New CLC Vice President, Ironworkers Rebuild the Trop Roof, Airport Workers Demand Reform

Here's what you need to know this week:
 

Kim Smith, IBEW 824, elected WCFLC Vice President

On Tuesday, WCFLC delegates elected a new Vice President. Senator-Elect Brian Nathan's resignation as WCFLC Vice President created a vacancy. At Tuesday's Central Labor Council Meeting, delegates voted between nominees Andrew Valentine, IBEW 915, and Kim Smith, IBEW 824. Kim Smith won the election and will serve the remainder of the term.

Kim is a telecommunications worker for Frontier and President of the Hillsborough Democratic Labor Caucus.

Smith speaks at the Florida Future Labor Leaders May Day Rally & March in 2025
 

Union Ironworker at Tropicana Field Featured in Tampa Bay Times

Hurricane Milton ripped the roof off of Tropicana Field in 2024; union ironworkers rebuilt it. Colleen Wright with the Tampa Bay Times shared an explanation of what that took in an interview with Christopher Torres, IW 48 (Oklahoma City):

"All he really needed was a harness and a helmet. His job: Take the old work net and brackets off, put new brackets on; unfold the Teflon-coated fabric roof panel, pull it open with a pulley and tie it down with a bunch of straps."

You can viewseveral of Torres's Instagram videos at these links. (Warning: Ironworker using strong language.) The Times also posted a compilation of Torres's video with a YouTube short.

TWU 555, Airport Workers Demand Reform on Safety-Points System

Airport workers, under the leadership of TWU 555, at TPA are organizing for the reform of a new draconian system for maintaining an airport-issued badge. Just like a driver's license, workers can receive "points" against them for infractions. After receiving 8 points, serious disciplinary consequences arise. The problem with this scheme is that there is no way for points to "roll-off," of their record. This is particularly impactful for newer workers who hope to have a long career at the airport. Workers are given no wiggle-room for infractions that may have occurred years ago.

TWU 555 steward Michael Crouch has put together a petition to the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority demanding a reform of system. Click the button below to sign the petition.

Here's What's Coming Up:
 

4/12: Solidarity Sunday

West Central Florida Future Labor Leaders invites any and all to its Solidarity Sunday social this Sunday in Tampa. RSVP by clicking the flyer below.

4/19: Labor History Walking Tour of Ybor City by Tampa DSA

4/23: Without Shade, Without Rest screening hosted by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Without Shade, Without Rest tells the powerful story of two Florida-based organizations, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and WeCount!, and their worker-led campaigns for heat protections. After the film, we'll be hosting a brief Q&A with representatives from CIW, the Fair Food Standards Council, WeCount!, and Six Eye Films. The event is free and open to the public! Click the flyer below to RSVP.
 

5/2: International Workers Day Rally & March by West Central Florida Future Labor Leaders

Save the Date! RSVP Coming soon...

5/9: Letter Carriers' Food Drive

That's all for this week! Check out our website at wcflc.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more updates. If you'd like to receive this weekly via email, please subscribe here: bit.ly/WCFLC 
 

Bonus photo for the thorough readers out there! Left-to-right: Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, WCFLC President Stephanie Yocum, Senator-Elect Brian Nathan, and Congresswoman Kathy Castor.