On Tuesday, August 18, 2009, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 50 (DC50), initiated a rally at the State Capitol to promote public awareness that many local jobs through the state are being done by out-of-state contractors.  There were over 200 supporters from other unions and public and private sectors that joined in to rally for the “Local Jobs for Local People” campaign.  Senator Robert Bunda, President Emeritus, Senator Will Espero, Chair of the Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee, and Mr. Kirk Caldwell, Managing Director of the City and County of Honolulu, also joined the cause.

“The show of support today is very encouraging and we want to take the ‘Local Jobs for Local People’ movement to the next level by bringing legislative changes in the way public contracts are awarded” says Allen Wong, President of the Painters Local Union 1791 and delegate to DC50.

A big mahalo to all of you who took time out of your busy schedule to be a part of this movement.  We are all so fortunate to be able to live and raise our families here in these beautiful islands, and we should also be able to work here too!  Let’s continue to work together to secure our future and ensure that we will have “Local Jobs for Local People”.