Rchard Bermack Photography

DanFelix---8995

Painters and Drywall Finishers
District Council 16
Organized Labor
September 2009

Dan Felix, Painter My whole family is in the painting trade. My dad is a painter. I have six uncles, and five of them are painters. My grandpa was a painter for 50 years. When he started, they used to mix their own paints. They gave you the brick color and the linseed oil, and you'd mix your own. The big change is in safety; everything is a lot better now. When I started, it was get it done no matter what. Now it's get it done, but be safe. I saw people fall off some pretty high stuff. During my grandpa’s day, they would paint off the sides of skyscrapers on a bosun’s chair. They didn’t consider you a man if you didn’t take risks. Now we tie up all the time, and even the company stresses safety.