An Interview with KY State AFL-CIO President, Dustin Reinstedler
The Louisville Workers Brigade
10/24/2024
The Class Struggle Chronicle knows that you are relatively new to your position as President of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO, having assumed office at the beginning of the year; nevertheless, we also know you are no stranger or newcomer to organized labor. Could you tell us a little about your background and work within the Labor Movement up to this point?
I began my union career in construction by joining a 4-year apprenticeship with Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 4 IN/KY in 2005. I quickly became interested and engaged in union meetings which led to being named Recording Secretary for the Louisville Chapter of Local 4 when I was just a 2nd year apprentice. After completion of my apprenticeship in 2009, I began supervising many large industrial projects, overseeing up to 80 people at a time on some projects, and working with multiple trades to complete jobs safely, on time, and under budget. All of this work was done while maintaining good union relationships and always training new apprentices into the workforce.
In 2014, I was hired as a union representative for Local 4 IN/KY. As a union rep, I also took on related duties such as Secretary Treasurer to the pension, Secretary Treasurer to the Drug, Safety, and Training Fund, I was appointed by Governor Beshear to the Housing, Building, and Construction Board of Kentucky, and I helped open new training schools in Kentucky for future bricklayers. I also signed several new employers to the union’s certified bargaining agreement and signed up hundreds of bricklayers to join the union. I was also elected as Vice Chairman to Local 4 IN/KY which included serving on many other boards which benefit working people.
In 2020, I was elected President of The Kentucky State Building and Construction Trades Council which represents tens of thousands of tradespeople in Kentucky. In 2023 came my biggest honor to date: being elected by over 100,000 Kentucky union members to serve as President of Kentucky State AFL-CIO. Today, as president, I work with all labor leaders to ensure that working people have a voice in Frankfort and to promote the benefits of a union life.
As President of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO, could you please explain the purpose of the state labor council, the work the council does, and your role as President?
Kentucky AFL-CIO is an umbrella organization that serves all workers through the solidarity of our 100,000+ members. Our main arms of service are legislative and political activities. With legislative, we have a team of labor lobbyists who monitor all bills and policies, work with legislators in efforts of passing good legislation and holding back harmful legislation, attend and work with committees and task forces both during session and in the interim, hold Lobby Days to fill the halls of Frankfort with working class people to give labor a voice in a capitalist system, hold rallies in the events of harmful legislation, communications from press to direct contact of union members about harmful legislation, assisting with worker communications directly to law makers regarding legislation, working with Governor Beshear and his Cabinet leaders for pro-worker policies and agendas, and more. With our political efforts, it’s simple, we support candidates who support the working class. We are also involved in member education, candidate endorsements, canvassing, and more. Although we have a Political Director, we rely heavily on our affiliates and members to show strength in numbers.
It's no secret that the Labor Movement is in the midst of a period of tremendous growth, militancy, and excitement: new industries are being organized, record numbers of strikes are occurring, and rank-and-file members are becoming engaged and active in their unions' work. What are your thoughts on these developments? What role do you hope the KY State AFL-CIO will continue to play in this renaissance of organized labor?
The popularity and growth of unions in recent years comes as no surprise to me. Whether you want to refer to it as the pendulum, the scales, or whatever, the balance of capital and labor has been far off for far too long. Labor is fighting back with intense force and intentional purpose. What impresses me most is when I see union members I have known for years finally wake up and realize we have been in a class war for a long time and that they can play an active role in fighting back. I am also particularly impressed with the courage of young people in not only recognizing the inequity but for standing up to it. I credit social media a great deal for helping older and younger workers in education and in communications. Kentucky State AFL-CIO has always been a part of organizing by supporting our affiliate's new endeavors, but we now have new methods relating to technology and social media which will further spread our message. So long as there is corporate greed, unsafe working conditions, people without healthcare, and a political system set up for the wealthy, AFL-CIO will not rest.
In your view, what are some of the most pressing and important issues facing working people today? What role does organized labor play in those issues?
Complacency is a big one. We must never be comfortable. We must never believe that things are ok. When just a few people hold more wealth that the entire population combined, when we have a government that would rather subsidize corporations through welfare programs rather than make them pay a living wage, when we have people who are financially ruined over a healthcare issue, etc., we cannot think that we are getting a fair share. Another big one for me is SOLIDARITY. A constant reminder for me that capitalism is winning the class war is when I see a working class person "boot licking" on social media. I see people I know admiring billionaires, talking badly about striking workers, and voting for people who aren't working class.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers? Any advice or suggestions you can offer, for both unionized workers and unorganized workers?
I appreciate this question very much. I get asked this question frequently when I get interviewed by our state newspapers, tv news, etc but this part never makes it past the editor. I have a suspicion that this will not happen here. I want to say to all workers that you have the right as an American through legal and protected process to join or form a union in your workplace. In fact, through President Biden's policies it's easier now than it has been in many decades. This goes for all workers in all industries. Office jobs, warehousing, construction, transportation, it doesn't matter. You and your coworkers can come together and hold power through the collective bargaining process. If you are interested in learning more, please contact us at Kentucky AFL-CIO for assistance.
