Become A Member
Union membership provides exceptional value through comprehensive benefits designed to support your career, health, and future security. From industry-leading healthcare coverage and robust retirement plans to competitive wages and ongoing professional training, IUPAT DC7 delivers advantages that enhance both your working life and personal wellbeing. Explore the key benefits available to members and discover how joining our union creates immediate and long-term advantages that non-union workers simply don’t receive.
The Benefits of Membership
Healthcare Coverage
Members receive comprehensive healthcare benefits that protect themselves and their families. Our plans include medical, dental, and vision coverage, ensuring your wellbeing both on and off the job. With low out-of-pocket costs and extensive provider networks, our healthcare plans provide security and peace of mind.
Key Benefits
- Comprehensive medical coverage
- Dental and vision plans
- Low out-of-pocket costs
- Extensive provider networks
- Family coverage options
- Prescription drug benefits
Member Advantage
Our healthcare benefits consistently earn top satisfaction ratings from our members. Coverage begins promptly after you start working, ensuring you and your family have continuous protection. Union members enjoy healthcare coverage that is typically more comprehensive with lower costs than non-union alternatives.
Retirement Security
Planning for the future is essential in any career. Our multi-tier retirement system includes pension plans and annuity programs designed to ensure financial stability throughout your retirement years. These employer-contributed benefits provide a foundation for long-term financial security that individual savings alone cannot match.
Key Benefits
- Defined benefit pension plan
- Annuity program
- Employer-contributed benefits
- Portable benefits between employers
- Financial planning assistance
- Retirement security for your family
Member Advantage
While many workers today must rely solely on 401(k) plans or personal savings, union members enjoy the security of defined-benefit pension plans. This means you'll receive guaranteed monthly payments throughout retirement, regardless of market fluctuations. Our retirement program creates true financial stability for your future.
Competitive Wages
Through collective bargaining, we negotiate fair compensation packages that properly value the expertise and craftsmanship our members bring to every project. Our wage rates remain consistently above non-union alternatives, reflecting the superior training and productivity our members deliver.
Key Benefits
- Higher hourly rates than non-union workers
- Regular scheduled wage increases
- Overtime and premium pay protections
- Wages that reflect skill and experience
- Transparent pay scales
- Collective bargaining power
Member Advantage
IUPAT members earn significantly more than their non-union counterparts, with wages that properly reflect their skills and expertise. Our collective bargaining power ensures that all members receive fair compensation and regular raises. This translates to greater financial security and a better quality of life for you and your family.
Training and Education
Ongoing professional development is a cornerstone of IUPAT membership. From apprenticeship training to journeyman upgrade courses, members have access to state-of-the-art facilities and instruction at little to no cost. These educational opportunities ensure your skills remain current and marketable throughout your career.
Key Benefits
- Comprehensive apprenticeship programs
- Free journeyman upgrade training
- State-of-the-art training facilities
- Instruction from industry experts
- Certification in specialized techniques
- Safety and professional development courses
Member Advantage
Our nationally recognized training programs are taught by expert instructors who are masters of their trades. From foundational techniques to advanced specializations, our education offerings ensure you remain at the forefront of industry developments while enhancing your earning potential throughout your career.
STAR Program
Safety Training Awards Recognition (STAR) is our signature program promoting workplace safety and professional excellence. Established in 2005, this program provides advanced training in safety protocols and best practices, reducing workplace injuries while enhancing professional capabilities.
Key Benefits
- Advanced safety protocol training
- Industry-recognized certification
- Professional development
- Enhanced employability
- Injury prevention practices
- Regular safety updates and refreshers
Member Advantage
The STAR Program gives IUPAT members a competitive edge in the marketplace. By demonstrating advanced knowledge of safety practices and professional standards, STAR-certified members are recognized by employers as elite professionals who deliver quality work while maintaining the highest safety standards in the industry.
Legal Protection
Union membership provides workplace protections that non-union workers simply don't have. Our collective bargaining agreements establish clear procedures for addressing grievances, ensuring fair treatment, and protecting members from arbitrary actions by employers.
Key Benefits
- Grievance procedures
- Representation in workplace disputes
- Protection against unfair discipline
- Clear work rules and expectations
- Contract enforcement
- Collective strength in negotiations
Member Advantage
When workplace issues arise, IUPAT members never have to stand alone. Our dedicated representatives provide immediate assistance and protection through established grievance procedures. This collective strength ensures all members are treated fairly and with respect, creating a more secure and dignified work environment.
Union vs. Non-Union
IUPAT DC7 membership offers substantial advantages over non-union employment across every aspect of your working life, from superior compensation to comprehensive benefits and career protections.
- Regular scheduled increases
- Overtime and premium pay protections
- Raises dependent on employer discretion
- Limited or no premium pay provisions
- Family coverage with low out-of-pocket costs
- Benefits maintained between employers
- Often high deductibles and copays
- Benefits lost between jobs
- Employer-contributed annuity program
- Portable benefits that follow you between jobs
- Limited or no employer contributions
- Benefits may not be transferable
- Structured advancement from apprentice to journeyman
- Ongoing skills development opportunities
- No structured career path
- Few opportunities for advancement
- Formal grievance procedures
- Protection against unfair treatment
- No formal process for addressing grievances
- Limited recourse for workplace issues
How To Join
IUPAT DC7 offers multiple pathways to a rewarding career built on expertise and collective strength. Whether you’re a student, experienced professional, or contractor, we provide entry points tailored to your situation.
We begin by assessing your skills and aspirations to guide you toward the most appropriate path. Union membership offers more than a job—it provides a lifelong career with advancement opportunities, transferable skills, and portable benefits.
The membership process includes application, assessment, and orientation phases, with dedicated coordinators supporting you throughout this significant career decision.
Find Your Fit
For those new to the trades, our apprenticeship programs provide the ideal entry point. These structured programs combine:
- Paid on-the-job training under experienced journeymen
- Classroom instruction in technical skills and trade theory
- Scheduled wage increases as skills develop
- 3-4 year progression to journeyman status
Each trade we represent has a specialized apprenticeship curriculum tailored to its unique requirements. Programs typically require:
- Minimum age of 18 (17 with parental consent)
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid driver's license
- Ability to pass drug screening
- Commitment to completing the multi-year program
Apply Now: Apprenticeships
Already have experience in the trades? We value the skills and knowledge you've developed and offer pathways for experienced workers to join our union:
- Skills assessment to determine appropriate placement
- Credit for documented work experience
- Accelerated journeyman qualification where appropriate
- Specialized training to fill any knowledge gaps
Requirements typically include:
- Verifiable work experience in the trade
- Demonstration of technical proficiency
- Understanding of industry standards and practices
Apply Now: Become A Member
For business owners in the finishing trades, becoming a signatory contractor offers significant advantages:
- Access to a skilled, professional workforce
- Competitive bidding on prevailing wage projects
- Simplified benefits administration
- Training support for your workforce
Our contractor relations team works closely with businesses to develop partnership agreements that meet both the needs of the business and our standards for member employment.
Learn About Becoming a Signatory Contractor: Contractors
Our Trades
IUPAT District Council 7 represents many professionals across specialized finishing trades. Each discipline requires unique skills, specific materials and techniques, and offers distinctive career paths. Explore our trades to discover opportunities that match your talents and aspirations.
Painting & Decorating
Painters and decorators apply decorative and protective finishes in residential, commercial, institutional and industrial settings. They prepare various surfaces (wood, masonry, drywall, plaster, concrete, synthetics, stucco and metal) prior to applying materials such as paint, high performance coatings, waterproofing, fireproofing, varnish, shellac, wall coverings and special decorative finishes.
Skills & Techniques
- Surface preparation and repair
- Brush, roller, and spray application
- Color mixing and matching
- Wallcovering installation
- Decorative finishes (faux, textures)
- Industrial coating applications
Career Opportunities
- Residential & Commercial
- Industrial Facilities
- Historical Restoration
- Decorative Finishing
- Specialty Coatings
- Team Leadership & Management
Industry Outlook
The painting trade offers consistent employment across the region, with particular demand in commercial construction and renovation. Specialized skills in industrial coatings or decorative finishes lead to premium compensation and unique project opportunities. Many journeypersons advance to foreman positions or establish their own contracting businesses.
Drywall Finishing
Drywall finishers (or tapers) prepare unfinished interior drywall panels for painting by taping and finishing joints and imperfections. Using specialized tools, they spread joint compound, apply paper tape, and create smooth, uniform surfaces ready for decoration. Drywall consists of a thin layer of gypsum between two layers of heavy paper; it's used on walls and ceilings in most buildings today because it's faster to apply than plaster and gives a professional finish when completed.
Skills & Techniques
- Tape application
- Joint compound application
- Texturing
- Trim and corner installation
- Surface preparation for painting
- Problem-solving for difficult conditions
Career Opportunities
- New Construction
- Renovation Projects
- Commercial Buildouts
- Residential Developments
- Repair and Restoration
- Specialty Applications
Industry Outlook
Skilled drywall finishers remain in high demand throughout the construction industry. The technical expertise required for high-end commercial and specialty applications creates excellent opportunities for those who master the craft. Experienced finishers often become crew leaders or estimators, with many establishing successful contracting businesses.
Glazing
Glaziers, also known as Architectural Glass and Metal technicians, work with glass and related materials, installing windows, storefront systems, curtain walls, and specialty applications that combine functionality with architectural aesthetics. They are responsible for selecting, cutting, installing, replacing, and removing all types of glass in both residential and commercial projects across Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Skills & Techniques
- Glass cutting and preparation
- Frame installation
- Sealant application
- Curtain wall systems
- Specialty glass handling
- Safety protocols for fragile materials
Career Opportunities
- Commercial Construction
- High-rise Buildings
- Storefront Installations
- Interior Glass Features
- Institutional Buildings
- Energy-efficient Retrofitting
Industry Outlook
The glazing trade offers excellent growth opportunities, particularly as modern architecture increasingly incorporates extensive glass elements. Energy efficiency requirements and technological advances in glass products continue to drive demand for skilled glaziers. With experience, glaziers can advance to project management roles or specialize in high-demand areas like structural glazing.
Floor Covering Installation
Floor covering installers work with diverse materials to create functional, attractive floor surfaces in residential and commercial settings. They install a wide variety of flooring products including carpet, vinyl, resilient flooring, hardwood, and laminate, ensuring proper preparation, application, and finishing for durable, aesthetically pleasing results.
Skills & Techniques
- Subfloor preparation
- Carpet installation
- Resilient flooring application
- Hardwood and laminate installation
- Pattern layout and design
- Finishing and detail work
Career Opportunities
- Residential Projects
- Commercial Spaces
- Institutional Facilities
- Retail Environments
- Specialty Applications
- Custom Design Installations
Industry Outlook
The floor covering trade provides stable employment opportunities across various economic conditions, with renovation work providing balance during new construction downturns. Specialized skills in custom installations or complex pattern work command premium compensation. Eco-friendly and sustainable flooring options represent a growing segment of the market, creating new opportunities for skilled installers.
Sign & Display
Sign and display professionals combine artistic and technical skills to create visual communication elements ranging from traditional signage to complex display installations. They design, fabricate, construct, paint and install interior and exterior signage of all types, including lettering for windows and vehicles, plastic and neon signs, as well as displays for trade shows, office complexes, and shopping plazas.
Skills & Techniques
- Design interpretation
- Fabrication techniques
- Installation methods
- Digital graphics application
- Illuminated sign systems
- Safety protocols for elevated work
Career Opportunities
- Retail Environments
- Corporate Facilities
- Exhibition Spaces
- Outdoor Advertising
- Special Events
- Digital Signage Integration
Industry Outlook
The sign and display trade continues to evolve with digital technology while maintaining demand for traditional craftsmanship. This combination creates diverse opportunities for those with both technical and creative abilities. The growing trend toward experiential marketing and retail displays is increasing demand for innovative, custom signage solutions and interactive displays.
Industrial Coating
Industrial Coating and Lining Application Specialists apply techniques to prepare substrates for coating and lining application. They apply protective coatings and linings to steel and concrete on complex structures, such as bridges, towers, waterfront structures, manufacturing facilities, and power generation facilities. These specialists often work in challenging environments that require specialized safety training.
Skills & Techniques
- Surface preparation (rust and scale removal)
- High-performance coating application
- Plural component system operation
- Thermal spray application
- Containment systems setup
- Quality control and inspection
Career Opportunities
- Bridge and Infrastructure Projects
- Marine and Offshore Facilities
- Industrial Manufacturing Plants
- Chemical Processing Facilities
- Power Generation Plants
- Quality Control and Inspection
Industry Outlook
Industrial coating specialists are in consistent demand as aging infrastructure requires maintenance and new construction incorporates protective systems. The specialized nature of this work and required certifications create excellent compensation opportunities and job security. With significant infrastructure investment expected across the region, trained industrial coating specialists will remain highly sought after.
Trade Selection Guidance
Choosing the right trade for your abilities and interests significantly impacts career satisfaction and advancement opportunities. Consider these factors when evaluating trades:
- Physical requirements and working conditions
- Technical vs. artistic orientation
- Indoor vs. outdoor work preference
- New construction vs. renovation focus
- Career advancement opportunities
- Earning potential in your region
Our membership team can provide personalized guidance on trade selection based on your specific interests, skills, and career goals.
Know Your Rights
Knowing your rights during encounters with law enforcement is crucial for your protection. This guide provides essential information for safely navigating interactions with authorities, including immigration agents. Keep this information accessible in your home and share it with family members. Click the image below to download a printable version you can post on your door or carry with you.
