Welcome to the October edition of our IUPAT District Council 5 newsletter! In this issue, you will hear from Business Manager Todd Springer about how DC 5 staff are meeting with members at their homes as part of the Building Union Power Phase 2 campaign. House calls  are already underway in western Washington and will be coming soon to Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and Utah.

With Election Day less than three weeks away, Chad Smith, Director of Government Affairs, gives you the rundown of union-endorsed candidates and resources you need to register to vote, if you haven't done so already. 

We also have an update from Tandy Sturgeon, IUPAT Northwest Job Corps Coordinator, about how he became involved in the program and how it is changing the lives of students interested in learning our trades. Tandy oversees eight Job Corps programs at six centers in Washington, Oregon, and Montana. 

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Your Vote, Your Voice, Your Union

We’re officially less than three weeks away from the Nov. 3 midterm elections. All the campaigning, all the speeches, all the shaking hands and kissing babies will come to an end (at least until the next cycle). The only thing left is for voters to cast their ballots and watch the returns roll in.

Over the last several months, DC 5 has been hard at work preparing our union’s endorsements for candidates across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and Utah. We’ve met face-to-face with office-seekers, heard their pitches, asked questions, carefully determined who is best equipped to represent working families in Congress or the state legislature. It’s a responsibility we take seriously, and while we know our members differ politically, we hope our endorsements can at least help guide you as you decide who ultimately has earned your vote.

Finally, I’d like to remind everyone to take a moment to check if you are registered to vote and update your information if necessary. Here’s a state-by-state breakdown on where you can check your registration:

Washington 

Online and mail registrations must be received no later than Monday, Oct. 26. Voters can also register or update their information in person at a county elections office or voting center through 8 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots will be mailed by Friday, Oct. 16, kicking off the 18-day voting period. Ballots returned to an official drop box must be deposited by 8 p.m. on Election Day. 

• Check Your Registration or Register to Vote Here

• Find Your Nearest Drop Box or Voting Center Here

Oregon

The deadline for voter registration has passed, and ballots will be mailed to voters beginning Wednesday, Oct. 14. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Election Day, while ballots returned to an official drop box must be received by 8 p.m. Election Day.

• Find Your Nearest Drop Box Here

Idaho

The preregistration deadline is Friday, Oct. 23, at 5 p.m. Qualified voters can also register at their polling place on Election Day. Requests for absentee ballots must be received by your county clerk by 5 p.m. Oct. 23.

• Check Your Registration or Register to Vote Here

• Request an Absentee Ballot Here

• Find Your Nearest Voting Location Here

Alaska

The deadline to register to vote or update voter registration has passed, while the deadline to request an absentee-by-mail ballot is Saturday, Oct. 24.

• Request an Absentee Ballot Here

• Find Your Nearest Voting Location Here

Utah

The deadline to register to vote is Friday, Oct. 23, at 5 p.m., though same-day registration is available on Election Day. Ballots began mailing Tuesday, Oct. 13, and must be received by your county clerk or deposited in an official drop box no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day.

• Check Your Registration or Register to Vote Here

• Find Your Nearest Drop Box Here

Our strength as a union comes from our brothers and sisters who are willing to stand up, speak out, and make their voices heard. No matter where you live or how you plan to vote, make sure to plan ahead. Know the deadlines, know how and where you plan to vote, and cast your ballot.

Together, we can make a difference for working families across DC 5.

A Program Worth Fighting For

The first time I visited a Job Corps center was in 2009. I didn’t know much about the program then, but there was an opening for a new painting instructor at the Wolf Creek Job Corps outside of Roseburg, Ore., and they asked if I would come check it out.

At the time, I’d spent 15 years with IUPAT Local 10 learning as much as I could in the field. I especially liked taking younger apprentices under my wing and teaching them what I knew, so I guess teaching has always been in my blood.

I spent the day at Wolf Creek and by the end was told the job was mine if I wanted it. Since then, I’ve never looked back. I still remember getting a speeding ticket my first week teaching — I was that excited to go to work. After 13 years as an instructor, I am now the Northwest Field Coordinator overseeing eight Job Corps programs at six centers in Oregon, Washington, and Montana.

For those who aren’t familiar with Job Corps, it is the best-kept secret in workforce development. Our programs typically have between 90 to 100 kids and young adults, ages 16-24. They live on site, learning our trades while also studying to earn their high school diploma or GED. Students can also get their driver’s license through Job Corps and earn professional certifications to help them land a job after graduation.

There’s no hard and fast rule for how long students can stay, but usually they spend 1,000 hours learning their trade, which takes about 10 months to a year. But Job Corps is about more than learning to paint or finish drywall. We teach the skills needed to be successful in any job, including showing up on time, working as part of a team, communicating with co-workers, and taking pride in their work.

That’s what’s made the biggest impression on me; seeing how young people come into our programs from all walks of life and leave as confident, enthusiastic, and skilled professionals ready for the careers ahead of them.

Once they finish, Job Corps graduates get priority into apprenticeships. Programs are then evaluated not only on how they train students, but on post-program outcomes such as job placements and average earnings for those graduates.

Over the last two years, our programs have placed 53 graduates into construction industry jobs. Out of those, 18 are women and another 18 have gone into IUPAT District Council 5 apprenticeships. I’m incredibly proud of these results, particularly during some challenging times as we’ve rebounded from pandemic closures and faced broader closures from the federal government. I expect those numbers will only continue to increase in the years to come.

As you may have seen in headlines over the past year, the U.S. Department of Labor previously announced plans to pause operations at 99 contractor-operated Job Corps centers across the country. This decision created tremendous uncertainty for thousands of students, instructors, and communities that rely on these centers.

I am grateful to everyone who pushed back and spoke up for the value of Job Corps. In August, the federal government settled a lawsuit filed by seven Job Corps students ensuring programs remain open today. That was welcome news, but it still doesn’t mean that enrollment has fully rebounded yet. We’re still working to rebuild our programs, while recruiting new students.

If you know anyone who is interested or would benefit from enrolling in Job Corps, I hope you will reach out to me. We are always looking for the next generation of painters, drywall finishers, glaziers, and other skilled tradespeople who are ready for an opportunity.

After 17 years with Job Corps, I still get excited seeing all that our programs and instructors have to offer. With the support of our members, employers, and partners, I know the future of our industries will continue to be in good, capable hands for generations to come.

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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!