re still busy. 12 months ago, we looked across the Boston skyline and we [...]
Health News by Bill McDevitt
Prescription Provider Change: January 1, 2020 OptumRx is replacing Express Scripts as our pharmacy provider effective January 1, 2020. OptumRx will become your pharmacy provider for your retail, [...]