A family-owned business able to complete and project successfully due to its highly-trained union workers.

In Partnership With: IUPAT 

A successful family-owned business illustrating the value of skilled union workers

Raymond’s Painting and Decorating is a poster child for how a family and minority-owned business can thrive through labor-management cooperation and entrepreneurship. Since 1978, the commercial painting company has served the Denver area with reliable, superior painting services while providing good, family-supporting jobs.

Raymond’s has built a reputation as a dependable contractor that can deliver projects on time. The company’s work has graced the walls some of Denver’s most notable landmarks, including facilities at Qwest Communications, the University of Denver’s Nagel Hall, renovations at the Magnolia Hotel, premier regional community health network Denver Health, and numerous stores at the Cherry Creek Mall.

Co-owner Estevan M. Trujillo attributes this success largely to the strong relationship the company has with its employees. “We invest in our employees with good wages and benefits. We’ve been around for 33 years providing for our employees. They have a dedication to us as much as we have a dedication to them, knowing we have their best interest at heart in getting good work.” In addition to the higher wages that come with union representation, the staff earns premiums above their regular wages when performing hazardous, more technical, or after-hours work.

The company also provides full healthcare benefits to its workers and their families, and a pension through the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades’ pension fund. The company truly values having a highly-skilled workforce, finding it key to their top-notch reputation in the industry. Employees have access to professional development and training at no cost to them through the union’s apprenticeship program. All are required to complete 16 hours of upgrade training per year, including 10-20 hours of safety training to minimize on-the-job injuries. With their extensive training, it is no wonder that a number of Raymond’s senior employees are invited to participate as the union’s apprentice instructors and trainers.

Understanding that their company’s success goes hand in hand with giving workers a decent quality of life, Raymond’s has reached out to build support for the Employee Free Choice Act. Raymond’s founder and co-owners have lobbied Colorado’s senators, participated in town hall meetings, and worked with fellow employers who back the measure. Raymond’s ability to meet and exceed customer expectations while investing in the well-being of its employees shows that fully-union businesses can succeed in today’s economy.