A strong team of allies can be a powerful entity. Unions of like-minded, goal-driven people can work to bring about positive change and support influential decisions by the government. The rights, wages, benefits and safety standards of present-day working environments have nearly all arisen from the minds and voices of groups of people working together to improve their standard of living. These strong and principled unions live on in today’s working world to ensure the workers’ voice remains consolidated and respected. Unions such as the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) maintain an active presence in many communities across North America. IUPAT Ontario works to preserve safe and fair working environments and bring about positive change for a number of trades people, including asbestos removers, drywall finishers, exterior insulated finishing system mechanics, glaziers and metal mechanics, painters and sign writers. IUPAT continues its work on behalf of these tradespersons to ensure workers are paid decent wages, are treated with dignity and respect and that they receive equitable medical and dental coverage, life insurance and pensions. Beyond these ongoing responsibilities to their members, unions such as IUPAT Ontario offer industry training and apprenticeship. Partnering with the Ontario Industrial Finishing Skills Centre (OIFSC) and the Interior Finishing Systems Training Centre (IFSTC), IUPAT is able to present its members with apprenticeship programs, skills upgrading courses and health and safety training. These programs are currently offered in four cities in Ontario: Toronto, Ancaster, Nepean and Woodbridge. They are designed to increase the range of skills of all IUPAT tradespersons, thereby ensuring an Ontario workforce of highly-skilled workers who have up-to-date comprehension of new techniques and technologies in their industry. One of several apprenticeship opportunities in Ontario, IUPAT has partnered with OIFSC to offer a program for Architectural Glass and Metal Technicians. The program is run at the Toronto location and presents participants with the opportunity to learn the necessary skills that will land them a job as a skilled tradesperson. Architectural Glass and Metal Technicians, or Glaziers as they are sometimes known, work with glass and metal frames to fabricate or repair windows, mirrors, doors, furniture, or anything that requires the glasswork. Journeypersons in the industry have the potential to earn up to $31 per hour working for construction glass installation contractors, glass retail and repair shops, or glass fabrication companies. IUPAT Ontario and OIFSC also work together to offer an apprenticeship program for Painter Decorators in both residential and commercial markets. After completing apprenticeship training, journeypersons can expect to work for companies in residential, industrial and commercial sectors or can optimistically start a business of their own. An opportunity for a person to participate in apprenticeship programs like these would likely not be possible without the aid and support of a strong union. Learning a skilled trade is the first step towards a stable, profitable, enjoyable working career as a tradesperson. For more information on the apprenticeship programs offered by IUPAT, OIFSC, and IFSTC or to find out how to join IUPAT Ontario today, visit IUPAT.
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