From the desk of Randy Smith

     While you’re out on the jobsite working, there are a lot of things happening behind the scenes to create jobs, meet member needs and pave the way to a better future.

     I’d like to share with you how the union works for you on a daily basis. I’m a Field Representative covering Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties.

Along with your officers and other representatives, we work for you.



PLAs, Building Trades and Prevailing wage

     Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) play a major role in securing jobs and keeping Union contractors in the forefront for public and private projects. A PLA is a type of pre-hire agreement designed to facilitate complex construction projects. Each PLA is negotiated and designed individually – tailored to meet the needs of a specific project or owner. A product of collective bargaining, PLAs govern the work rules, pay rates and dispute resolution processes for every worker on the project. PLAs are a result of the joint efforts of the construction trades working together to create and secure more work.

     Building Trades Councils in each area plays a key role in structuring PLAs and enforcing prevailing wage. The Building Trades Council is made up of representatives from the construction trades. We meet weekly to review jobs, share information and support each other in the field. Each union is stronger because of their affiliation with this body of like-minded, goal-orientated members working together to generate and collectively keep union labor working. PLAs and prevailing wages are a big part of the focus to create and sustain jobs and keep fair wages.

     Prevailing wages are important because they set the standard for pay scale on most public works projects. The union scale is the hourly wage and benefit package that each worker must be paid when working on jobs that are funded by State and City budgets. This is important to all trades. The prevailing wage is enforced with both union and non-union contractors, which guarantees a level playing field for our contractors on these types of projects. Collectively the Building Trades Council works to establish new PLAs and to increase the number of union-only projects, keeping wages and quality standards high.

     Here are a number of examples of PLAs that are a result of your representatives working for you, and the Building Trades collective enforcement of prevailing wages.



San Jose International Airport ($1.5 billion)

San Jose Evergreen Community College District ($185 million)

Eastside Union High School District Measure E ($350 million)

Milpitas Senior Center ($10 million)

Santa Clara County Measure A – Hospital ($850 million)

Foothill DeAnza Community College ($500 million)

Fremont Union High School District ($50 million)

Alum Rock Elementary School District ($175 million)

Moss Landing Power Plant Maintenance Agreement



Apprenticeship update

     Apprenticeship programs are key to our future.

     I’d like to congratulate all of our apprentices who participated in the local Apprenticeship Contests. The craftsmanship was top quality, making judging difficult.

     We appreciate the time and effort of the judges. The Tile judges were Dan Wilcox (Reputable Tile), Larry Bloom (California Tile Installers), and Tony Santos (Field Representative BAC-3). The Brick judges were BAC 3 members Roger Walls, David Thomas, and Joel Lopez. The PCC judges were Instructors Bill O’Connell and Justin Garland. Appreciation is also extended to the Program Coordinators Michael Height (Brick, Marble, PCC) and Lupe Ortiz (Tile) for their continued dedication and hard work.



The winners are as follows:

     Tile Setters: First Place – Mario Carbajal; Second Place- Ezequiel Suarez, Third Place- Rene Cervantes.

     Tile Finishers: First Place- Antonio Lomeli, Second Place – Robert McDonald.

     Bricklayers: First Place – Rodney Davis; Second Place – Brian Sunquist; Third Place- Francisco Garcia.

     PCC: First Place- Oscar Jimenez; Second Place- Jose Gonzalez, Jr.; Third Place- Edgardo Valencia.

     As a result of their hard work and excellent craftsmanship BAC-3 will be well represented at the Western States Apprenticeship Contest on May 22, 2010 in Seattle, Washington.

      Representing BAC –3 are: Tile apprentices Carbajal, Suarez and Cervantes; Brick apprentices Davis, Sunquist and Adam Wakeham; PCC apprentices Jimenez and Valencia.

     Our new Apprenticeship School is currently under construction in Tracy. This facility will be home to the Brick, Marble, and PCC programs.



International Union News

     On February 22, 2010 at the BAC Winter Executive Council meeting, International Union President John Flynn announced his retirement. New Officers were sworn in. Congratulations to our new IU Officers: new President James Boland, new Secretary-Treasurer Henry Kramer, new Executive Vice-President Tim Driscoll, and Executive Vice-Presidents Ken Lambert and Gerald Scarano.

     We are excited to have James Boland as the new IU President. He is a BAC- 3-CA Member and former officer, having served our local for many years before going on to the IU. Flynn served as IU President for 11 years.



>>> Please see the article regarding Jimi Sousa, Former BAC #3 Field Representative and Past President of the Alameda Building Trades in this publication.