I've been a member of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) since graduating high school. I was hired by a company who had signed an agreement with District Council 35 in Boston and was asked to go to the hall and become a member, so that's what I did. I have many family members who are union construction workers in different trades, but even with a large union family I was rarely told about how unions operated or how they worked to give us many great benefits through America's labor movement. A few years ago, as I started to become more active in my union, I began to realize that a lot of people didn't understand unions or the role they play for the working class. So after the constant struggle to explain to friends what labor unions have done for everyone (not just their members) I was determined to find a way to help educate people about the labor movement in a way that had not been done before.
I work in Boston and Boston is known for its sports fans. As I sat in traffic one day on the way to my local meeting, thinking about what I could do to make a difference, I was staring at the truck in front of me with a local 33 sticker on the back window and a Red Sox license plate. That was all I needed. I contacted the RMV and inquired about their specialized plate program. They told me I would need to register a 501(c)3 and submit a plate design and appropriate organizational documents to be able to participate in this program and make a plate for the labor movement.
On May 10, 2011, we filed with the Secretary of State to form Pro Labor Alliance. To bring diversity to the board we elected a retired union member, a 2 individuals who understand why the labor movement is important but do not belong to a union, and 2 active union members. Our first goal with our new organization would be to submit designs to the Massachusetts RMV.
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The plate features a raised clentched fist draped in the American flag with the letters CB standing for COLLECTIVE BARGAINING and the word SOLIDARITY across the bottom
In late August the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles approved our design, and tasked us with collecting 1500 applications to put labor front and center on every road in Massachusetts and back in public view. This idea works 2 ways. First is the marketing and show of solidarity by individuals who will have this plate displayed on their vehicles, but just as important, funds from the program that we will use to educate the public about the importance of collective bargaining through a public relations campaign to play out in union halls, billboards and TV commercials. The specialized plate program charges drivers an extra $40 every 2 years during registration renewal no matter what plate you sign up for. $12 goes to the state of MA for printing and administration costs and the remaining $28 will go to our goal of educating the public about the importance of collective bargaining and how it helps all workers. You can find the plate application here:
In the last few years we have watched as public perception of unions has effected our electoral process and resulted in elected officials introducing over 700 anti-worker/anti-union bills all across our country. we feel that a lack of understanding of the labor movement has brought upon these attacks on workers rights, and could ultimately result in reversing the progress that unions have fought for to ensure a better life for all workers.
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"-George Santayana
People often forget lessons we learn from history. Many people died for our rights to bargain collectively, and I for one am determined to make sure people don't forget these working class heros from the late 1800s and early 1900s. I have 3 children, and when I graduated from high school I had a few options. I want my children to have the same options when they decide what they want to do in life. After high school i could have gone to college, joined the military, gone down the wrong path, or as I did, enter into an apprenticeship program and learn a useful skill that paid a fair wage that would allow me to provide for my family. I am American by birth and union by choice and I believe its important that the choice to join a union is there for anyone who wants it.