Executive Director of the Union Veterans Council Will Attig, joined the Memorial Day edition of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the organization. Attig also discussed the long-term goals for the Council and their community outreach efforts.
An alumni of the Helmet to Hardhats program, Attig understands the importance of providing work opportunities for military members as they transition to civilian life. The Union Veterans Council advocates and provides military members the ability to access programs that assist in the transition. Recently, the Council became an independent labor organization, allowing it to raise money to better support veterans. Attig shared some of the success stories from their efforts to grow the veteran support groups in the Western Pennsylvania area.
With the new status as an independent labor organization, growth is the next focus for Attig and his team. There are currently seven chapters in the organization, but Attig hopes to grow that to at least one chapter with every state's labor council. These growth opportunities have led to many members becoming active in their local communities. Attig has found that as members become active in their communities they find a sense of purpose and brotherhood that they haven’t felt since entering the military.
The community outreach doesn’t stop in local communities. Attig led a coalition of labor union leaders to Ukraine to meet with ambassadors to discuss the support needed for the country's infrastructure. He then led a second meeting with ambassadors with the veterans groups of Ukraine to establish a plan of action to help support Ukrainian Soldiers. These meetings created the US/Ukrainian Bridge, which created a new support network in Ukraine.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.