Both Trades!!

Brothers and Sisters,

2026 is going to be a busy year for our Local. We have contracts expiring for both Painters and Drywall Finishers in June, and we want your input as we prepare for negotiations.

Please be on the lookout for text messages with links to surveys we will be sending out. These surveys are your opportunity to tell us what you want in your next agreement. We will also be discussing this at our upcoming membership meetings, so please make every effort to attend and be part of the conversation.

Meeting Update

The February meeting has been moved to:

Monday, February 23, 2026
5:30 PM

Meetings are normally held on the second Monday of each month at 5:30 PM.

Painters – Certification Reminder

Please make sure your certifications are up to date. Beginning January 1, 2026, additional certifications will be required in order to be dispatched. Below are the requirements as written in the Northern California Painters Master Agreement.

(a) Commercial Painter – Journeyperson and Above

By January 1, 2025, complete and maintain:

• Fall Protection (USACE EM385), including Ladder Safety
• Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWP)
• Harassment Training
  OR
• Sixteen (16) hours of employer-recommended painter trade and/or safety education

By January 1, 2026, complete and maintain:

• OSHA-10 or OSHA-30
• Scaffold Training
  OR
• Sixteen (16) hours of employer-recommended painter trade and/or safety education

(b) Industrial & Bridge Painter – Journeyperson and Above

By January 1, 2025, complete and maintain:

• OSHA-10
• Scaffold Training
• Harassment Training
  OR
• Sixteen (16) hours of employer-recommended painter trade and/or safety education

By January 1, 2026, complete and maintain:

• CAS Level 2 Certification (for spray painters and blasters)
  OR
• Hanging Platform Training, Mobile Elevated Work Platforms, and Fall Protection (USACE EM385), including Ladder Safety
  OR
• Sixteen (16) hours of employer-recommended painter trade and/or safety education

If none or only a portion of the required training is complete, the hours used to complete the required training will count toward the sixteen (16) hour minimum.

Training Sign-Up Information

You can sign up for all required classes and additional certifications through the DC 16 STAR website:

👉 https://dc16star.org/

The training calendar is now available through the end of the year, and epoxy training is now being offered. Take advantage of these opportunities while they are available classes will fill up fast.

If you do not have the certifications required for dispatch and are unable to get into a class, please contact the Union Hall. We will work with you to get you scheduled for training during the week.

 Drywall Finishers

Drywall Finishers are encouraged to keep all current certifications up to date. As we move into negotiations, additional certification requirements could be added to the next agreement. Staying current now will help avoid any issues in the future and ensure you are prepared for any changes that may come with the new contract.

In solidarity,

 William Gonzalez