Boots in the Building: DC 11's Night at the Connecticut Capitol

Jun 3

A Night at the Capitol: DC 11 Members Take the Halls

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.

The evening kicked off with dinner in the Legislative Office Building, giving members a chance to connect before heading over to the Capitol itself. It was powerful to walk through those doors together and have such an in-depth tour that was unique to us.

Walking Through History

Senator Cabrera guided us through some of the most storied rooms in the state, the House and Senate chambers, where every piece of legislation impacting Connecticut workers gets debated and voted on. Standing on that floor, looking up at the stained glass and the ornate wooden desks with legislators' names on them, drove home a powerful message: these decisions aren't made in some distant place. They're made right here, and we belong in this room too.

We stood before the Chickamauga Tree, a piece of a hickory tree from the 1863 Civil War battlefield, still embedded with a cannonball and the towering statue of Nathan Hale, whose words "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country" are etched into the base. We took in the Genius of Connecticut bronze angel beneath the Capitol dome, and the intricate stained glass and gold-leaf details that make this building one of the most beautiful state capitols in the country.

Honoring Those Who Served

One of the most moving stops of the night was the Hall of Flags and the memorial wall honoring Connecticut's fallen service members from Iraq and Afghanistan. Faces, names, and stories lined the walls beneath the banner: "They will always live in our hearts and minds." It was a reminder that the freedoms we exercise as union members, to organize, to advocate, to show up at our State Capitol, were paid for by others.

Why It Mattered

Beyond the beauty and the history, this night was about something bigger: understanding how legislation shapes the work we do every day. From prevailing wage protections to workplace safety, from apprenticeship funding to project labor agreements, the laws written in that building directly impact our members' paychecks, our members' safety, and our members' futures.

Senator Cabrera reminded us that legislators need to hear from working people. When we show up, we're not just visitors. We're constituents. We're voters. We're the workforce keeping Connecticut running.

Thank You

A huge thank you to Senator Jorge Cabrera for taking the time to personally guide us through the Capitol and share his knowledge and passion for the work ahead. Thank you to the VOC for organizing an incredible evening, and to every DC 11 staff member and member who came out to be part of it.

This is just the beginning. The more of us who show up, the louder our voice becomes.

#DC11 #IUPAT #VOC #UnionStrong