Union Construction Academy Graduate Rodrigue Mbatchi (LIUNA 327): From Political Persecution to a Union Job in Maine

On July 18, 2023, Rodrigue Mbatchi arrived in Maine to seek a life of peace and freedom after experiencing political persecution in his home country of the Republic of Congo. After graduating from the Maine AFL-CIO’s Union Construction Academy in February, 2024, Mbatchi immediately began working hard on a variety of construction projects with the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 327.

“Others say the work is too hard or the distance is too far but I like this job because everything I see, like the machines, the construction of roads, and other things I learned thanks to the UCA training and I am on the right track,” said Mbatchi.

Mbatchi’s homeland has been in a state of near continuous war and political instability since 1996. The protracted crisis in central Africa is often called "Africa's World War,” which escalated after the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. The war, which is concentrated in the Eastern Congo, continues today due to factors like ethnic tensions, political rivalries and competition for the country's valuable natural resources.

Mbatchi is originally from the Republic of Congo’s capital city of Brazzaville, which is located across from Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The city of 2.1 million people was founded by the French colonial empire on an existing indigenous settlement called Ncuna. For the past decades the region has experienced devastating civil wars between rebels, government forces and neighboring countries. In the 1990s, thousands of civilians in the city died in civil wars and thousands more fled the city. Mbatchi said he was persecuted by the government because he was the youth secretary of a political party in Congo.

“It’s not easy to live in a country where there is no democracy, no human rights, and no freedom of expression,” said Mbatchi. “The persecution was very, very complicated, so I was forced to flee. I left my children, my job as a pipefitter supervisor in an oil company, with all the benefits, but that's life. I don't know what life has become in my country now, because I'm not there anymore, but I consult the media and social networks and people tell me on the phone that the situation is getting worse every day.”

When he arrived in Maine, Mbatchi was struck by the state’s natural beauty and how welcoming the community is.

“Maine is a very calm and welcoming state, a state that helps immigrants integrate into American culture,” he said. “When I arrived, life was not too difficult because I had the grace of God to meet the right people who put me in contact with Mr. Sam Boss, (the Maine AFL-CIO’s Pre-Apprenticeship director) who opened doors for me in this country.”

But it hasn’t been easy having to leave his family and everything he’s ever known behind. The climate in Maine is much colder than in central Africa and his first language is French, so it’s been a struggle to navigate language barriers. He owes his success to being "surrounded by good people.” The nonprofit Immigrant Advocacy and Support (I.A.S.) connected Mbatchi to Boss and the UCA. He said Boss was especially helpful in translating instructions in French when he didn’t understand the directions in English.

'Mr. Boss does not differentiate between American and immigrant,” said Mbatchi. “Whether you are American or not, he considers you on the same level. He is a wonderful gentleman.”

Mbatchi praised the UCA for its “high-level” instructors and quality training. Boss said what stood out most about Mbatchi when he first met him was his great attitude and humility.

“Rodrigue was about half an hour early for our interview and said ‘no matter what it is I want to give back to this country that had given so much to me,’” said Boss.

Mbatchi said while there are unions in the Republic of Congo, he was never eligible to join one because he was in a supervisory position. He noted that unions in the U.S. “play a crucial role in protecting workers' rights and promoting fair working conditions.” LIUNA New England Regional Organizer Jason J. Shedlock, who also serves as the President of the Maine Building and Construction Trades Council, praised Mbatchi for his commitment and strong work ethic.

"In a very short time, Brother Rodrigue has become a role model for fellow Laborers everywhere he goes,” said Shedlock. “What makes that even more special is that he does this quietly and without fanfare, speaking with humility through his work ethic. Right from the first day he signed on with us, he has never failed to answer the bell. Rodrigue is a ‘damn good Laborer,’ which in our field, is a high compliment and strong endorsement. He makes Local 327 a better union and I'm proud to call him my Brother. He's a good man. No drama. No bullshit.”

In the meantime, Mbatchi is working hard to improve his English, so he can pursue his true passion - pipefitting.

“That is why I am trying hard to learn the language,” he said. “Little by little, the bird builds its nest."