Convention

The next convention of the Washington State Building & Construction Trades Council will be held the summer of 2021

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Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council

4 weeks ago

Please find the below statements from Ironworkers General President Eric Dean, and Ironworkers Local 86 Business Manager Chris McClain.

We at the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council join them in condemning this act of violence, allegedly committed by one of our own members.

We also fully support the peaceful protests, and efforts to move the United States of America to realizing and eventually living up to our stated commitment and promise, that all men and women are created equal.

The protesters, as we see it, are seeking to address and cure long existing injustices. We must look inward and condemn that within ourselves, and any traces within in our organizations, that would derail these efforts.

Former Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretaries Dave Johnson, and Lee Newgent, both Ironworkers, made great efforts and advancements in recognizing inequalities and worked tirelessly to address and correct those inequalities. Unfinished, those efforts continue today.

President Dean, Manager McClain, Secretaries Johnson, and Newgent are examples of what we recognize as Ironworkers, they work within the framework to make the system better, more fair, and more equal for all. Where the system falls short, they have worked and continue to work to improve it.

The alleged actions of this member do not represent the values of our membership.

Black Lives Matter

~ Mark

Statement from President Dean

“As Iron Workers, we stand for the rights of all people to peacefully protest. Our union is built upon equal rights and fair treatment for all people, in the workplace and beyond.

We fully condemn the individual’s actions against protesters in Seattle and are dismayed by the likelihood that he is a member of our union. Protesters in Seattle, and in cities all over the world, are well within their rights to freely assemble and stand up for the marginalized among us. They are creating the change our society so desperately needs. No one should have to fear violence while exercising their rights.

The actions of this individual go against everything our union stands for. There is no place for this behavior among our ranks. Our union will double down on our commitment to civil rights and calls on every member to take an active part.”

Eric Dean
General President
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Union

Statement from Manager McClain

"Good Morning,
Ironworkers Local 86 supports the rights of all people to protest peacefully. Peaceful protest has been the cornerstone for every advancement of the American worker. Peaceful protest has been at the forefront of every great change in the world from the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s to the acknowledgement of worker solidarity.

Equality and equity of all workers and the human race has been the founding principle of Labor Unions. Ironworkers Local 86 still stands by and promotes these ideals and principles.

Over the last 5 years, Ironworkers Local 86, in our commitment to diversity and inclusion has developed a “pre-apprenticeship” program that specifically promotes diversity in regards to women and people of color entering our membership.

In those 5 years, the Apprenticeship has gone from 110 people of color out of 390 to today where we have 224 people of color out of 503 total.

While this effort has yielded greater equality and equity for people of color in our communities, that in and of itself will not be able to resolve all of the issues that we face in regards to equity for all. As we stand together in support of The Black Lives Matter Movement it is impossible and unethical for any organization to have so much oversight into the personal lives of its members including having the ability to predict and control the actions of any one member’s views that are not conducive to the majority views.

Ironworkers Local 86 appreciates the many supporters of our cause to grow equality and equity through earning power in our community by wearing and advertising our brand name. However, this comes with the distinct possibility that others may do or perform acts that we do not approve of while using our brand in any form.

Ironworkers Local 86 condemns the action of any individual that views vigilantism, anarchy, bigotry, racism or any other form of bully tactics that work to undermine equality and equity amongst the citizens of the Human Race.

We are hopeful that the Justice system will perform a full fact finding investigation into the events that took place on June 7th 2020 in the Seattle area.”

Chris McClain
Business Manager
Ironworkers Local 86 ... See MoreSee Less

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Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council

2 months ago

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IBEW's Clint Bryson running to serve working families of 19th LD

www.thestand.org

Assisting his union’s members inspired him to seek House seat in SW Washington -- MONTESANO, Wash. (May 8, 2020) — For Clint Bryson, a third generation IBEW member, serving others is an honor and a privilege...

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