David Webster, Director of Organizing for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 77, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the importance of working with community groups in building union coalitions and organizing the working class.
District Council 77 represents between 1,900 and 2,200 workers in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and parts of Tennessee.
Despite the District Council having Locals in many So-Called “Right to Work” states, the IUPAT has prioritized coalition building, Webster said. International organizers stepped back and prioritized what states and councils needed help and designated strategic cities to focus their efforts, he said. Ultimately, organizing depends on working with community coalitions such as the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR) to be successful, he added.
Webster also spoke about worker misclassification and changes under the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) under the Biden Administration that make labor law enforcement easier.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.