Click here to watch Chairman Cafiero’s Remarks at the IUPAT General Convention
FCA International’s national labor partner the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) held its 33rd General Convention at the end of August, where James Williams, Jr. was elected as the IUPAT General President along with the rest of his executive team. FCA Chairman and FTI Co-Chair Peter Cafiero delivered an address to the delegates. General President Williams praised the labor-management relationship between FCA International and the IUPAT while introducing Chairman Cafiero.
“I can honestly say that the relationship we have with FCA at the national level is at a place where I truly believe we can come together – just like our theme here of One Union, One Family, One Voice – is going to get better and better and better,” GP Williams said. “Because we have employers that sit at the table who want to talk about what we can do together.”
In his remarks to IUPAT delegates, Chairman Cafiero discussed the value of fostering an environment where labor and management can voice their concerns, share their perspectives and work together to find mutually beneficial solutions.
“For way too long, we’ve looked at the future based on history,” Chairman Cafiero said. “It’s time to work on our future and create our own history.”
Chairman Cafiero proposed that labor and management focus on three key areas: communication, innovation and inclusion. Per the chairman, open and transparent communication is the foundation of any successful partnership. Regular dialogue based on trust and respect enables labor and management to address issues proactively and prevent conflicts from escalating. Investing in education and innovation empowers the workforce to adapt and excel in a rapidly changing industry. And a diverse and inclusive workforce taps into a wider range of perspectives, ideas and talent, which can be a strategic advantage for signatory contractors.
The chairman also discussed FCA International’s Apprenticeship and Employee Advancement Mentorship Program, which is an FCA-led, contractor-driven mentorship program currently in development that is supported by the IUPAT and the LMCI.
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