About Us
Through the collective bargaining process with our Unionized Employer partners, IUPAT District Council 39 strives to provide the greatest quality of life for our members and their families; Our focus is driven by ensuring our members receive a fair wage and the best health and retirement benefits our respective industries have to offer.
Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer
Jonathan Gaul
Jonathan is a 25 year member of IUPAT Local 1439. In the role of BM/ST, Jonathan is the District Councils:
- Lead negotiator and Chief Financial Officer;
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the IUPAT Atlantic Provinces Benefit Trust, which is responsible for administrating the Health and Welfare program for members of District Council 39;
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the IUPAT Atlantic Provinces Joint Apprenticeship Training Fund, which is responsible for operating the Finishing-Trades training program in Atlantic Canada.
Jonathan is also actively involved in the construction industry in other capacities, including:
- President of the Mainland Nova Scotia Building Trades Council (2017-current). The Mainland Building Trades represents 11,000 Unionized tradespeople on Mainland Nova Scotia.
- Executive Officer for the Mainland Nova Scotia Building Trades Council (2014-2017).
- Vice Chairman for the Nova Scotia Construction Sector Council (2023-current);
- Executive Officer for Nova Scotia Construction Sector Council (2019-2023);
- Director for the Nova Scotia Construction Sector Council (2006-current) appointed by the CBIBCTC;
- Director for Build Right Nova Scotia (2015-current);
- Delegate to the Cape Breton Island Building and Construction Trades Council; New Brunswick Building and Construction Trades Council; Prince Edward Island Building and Construction Trades Council; Newfoundland And Labrador Building and Construction Trades Council, (2010-current).
Jonathan is a 25 year member of IUPAT Local 1439. Initiated into the Halifax Local in 1998 as an Apprentice Industrial Painter, Jonathan began his career painting ships at the Halifax Ocean Terminals and later specialized in open-steel work as an Industrial Bridge Painter for the Halifax Harbour Bridge Commission. While working as a full-time painter during the painting season, he worked towards a University degree during the fall and winter months and graduated from Dalhousie University with a BCS degree in 2004. After having been appointed positions such as Foreman and Shop Steward on various construction projects, he earned a greater appreciation for the Union's structure. In 2005, he was appointed Director of Apprenticeship and Training for IUPAT District Council 39. Jonathan continued in the role until 2010 when he was elected as the Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer of IUPAT DC39. He has since completed the Leadership Training Series at the U.S. National Labor College.
“My vision is to strengthen and grow our Union by providing our members with the skills and training
to be the best possible tradespeople working in the finishing trades industry in Atlantic Canada."
Business Representatives
Rhiannon Chisholm - Local 1439/1949, Mainland Nova Scotia
Rhiannon is the Business Representative for Local 1439 and Local 1949 (Dockyard Local). Rhiannon was a Red Seal Welder prior to joining our Union in 2017. In 2023, Rhiannon was hired to represent our Industrial members in Local 1439 and 1949. Rhiannon also serves as the Union's Recruitment and Retention coordinator.
Keith Fougere - Local 1945, Cape Breton Island
Keith is the Business Representative for Local 1945. He began in the trade as a Commercial and Industrial Painter in 1976. His career on the tools saw him on jobs like the large Pulp and Paper Mill in Point Tupper, and others. In 2000 he became President of IUPAT DC39 and in 2008 he was appointed as a Business Representative for Cape Breton Island.
Claude Robichaud - Local 1151/1936, New Brunswick
Claude is the Business Representative for Local 1151 and Local 1936. Prior to being a Business Representative, he was a Union Organizer for Local 1151/1936 for two years. A Red Seal Industrial Painter by trade, Claude started his apprenticeship in 1991 and was a full Journeyman by 1995. His career on the tools took him to many pulp and paper mills, power plants, refineries, other industrial sites.
Andrew Brooks - Local 1984, Newfoundland and Labrador
Andrew Brooks is the Business Representative for Local 1984. Prior to becoming a Business Representative in 2018, Andrew was a Union Organizer for Local 1439 for seven years.
Scott Keeping - Director of Servicing
Scott has over 25 years of experience in the construction industry. Over the years he has worked on a wide variety of industrial, commercial and residential projects. He brings an impressive hands-on work history and skills knowledge to his current role. Scott is dedicated to serving the needs of our membership. He has a strong history of Union involvement dating back to 2005 and credits his Union participation with creating professional opportunities for himself such as shop steward, site foreman and skills instructor. He firmly believes that educating unrepresented workers about the benefits of Union membership and encouraging and facilitating workers to become members of the IUPAT is the best way to elevate them and the finishing trades. Scott’s personal mission is to grow the IUPAT by spreading the Union’s message and promise of a better life to unrepresented workers in the finishing trades, and by working collaboratively with union contractors and developers to increase job opportunities for Union members. He sees this as the keys to our Union’s success.
Trade Unionism provides a better way of life for workers and their families by providing better wages, retirement savings, health benefits, and safer working conditions. We encourage all our Union Brothers and Sisters to rise to the challenge of improving their professional lives and the lives of their families by being active in their Union.
“We are Union!”