International Union of Painters & Allied Trades (IUPAT)
Baltimore area (Hanover), MD
This is the 2025 fellowship description for this mentor organization.
THIS FELLOWSHIP COULD BE LOCATED IN EITHER HANOVER, MD OR PHILADELPHIA, PA.
IUPAT is an international labor organization representing building and construction tradespersons across multiple finishing industry crafts in all 50 states and throughout Canada. Both IUPAT General Counsel, Marty Milz (PBF '03), and Associate General Counsel, Collin Clibon (PBF '21), are former Peggy Browning Fund Fellows.
During the summer of 2023, the legal department will assist officers in implementing the aggressive organizing agenda of the new leadership team who took the helm in late 2021. A key aspect of this program will be outreach to diverse workers employed in the industries within IUPAT’s jurisdiction.
On a day to day basis, the legal staff advises officers on compliance issues under the IUPAT Constitution and federal law; assists the Organizing Department in its efforts, including supervising litigation against "low road" non-union contractors who violate wage-hour, safety and environmental laws; and assists IUPAT affiliates in negotiating contracts, organizing and providing services to our members. There is also opportunity to research and comment upon legislative and regulatory developments impacting our industries and labor law generally.
One important area our PBF Fellow is likely to be assigned would be researching and applying immigration law, as many of our members and their families are recent immigrants. In addition, many other immigrants work in our industries for unfair wages and no benefits. IUPAT has an aggressive program to seek fair and safe working conditions, and a path to citizenship for these workers. This experience will provide insight into an area of the law that is developing rapidly and will be important to workers, particularly construction workers, for many years to come. Our immigrant outreach is a particular point of pride and an area where the IUPAT is at the leading edge of construction organizing.
We would prefer a Fellow who is bilingual in English and Spanish. It is anticipated that our PBF Fellow will spend much of their time working with our strategic organizing initiative, which focuses on recruiting members from minority and immigrant communities. The legal knowledge required runs the gamut, but completion of a basic labor law course is strongly encouraged. Solid research skills are a must because our Fellow will face new issues every day. We also are looking for a Fellow who can speak directly to workers in a poised, articulate manner.
We expect to be working from our offices in Hanover and a satellite office in the District of Columbia. Depending on timing and circumstance during the term of the fellowship, there may be an opportunity for travel within the US or Canada.
The total ten-week stipend for this fellowship will be $8,000.
Address cover letter to:
Martin W. Milz, General Counsel
International Union of Painters & Allied Trades
Spear Wilderman, P.C.
230 S. Broad Street, Suite 1400
Philadelphia, PA 19102
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