Hard Work, Positivity Help IBEW 11 Member Find Success After Prison

Editor’s Note: This profile was originally featured on the IBEW International website.

Gonzalo Varela, a IBEW Local 11 member who recently earned his journeyman wireman ticket after spending more than half of his adult life in prison, is not afraid to share his feelings with his co-workers.

“Sometimes I say, ‘I’m grateful to be here with you guys,’” Varela said. “Some guys are like, ‘What’s wrong with this guy?’”

“I tell them, ‘If only you knew where I’ve been, you’d be happy every day,’” he said. “I have a second chance, and I’m taking it. I’m going with it all the way.”

In 1988, Varela was sentenced to serve 15 years to life in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation system.

“I was young and went to a party, and somebody there ended up dying,” he said. “I was guilty for saying nothing. I ended up getting incarcerated for keeping quiet. I feel bad about it.”

During his time in prison, Varela worked hard to improve himself. “The only good thing I could say about being where I was at [was] I was able to always exercise and read,” he said. “I started going to classes and then facilitating classes. I got into every program you can think of.”

transitional housing before he was accepted into an 18-month program run by Los Angeles-based Homeboy Industries, which helps formerly gang-involved and incarcerated people find jobs.

Through Homeboy, Varela was able to get the identification documents he needed, to work a nonunion temp job installing solar panels for residents of lower-income communities and to take courses.

“They had math classes at 6 in the morning on Saturdays,” he said. “I kept hearing, ‘If somebody wants to get into the IBEW, they have to be sharp at math, and I’m like, ‘Who is the IBEW?’”

Staffers at Homeboy told Varela that he could learn more about the union through Second Chance at Loving Life (2nd Call), a nonprofit offering life skills and trades programs.

One of 2nd Call’s longtime volunteer facilitators is John Harriel — better known as Big John, chairman of Local 11’s executive board and also a formerly incarcerated person. 

After Varela started going to 2nd Call meetings on Thursday nights and sharing his story with Harriel and the others, “I got comfortable speaking about myself and utilizing the life skills they taught,” he said. “I was surprised that there were others just like me. That gave me the courage to speak.”

Harriel also is a superintendent and diversity manager with IBEW signatory contractor Morrow Meadows. “Big John took a chance on me and got me in at Morrow Meadows as a material handler,” said Varela.

By fall 2018, Varela — who had also volunteered at Local 11 in his spare time — felt ready to apply for an IBEW apprenticeship.

“When I went to my interview, I’m like, ‘Oh man, they’re going to say something because I’m going to put down that I’ve been incarcerated,’” he said. “They said, ‘What we care about is who you are today.’”

Local 11 accepted Varela into its apprenticeship, and he gained broad electrical experience working on construction projects such as a new building at a college in Long Beach; a large parking structure in Los Angeles; and SoFi Stadium, home of the NFL’s Chargers and Rams.

In October, Varela topped out of the apprenticeship and became a journeyman wireman.

“We have a very good union,” Varela said. “I love every part of what we stand for, because we’re strong. The people I surround myself with, they’re positive and they believe in giving back and helping out.”

Varela is also proud of his continued work as a 2nd Call mentor. “I still go every Thursday,” he said. “They need to hear that there’s somebody that understands what they’re going through.”

He credits much of his success to his wife, Olga. “She’s been my strongest supporter,” he said. The couple separated amicably after Varela was incarcerated but reconnected after his release.

Meanwhile, Varela continues to stay positive. “When we mope and complain, it doesn’t get us anywhere,” he said. “That’s not about making the best of it and being able to provide for my family.”