Welcome Angel Galloza, Our New Director of Training. We are proud and excited to announce that Angel Galloza has been named the new Director of Training at the Finishing Trades Institute of Southern New England (FTISNE).

For 27 years, Mark served the members of District Council 11 as a Business Representative. That's nearly three decades of walking jobsites, answering the phone when a member was in trouble, sitting across the table in negotiations, and doing the unglamorous, essential work of making sure the people of this district council were protected and represented.

Our IUPAT General President Jimmy Williams Jr. came to District Council 11 and he rolled up his sleeves and got to work with us.

After 21 years as our Director of Training, Mike Komaromi has retired. From his days as a glazier to the state-of-the-art training facilities he dreamed into existence, his legacy lives in every class we teach and every member who goes home safe. Read his story and hear it in his own words.

Every so often, a project comes along that doesn't just check a box, it moves an entire trade forward. That's exactly what happened when the International Finishing Trades Institute (iFTI) and Kelly Press came in to film our brand-new Door Hardware Technician Course, a curriculum built from the ground up by one of our own and now heading to glaziers across the United States and Canada.

In June 2026, the votes were counted, and the message from our membership was loud and clear: the Werthman Slate has been re-elected to another four-year term representing our brothers, sisters, and siblings of our locals.

Recently, staff and District Council 11 members made the trip to the Connecticut State Capitol for an unforgettable evening. An in-depth tour and legislative briefing hosted alongside the VOC (Volunteer Organizing Committee), led by State Senator Jorge Cabrera.

They Built This Union. On Monday, We Celebrated Them. Our April 2026 Retiree Committee Meeting. A day of laughter, stories, and memories.

DC 11 members donated hundreds of pounds of food in CT and RI, stepping up as SNAP benefits were slashed and families faced rising hunger.

Members from across IUPAT District Council 11 gathered in person for the Annual Membership Meeting—a time to reconnect, reflect on our shared progress, and look ahead to the work still to come. With powerful remarks from national IUPAT leadership, department directors, and Congressman Gabe Amo, the event brought union members together in celebration and solidarity.

Hundreds of feet above the Atlantic, Local 195 painters are building the future of energy—one coat at a time. This is what climate action looks like: skilled union members applying protective coatings to offshore wind turbine platforms, ensuring they can withstand harsh ocean conditions for decades to come.

That was the message loud and clear on Saturday, May 3rd, when union members, elected officials, and community leaders gathered outside the Norwalk Housing Authority project to call out AP Construction for labor violations and demand accountability on public works.

The construction industry is facing a hidden crisis—one of stress, burnout, addiction, and suicide. This month, we’re breaking the silence and confronting the stigma around mental health. We’ve put together a blog with tools and simple strategies to help you feel better.

Last month, members of our staff and Volunteer Organizing Committee (VOC) took their advocacy to the next level with a visit to the Legislative Office Building (LOB) in Hartford, CT.

Behind every project, there’s a story. At the Windsor Locks Police Department and Senior Center, that story is one of union craftsmanship, mentorship, and the future of the trades.

At a major construction site, we uncovered another case of worker misclassification, where drywall workers were labeled as independent contractors instead of employees - bringing attention to the unfair practices affecting drywall workers.

We were proud to host U.S. Congressman Seth Magaziner at our District Council office, where he addressed the members of Local 195 in Rhode Island. Congressman Magaziner has long been a champion of workers’ rights and…

Last month, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz visited our District Council office, where she engaged in an open discussion with our members about the issues that matter most to working families. Her visit underscored the important role of unions in shaping Connecticut’s future and protecting the rights of tradespeople.

Our annual PATCH Golf Tournament recently took place and was a tremendous success, with an incredible turnout from members and supporters. This charity event is a cornerstone of our community engagement, bringing together participants for a day of fun, camaraderie, and philanthropy.

Recently, our instructors, coordinators, and Director of Training, along with our brothers at DC 35, participated in an intensive Metalizing Thermal Spray training course. This specialized training is essential for enhancing our capabilities and staying at the forefront of industry standards.