Episode Details

Ironworkers Local 63 member Paul Goodrich joins the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the specialized role of architectural ironworkers, the importance of labor history in apprenticeship, and the growing movement to support recovery and mental health in the trades.

On today’s episode, host Ed "Flash" Ferenc sits down with Paul Goodrich, a member of Ironworkers Local 63 in Chicago. With experience as an ironworker, foreman, and teacher, Goodrich offers a deep dive into a trade that literally provides the "final look" of the Chicago skyline.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Art of the Finish: How Local 63 specializes in architectural and ornamental ironwork, from curtain wall systems to glass installations.

• Adapting to Innovation: How technology is changing man-hours on the job and why unions must organize aggressively around new construction methods.

• Teaching the Movement: Why Goodrich believes every apprentice needs to understand Chicago’s labor history—from the Haymarket era to modern collective action.

• Recovery and Resilience: A personal look at how union health benefits and peer support are helping trades workers navigate substance use and mental health challenges.

• The Union Foundation: Why the path to dignity, respect, and economic stability still runs through a union contract.

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