The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), District Council 5 (DC#5) celebrated the opening of its new training facilities in Seattle, Wash. in grand fashion. The March 21 evening program began with a history of the long journey and the hard work by all to open the new training facility. The vision began 12 years ago to have all the finishing trades under one roof.

The new facility was funded from union dues, industry donations and grants from the state of Washington. The drywall finishing training lab space has doubled in space and computer labs are available to IUPAT members. The new facility will assure users and employers that the IUPAT has the most highly skilled and productive drywall finishers in Western Washington. The initial success can be demonstrated with the fact that there are over 130 drywall finisher apprentices currently enrolled in the program, with more joining each day.