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ON THE ROAD TO BETTER

WAGES AND BENEFITS

The excellent skills and safety training that our union provides for At the roundtable, Sister Constance shared how union training let
our members is something in which we can all take pride. The her build a different future for herself and her family. "If I don't
desire to share this pride led to an opportunity for KMLRCC want to go to college, I don't have to. I can still have a good paying
Local 197 and other area building trades to host a few stops along job straight out of high school." Sister Constance then explained to
Virginia 2nd District Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy's bus tour. the room, "The opportunity to have a good life and buy my own
For four days, Delegate Foy and her staff visited training centers home and feed my kids with no assistance—that is what the union
in the Washington, D.C., northern Virginia, and Maryland area is really offering me."
to see firsthand the positive impact unions have on the lives of
The final stop of the tour was the Mid-Atlantic Carpenter's
her constituents. This effort to host an educational tour for local
Training Center (MACTC) in Upper Marlboro Maryland, where
elected officials and the public involved several aspects of our
many union members from northern Virginia, Washington, D.C.,
union including our top-notch training center staff, the Sisters of
and Maryland have gone through the apprentice training program.
the Brotherhood, Local 197, Local 252 Mill Cabinet members, and
our political team.
MACTC Training Coordinator Bob Eaton and Executive Secretary-
Treasurer William Sproule took Delegate Carrol Foy and other
KML Carpenters were not only involved in coordinating training
local leaders on a tour of the facility. The tour of the training center
center tours for candidates, Local 252 Mill Cabinet members from
included explanations of how they teach scaffolding, pile driving,
New Jersey also provided the work to wrap the van for the tour.
Best Practices in Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA), and
"I have had the privilege to work as a carpenter as well as a even virtual reality welding training.
graphics technician. We started as silk screeners, we evolved into
At the close of the trip, Delegate Foy said, "I want to thank the
vinyl technicians, and now we are involved with vehicle wraps,
Carpenters and all the unions who have supported this effort
large format printing, and graphic design," explained Local 252
to educate energize people about the importance of union
Member Jose Pagan about how the carpenters union got involved
apprenticeship." She continued, "We are not only Virginia strong,
in vehicle wrapping.
but union strong."
With the help of fellow members Joe Wells and Miguel Torruellas,
"We support Delegate Carroll Foy 100% as she stands up with the
Jose was able to hand cut and mount the design on the van. KML's
Keystone + Mountain + Lakes Council of Carpenters and helps
logo as well as the phrase "Stand With Union" was prominently
us fight for workers rights, good wages, and good benefits" added
displayed on the van as it drove across Virginia and Maryland.
Executive Secretary-Treasurer William Sproule.
Check out a video of the process.
The success of this tour was the result of the partnerships the
One of the stops of the tour was a "Women in Labor" roundtable
KMLRCC has developed throughout the region. As the union
event where Council Representative and Director of the Sisters of
grows, there will be more chances to partner with local leaders
the Brotherhood Program Susan Shultz, Council Representative
and get the word out about the opportunities our training centers
Vanessa Salazar, and recent apprenticeship graduate Constance
provide.
Coggins were in attendance.
"This tour is important for both our members and the candidates,"
said Sister Shultz. "We're able to build stronger relationships while
helping the candidates gain an understanding of how important it
is for local people to work on local projects."

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