How Workers' Lives Change When We Build Strength Together

Building Strength Together, Changing Workers' Lives

Welcome to the first edition of the District Council 5 email newsletter.

I know your days are busy and you probably receive far too many notifications, text messages, email alerts, and other incoming messages and communications. But the work you do is important, and I want to share that work with the brothers and sisters of IUPAT DC5. Because together, we’re stronger.

The purpose of this newsletter is to pass along the latest relevant news about your union, highlight the importance of your membership, and build unity among all the trades we represent. Every edition will keep you informed, inspired, and connected to the work and people that make DC5 what it is: a powerful voice for labor across the Northwest.

In this first edition you’ll find a recap of news from across the district, a spotlight interview with Local 1959 Representative Bronson Frye and his report from Alaska, and a report on how glaziers are showing resilience from Local 740 Representative Mike James.

Our progress over the last few months shows what’s possible when we work together. Let’s keep the momentum going. And please feel to reach out to me if you have any questions or want to get involved.

Financial Update: Stability and Stewardship

District Council 5 remains on strong financial footing thanks to careful planning and disciplined oversight. During the August Executive Board, Trustee, and Delegates Meetings, leadership reviewed all financials to ensure transparency and accountability.

Our fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 closed with a positive net income and continued growth of the General Fund. Prudent management of operational costs and steady investment returns delivered another solid year-end balance.

Key Highlights:

Income Stability: Reliable monthly revenue streams built a strong financial base.
Expense Control: Spending remained below revenue, sustaining a healthy margin.
Investment Performance: Returns accounted for more than 40% of total net income.
Year-End Result: DC5 achieved a robust surplus, securing our financial strength into FY 2026.

District Council 5 will continue to closely monitor expenses, explore opportunities to diversify investments, and focus on member engagement to sustain long-term financial health.

Anchorage Visit & Local Union 1959 Transition

We kicked off a busy season in Anchorage (July 31 — Aug. 5) to support the Training Coordinator transition for Local 1959. During the visit, I met with AFL-CIO representatives, held labor-management meetings, and met with our contractors to ensure a smooth leadership change and continued partnership across Alaska.

Membership Meetings & Family Engagement

August and September were filled with late-summer gatherings. Members and families from Locals 188, 300, 364, 1094, 1208, and 1238 gathered at Lake Sammamish, Wash. on Aug. 10 for our Family Day and General Membership Meeting, complete with food, games, and great company.

Special thanks to GVP Gutierrez and GPR Martinez for joining us. The following day, we took part in the PATCH Backpack event at Rivermill Elementary, delivering 100 backpacks to students in need. It was a proud reminder of our union’s heart for service.

We also held membership meetings across the region, including Local 427 in Kennewick, Wash. and Local 1959 in Anchorage, Alaska to keep everyone informed and engaged.

In September we brought together members from Locals 10, 101, 740, 1094, and 1236 for a General Membership Meeting in Portland. Special guests GST Gregg Smith, GVP Gutierrez, and GPR Martinez joined us for a day of fellowship, tacos, and comprehensive updates from every department.

HIGHLIGHT: At the Washington State Building Trades Convention on Sept. 9, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed an Executive Order requiring Project Labor Agreements on state projects more than $35 million. These collective bargaining agreements allow all workers, including subcontractors, to receive fair pay, protections, and benefits. This is a landmark victory for working people and union labor.

DC5 hosted a productive Labor-Management meeting with Glaziers Local 740 on Sept. 11, including insightful presentations from a communications trainer and an app developer focused on strengthening collaboration between union shops and contractors.

National & Regional Collaboration

In September, I joined fellow BMSTs from across the U.S. and Canada at the General Presidents Advisory Committee (GPAC) meetings, where leaders met with the General President and the General Executive Board to exchange ideas and develop strategies for the year ahead.

The discussions focused on best practices, organizing innovations, and ways to strengthen solidarity across the IUPAT family.

Days later, DC5 members made a powerful showing at the Tradeswomen Build Nations Convention in Chicago (Sept. 19-21), the largest gathering of building trades professionals in the nation. Thirty journey-level and apprentice members represented nearly every Local within DC5. ABM DeRosia, FR Amy Taylor, BR Oldham, FR Grant (DC5 Women’s Committee Chair), and I joined the delegation, showcasing the unity, talent, and strength of DC5’s membership on the national stage.

The month concluded with the Oregon State Building Trades Convention in Silverton, where BOLI Commissioner Christina Stephenson and Gov. Tina Kotek reaffirmed their support for Project Labor Agreements and worker protections. Delegates from across the trades voted overwhelmingly to endorse both leaders in their upcoming elections, another important step toward ensuring strong advocacy for working families in the region.

Closing out the month and carrying into early October, I attended the Western Region BMST Summit. BMSTs from across the western U.S. came together to review finances, membership trends, and organizing strategies — reinforcing collaboration, consistency, and shared vision across the movement.

What's Ahead

The Building Union Power Campaign Training with GP Williams is fast approaching, and it’s shaping up to be one of our biggest and most impactful events yet. DC5 staff, local union executive boards, DC5 Delegates, the Women’s Committee, and all DC5 apprentices are invited to take part. You won’t want to miss this!

How the Union Transcends Politics

Now more than ever, the construction industry needs a consistent and united approach to shape opportunities for America’s workforce. The transition from President Biden to President Trump in 2025 brought understandable questions about the direction of federal construction policy and Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). But President Trump’s decision to spare and even strengthen his predecessor’s executive order on PLAs shows that labor’s values transcend shifting political winds and party lines.

The order, signed by President Biden early in his first term and implemented after four years of bureaucratic resistance from the Department of Defense and the Army Corps of Engineers, ensures that large-scale federal construction is built the right way. It covers projects costing $35 million or more and reflects a belief we share across IUPAT’s trades: that fair pay, skilled training, and safe jobs are not partisan issues.

When the administration changed hands, many feared that years of progress would be rolled back. But President Trump, after learning how strongly union members of all stripes support PLAs and the wages and benefits they guarantee, not only kept the executive order in place but created a regulation package to require its implementation. It’s a reminder of what happens when we stand on our core values, speak with one voice, and work with all groups that support our goals for economic development and family wage jobs.

Here in Alaska, we’re already seeing the results. New military projects are being bid and awarded under the new PLA requirements.

And there’s more on the horizon. The upcoming border crossing project in Alaska will be built under a PLA, ensuring quality work and good jobs for the next four years. This project, like others across the country, is proof that PLAs, registered apprenticeship, and prevailing wage are delivering tangible results for our communities and our members.

The continued enforcement of the federal PLA order, from Biden to Trump, underscores one truth: the power of collaboration transcends politics. When we organize, educate, and advocate for our core values, we achieve lasting change that benefits every worker and every community.

Meet Your Rep: Local 1959 - Bronson Frye

Watch More

Resiliency Means Making Our Own Opportunities

It’s been a challenging year for our trade and for working people across Oregon. The future is still uncertain, but I’m proud to say that our glaziers have held strong.

Despite the economic downturn and lack of investment in new buildings — especially in Portland — we’re near full employment and our members continue to show the grit and craftsmanship that define this union.

We all know Oregon’s economy in 2025 is struggling. Some developers have pulled out of Portland, and with vacancy rates downtown pushing 40-50%, there just isn’t enough new work coming through the pipeline due to high interest rates.

For years, about 60% of our work came from the Portland metro area. To keep our members working, we’ve expanded outward in places like Boise, Idaho, and Salt Lake City, Utah, because that’s where the opportunities are right now. The work outlook here in Oregon remains uncertain but we are working hard to position ourselves for when interest rates lower and construction returns to our local area.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek holds the signed HB 2680 in September, which strengthens labor standards in the state.

Hard Work and Real Progress

Even with all the challenges, we’ve seen some tangible wins. In August, our crews put in 73,000 hours of work, the highest total we’ve seen in three or four years. That’s a testament to our members’ commitment and to the union’s ability to adapt.

We also celebrated two major successes this past year:

The passage of HB 2680 that supports glaziers and strengthens standards in our industry. It requires contractors to complete a national training program in order to install complex window and skylight systems on many public work projects.
The launch of the Glaziers Training Center in Estacada last fall, which gives apprentices and journeymen a modern space to learn, refine their skills, and prepare for the future.

These milestones show that even when times are tough, we’re still moving forward by building capacity, training the next generation, and fighting for fair work and safe conditions.

Looking Ahead

There are a few positives here and on the horizon. The Portland airport project is currently employing 70 people. The University of Oregon indoor practice facility will add about 35 people, and Sunnyside Hospital in Keizer will need 35-40 in a year and half when it comes up. But private work is still slow to come.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this trade, it’s that nothing stays down forever. Portland has some deep issues to address — public safety, cleanliness, and rebuilding trust with developers — but I believe the city will find its footing again. When it does, the glaziers will be ready.

Until then, we’ll keep doing what we do best: working hard, training smart, and standing together. No matter where the jobs take us, our commitment to quality and solidarity never wavers.

Social Media Corner

Another Fun Fact Friday from DC36 that is super relevant in the PNW. Just this year both Washington Governor Bob Ferguson and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed executive orders requiring PLA’s on taxpayer funded projects. This puts tax dollars back into taxpayers’ pockets!

Unions are not and never have been anything other than groups of HUMANS that have come together to stand up and fight for our rights as WORKERS. Our unions are not and never have been boogeymen — WE ARE THE UNION.

Around DC5

Congratulations to our newest FTINW graduates! We are proud to have you amongst our ranks and more than excited to see where you lead our union into the future.

The first Portland Flooring Installation Summit was a big success! Between our apprentices, journey workers, instructors, contractors, staff, Milwaukee’s rep, and Roberts’ rep, there was a lot of expertise in that room. Excited to bring a larger crowd of experts into the room with each new summit.

Together, we build stronger communities, protect workers' rights, and create opportunities for success. Stay united, stay strong with IUPAT District Council 5!

\n\n\n\n