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Wisconsin Workers Have ‘the Opportunity to Build Middle-Class, Unionized Careers’
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Wisconsin Workers Have ‘the Opportunity to Build Middle-Class, Unionized Careers’

Industrial painting instructor and union field organizer Johntay Young has seen how the influx of infrastructure funding under the Biden administration has translated into more work and more jobs for union painters. The high demand for workers creates more opportunities for stable, high-paying careers in the union.

The Stories team at the Center for American Progress Action Fund works with storytellers who author op-eds about how policy impacts their lives. The team helps elevate their op-eds.

During my years as an industrial painter here in Wisconsin, I’ve spent many hours repairing the specialty coatings that protect the integrity of the steel on our bridges and water towers, ensuring they remain safe for the public.

But a lot of our infrastructure here in Wisconsin, from Milwaukee to Chippewa Falls, has gone unrepaired since it was installed decades ago, particularly in economically disadvantaged communities. That disinvestment not only has physical impacts, such as children developing lead poisoning from old pipes; it also has psychological impacts to see your community fall into disrepair around you.

The above excerpt was originally published in UpNorthNews. Click here to view the full article.

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Johntay Young

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Digital Advocacy

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