The International Union of Painters and Trades (IUPAT) has had a profound positive impact on the lives of Toronto asbestos workers and hazmat workers, as well as members of the general public.
Toronto’s local asbestos workers union are represented by Local 557, 1630, 1819, and 1891. The IUPAT was initially founded in the United States in 1887, and has grown in both size and the scope of work that they do. In the lead up to Labour Day, let’s take a look back at the history of the unions for asbestos and hazmat workers.
The Rise of Unions
In 1872, unions were legalized in the Trade Unions Act, which was adopted following backlash to the arrest of 24 members of the Toronto Typographical Union who were protesting for a shorter work week. The IUPAT rose out of the realization that workers could exercise greater political and social power by working together. Instead of smaller groups of asbestos workers, glaziers, painters, and other tradespeople advocating, IUPAT brought together many smaller local branches to raise both common and trade-specific concerns. In 1894, Labour Day was made a federal holiday, and then the Canadian Federal Department of Labour was founded in 1900. Unions begin to exercise their political power through strikes and protests, advocating for the health and well-being of their members.
Great Depression and WWII
The strength of IUPAT’s large reach and population allowed it to survive the Great Depression, while many other unions disbanded due to a lack of membership. Political action for workers’ rights slowed through the 1930s as unemployment soared and people took political action against the lack of government support for unemployed men. With the outbreak of WWII, employment rates rebounded as factories re-opened and more jobs were created to support the war effort. Though IUPAT’s membership didn’t rebound as quickly as men were serving overseas and there were fewer skilled labourers working at home. Membership eventually began to climb again, and so did political engagement.
Worker’s Health and Safety
Starting in WWII, asbestos became a commonly used material because of the diverse applications and its effectiveness as an insulation. The negative health effects were reported and studied for years before more formal safety guidelines were released. Toronto asbestos workers unions like the IUPAT worked to ensure the safety of members working with asbestos, and other hazardous materials such as lead, mould, and chemicals.
Through apprenticeships and mentoring programs, IUPAT encourages newly qualified asbestos and hazmat workers to be aware of best practices around health and safety when working with hazardous materials. This connects to the Union’s original commitment to the rights of their members, and ensuring that members could perform their work safely.
Today’s Mission
Today, asbestos workers are involved in removing asbestos from buildings, and may also work to remove lead or mould from places where they pose a risk to members of the public in collaboration. They work on a wide variety of projects, including residential and commercial applications. As members of the IUPAT, they also have access to a community of people in their field, and many other union benefits. The Toronto asbestos workers union offers member appreciation events, training on specialized skills, monthly meetings, and information about legislation that could affect members. They ensure that members have the opportunity to learn from each other and experts to promote career development and skill building. For more information on how to join IUPAT, Contact us or call us today at 416-630-9604.
