Brian Brocato is a custodian at Pittsburgh’s school for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), and an AFSCME member with over 30 years of commitment to growing and strengthening his union.
Since 1994, the Pittsburgh resident has been a proud member of AFSCME Local 297 (Council 13), representing over 400 workers who ensure Pittsburgh Public Schools are safe, clean and welcoming to students and staff. Brocato has always stepped up for his union and his fellow workers, first as a steward, then a trustee, the treasurer and now as president of his local and as a member of the AFSCME Council 13 Advisory Board.
Brocato signed his union card the first day he was eligible to do so in 1994. As president, he has cemented that as the mission and the standard for Local 297, which has been at 100% membership since 2022 under his leadership. The cooks, custodians, cleaners, groundskeepers, mechanics, maintenance crew, laborers, firemen, equipment operators, pest controllers and musical instrument repairers who make Pittsburgh’s schools happen have all heard and will continue to hear from their local president on their first day of employment.
When he is not handling AFSCME business, Brocato watches every football game he can and ventures out to theme parks for rollercoaster rides. But the time he most values is that he spends being there for his grandkids and watching all their sporting events — especially football.