Union Carpenter, Derek Winemiller

What does it mean to be a union brother or sister? For Derek Winemiller (Local 315), it means doing what you can to make sure your fellow carpenters get home safe at the end of the day. “That’s what it comes down to, our number one job is making sure we all get back to the ones we love,” he explained.

In February 2020, the 40-year-old came frighteningly close to never seeing his loved ones again. That night in Kansas City, Winemiller stepped into the middle of an armed robbery in progress and was shot at least a dozen times. Doctors have never been able to determine just how many bullets entered his body (probably between 12 and 16.) He says he was trying to do the right thing. “I couldn’t just let those people get hurt.”

Immediately after the shooting, Winemiller couldn’t move, his spine badly swollen by a bullet graze. With the aid of an exoskeleton and a walker, he’s had to relearn how to move again. Thanks to support from his local, his family and even strangers, Winemiller is recovering one step at a time. “I don’t have a stop button. I don’t know how to quit. As soon as the doctors told me that I could recover, that’s where my focus has been,” he said. “Every bit of what was taken from me, I am going to get back. “

A good friend and union brother, Lou Tuck (Local 315), has collected thousands of dollars at local meetings and from fellow carpenters on the job where Winemiller had been working before the shooting. Tuck said members from other unions also stepped up with donations. Many of them had never even met Winemiller but were inspired by his story. His employer, McCown-Gordon, contributed as well, and promised to keep his job waiting for him once he’s fully recovered.

Before joining the union, Winemiller was in the Army but was discharged after an accident during training. He recovered from his injuries and started working odd jobs to get by. That’s when he talked to his father in-law, John Gregory (Local 315), about professional carpentry. “I told him if he wants to be a union carpenter, ‘you need to keep your mouth shut and your ears open,’ and he did exactly that,” Gregory said. His son-in-law instantly showed a hard-work ethic, “He just wants to help everyone. You couldn’t ask for a better brother, union member, or citizen.” While donations have helped the family with groceries and medical bills, additional assistance has poured in from the UBC’s Helping Hands fund and a Kansas City-based nonprofit called Working Families’ Friend (WFF). The group offers labor families services and financial help in times of need and the Carpenters regional council has been a proud donor for years.

The Carpenters regional council’s apprenticeship program has also pitched in, retrofitting the family’s porch to accommodate a wheelchair. “At the end of the day, I wish we could do even more for him,” program director Kevin Wilcoxon said. A year and a half since that horrific night, Winemiller is still drawing strength from his union brotherhood. “They continue to show up, they continue to check up on me and they still help my family,” he said. “It would be easy to let me slip out, but I’m constantly reminded of the brotherhood.”

Union Carpenter, Derek Winemiller, heroicly interrupts an armed robbery and almost loses his life. Derek has faced more than a year of recovery and physical therapy after being shot at least a dozen times.

Executive Secretary-Treasurer Al Bond said the brotherhood is a positive force that touches all union members. “Being a part of the brotherhood is knowing that there are brothers and sisters who are out there to support one another in times of need, building our communities and taking care of each other.”