Start a proud, lucrative, and fulfilling career with the Painters and Allied Trades.

INDUSTRIAL PAINTERS

Industrial Painters/Blasters perform coatings and painting applications, sand-blasting, rigging, decking and other tasks relative to industrial coatings. This often takes place on bridges and tanks.

GLAZIERS

Glaziers install glass in windows, skylights, storefronts, and display cases while using architectural metals to create aesthetically pleasing facades and interiors.

COMMERCIAL PAINTERS

Commercial painting is bigger version of residential painting. It involves all kind of painting like spraying, rolling, home painting, signs, specialty painting, faux finishes, etc. This painting involves all kinds of painting jobs (not canvas painting).

DRYWALL FINISHERS

A drywall finisher is a skilled craftsman who takes over after the drywall panel hangers leave, and it's his job to prepare the wall for paint, texture or wall covering. This is typically done with joint compound and a variety of different tools.

Check out our training centers! We have training centers in Buffalo and Cortland NY with offices in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca, Cortland, and Binghamton.

What is the first step?

Hey! My name is Cassidy Brown, I am a Journeywoman painter and drywall finisher for local 178. So, here’s my story! I became a mom at the age of 18, I ended up getting my GED a few weeks after I had my daughter. I knew I needed a good job being a single mom and didn’t really know much about the trades! I spoke with a family member who I knew was in the laborers local. She in turn suggested I apply to get into a skilled trades program, there I became certified in cpr, flagging, pipe fusion and obtained my OSHA 10. In the program we visited all of the locals. I applied for the painters local. Green to it all I started as a first year apprentice in 2016. I started my apprenticeship at the Geneva training facility , then two years at Buffalo. As a single mom it was super hard but thankfully I had a very good support system! I just recently finished my apprenticeship at the new cortland training facility, and was able to paint offices to get the place together for the next round of apprentices! I’ve worked with some great journeymen and journeywomen that took the time to teach and help me through! Being 25, knowing I have a good job to provide for myself and my daughter and knowing I have a career that I enjoy is a great feeling!

Wesley Schlossin16 yr Member

"When looking at my options back in 2003 I decided to apply for a Union apprenticeship because I knew Unions typically pay more. Let’s be honest, we’re all trying to create the best financial situation for ourselves and families. Next, I needed to learn the trade in order to be a successful craftsman. Starting a new family, health care was critical. After learning more about pensions I understood that it meant maintaining the same standard of living after you retire and have financial independence. Once on the job I learned how to keep myself and those around me safe, Union projects have a much lower rate of injuries and fatalities. Finally, and arguably my favorite... I found a group of hard working folks that actually care about the well being of others and that fits like a puzzle piece with how I have been raised and my life experiences. I love people and relationships. There’s plenty of both in our Union. My initial motivation to join a Union was financial, once I got engaged I learned it was so much more"

"My name is Warren Long. I’m a 22 year old Apprentice with Glaziers Local 677 Binghamton, NY . I joined the Painters Union about 2.5 years ago not exactly knowing what I was getting into. I knew I liked working with my hands and liked to see the production happening in front of me. I got in with a good crew, the type of people you would actually want to hang out with after work. A couple of journey workers took me under their wing and helped me develop a range of skills. I have currently taken the next step in my life. I have decided to buy a house; a duplex that can pay for itself and my home will basically be free. I also have 2 trucks, a Harley v-rod and a 3 wheeler. The Union has helped me keep up with my pricey hobbies !

Bob Casella 34 yr member

Bob Casella I have been a Union Member since 1986. I started out on the non-union side of the business. I then joined the Union as an Apprentice. I was given 2 years credit with my experience while working non-union. I worked for Rose City Glass which was owned by Skip & Herb Brunner. I was running work before I graduated from my apprenticeship. I went on to work for Rose City Glass for the majority of my career in the field, I did work for Ajay Glass & the Stathopoulos family for a short time when things got slow at Rose City. I worked in the field traveling throughout the Northeast during my time in the field. My time in the field taught me the importance of being a responsible adult. In July of 2000 I came on the staff as a field organizer for DC#4/Local #677, I worked under John Adams who was the Director of Organizing. John Adams eventually took a job with the International and I was elevated as the Director of Organizing by Business Manager Dan Boody. I held that position until Business Representative Bob Sinopoli retired and I became the Business Representative, a position that I currently hold today. My experience with the Union has been a good one as I have seen the Industry from the entry level as an Apprentice to a Journeymen Glazier to Business Representative.The job has enabled me to see a lot of the country that I probably would not have if I chose a different direction in life!! I enjoy the everyday interactions with the Members & Contractors & everyone in between. The Union has provided me with excellent pay, health care and retirement for me & my family. I have a son-in law & son currently in the Glaziers Union, they both completed an apprenticeship also. I think the Union Trades offer an excellent opportunity for people to make a good living for themselves, it also offer another option in life for someone who does not have an interest in going to College. I am coming close to the end of my career in the trades, but because of all that our Union has to offer in the lines of retirement benefits I am able to look forward to retirement. In closing, I want to say that you can't just coast through your career, you will need to put in effort and be responsible. "You get out of life what you put into it"

To learn more about these trades and how to start your career please contact: ftiwcny@dc4.org

Check out IUPAT.org (International Union website) and DC4.org (Western and Central New York Website) for more info on our organization.

District Council #4 Finishing Trades Institute

716-565-0112

ftiwcny@dc4.org