International Union of Painters and Allied Trades

District Council 50

Volunteer Organizing Conference

February 26-28, March 1, 2009

On February 26, 2009, District Council 50 held its first Volunteer Organizing Training Conference which was well attended by all four trades.  This four-day conference encompassed a gamut of issues, from the State of Your Union to Utilizing Good Listening Skills, to Hard Core Organizing!  Leading the charge and conducting the training was a group of very experienced and seasoned individuals.  Mr. Gregory Raftery, Special Assistant to the General President; Mr. Douglas Claypool, Director of Organizing, District Council 58, and Mr. Mike West, Marketing, District Council 16, all shared their views and expertise on the subject.

Director of Organizing, Nathaniel Kinney wanted to find a way to get the membership involved in the union.  He wanted to introduce and educate many of the younger members, as well as involve the veterans by organizing demonstrations and highlighting the importance of sticking together and fighting for the rights of union members.  Kinney felt that there was no better way to accomplish this than to solicit the expertise and assistance of our IUPAT brothers.  The IUPAT team put together a rigorous training program.  Members were asked to interact and participate by first doing a one-minute introduction of themselves and by working in small groups.  Initially, the members were uneasy and nervous, however, by the end of the training session everyone was driven, energized and ready to ORGANIZE!

The Volunteer Organizing Committee meets regularly on the first Tuesday of every month.  Recently, the Kahala Hotel awarded irresponsible contractors a 300-room renovation.  District Council 50 was able to coordinate a demonstration at the hotel and gathered over 60 painters, tapers, glaziers and floorlayers to protest the use of non-union contractors.  District Council 50 is currently in the process of coordinating more of these demonstrations to bring awareness to the public and to ensure that there are always “Local Jobs for Local People”.

A big MAHALO, once again to Mr. Gregory Raftery for his assistance and coordination in helping to make the Volunteer Organizing Training Conference a huge success!