You can find more photos of this drydock painting work on IUPAT DC5's Instagram.

Help us brag on our members for the world to see. Share your photos and videos of you and your coworkers, the work you do, the laughs you share, the stories of our history, and anything that tells the story of our Locals. 

Washington Bill Targets Skilled Glazing on Public Projects

The 2026 Washington Legislature officially convened Jan. 12, and District Council 5 will be working hard this short session to pass legislation requiring the highest professional standards for installing windows and architectural glass on public buildings.

These facilities — including schools, libraries, and government offices — are a significant investment for taxpayers. However, when glaziers aren’t properly trained, it can lead to shoddy workmanship resulting in leaks, mold, and other avoidable mishaps. The result is costly damage, with citizens left holding the tab. 

HB 2390 addresses this problem by requiring national certification for contractors working on public buildings that meet certain cost benchmarks. The bill mirrors HB 2680 in Oregon, which our union successfully passed last year.

Specifically, HB 2390 would apply to projects costing $25 million or more for new construction and $5 million or more for installation, repairs, or remodeling of existing public buildings. The bill would not apply to routine maintenance or installing pre-manufactured windows and skylights.

Support for this bill is growing! Anne McHenry, Executive Director of the National Architectural Metal & Glass Association (NAMGA), recently submitted a letter to Rep. Steve Tharinger (D-District 24), Chair of the House Committee on Capital Budget, saying HB 2390 will “result in safer job sites, more efficient and durable buildings, and more responsible use of taxpayer funds.”

Learn more about HB 2390 by reading this article published in USGlass Magazine, and stay tuned for updates!

We Want to Hear From You!

IUPAT District Council 5 is committed to representing the interests of you, our members. To help us understand your views, we are asking members to take a brief, anonymous survey. 

Your participation will help ensure our advocacy reflects the voices of the brothers and sisters across our trades. The two-question survey takes just a moment to complete, and every response matters.

Thank you for participating.

How Shop Stewards Help Build Union Power

Building a strong union starts with having well-informed members who know and understand their rights at work. Whenever there is a dispute, workers can point to their collective bargaining agreement and move swiftly to resolve the issue, keeping projects on track while ensuring fairness for labor.

This is where shop stewards come into play. Some members might understandably be reluctant to raise concerns with management — perhaps they worry about retaliation, or they just aren’t comfortable speaking with certain individuals. A shop steward is a fellow union brother or sister who essentially acts as the go-between for workers, management, and union leaders. They are someone who can listen and act accordingly if they suspect contract terms are being violated.

Glaziers Local 188 is committed to having at least one shop steward in every workplace we represent. In order to do that, our leadership is organizing a new shop stewards training program, in conjunction with the Building Union Power campaign underway in DC5.

Last January, we hosted a district-wide shop steward training that brought together nearly 30 highly motivated members from across our trades, led by representatives from IUPAT International. The success of that course is what prompted us in Local 188 to craft a program of our own. Assistant Business Manager Lisa DeRosia is now spearheading this effort, and we hope to have more details to share with you soon.

So, what can attendees expect to learn? Think of it as a blend of labor history, legal education, and practical skills development (such as understanding the grievance process, investigation, and communication). Shop stewards need to be intimately familiar with their CBA and able to explain workers’ rights clearly. They must be able to listen attentively and advocate on behalf of members when a dispute does arise.

It can at times be a delicate balancing act but having this kind of representation on-site underscores just one way we can flex our union power — showing we are truly stronger together.

If you are interested in becoming a shop steward or want to learn more about upcoming trainings, please contact either myself or Amy Taylor for more information. Remember, knowledge is power. If you know what somebody can and cannot do, there are no surprises. Having a more educated membership when it comes to bargaining is a very powerful thing.

United we stand, divided we beg. Let’s continue to Build Union Power!

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