Local 11’s Newest Compliance Officer a Proud Behind-the-Scenes Bulldog
If all is going according to plan, Local 11’s Compliance department is one most members never encounter.
Yet, this small staff plays an outsized role to ensure all projects adhere to union rules and that Local 11 Brothers and Sisters get paid on time.
When those union red lines get crossed, though, the Compliance department becomes the bulldog—conducting investigations and holding contractors accountable.
Earlier this year, Carlos Rodarte, Local 11’s former District 3 organizer and 25-year Local member, was brought on to the Compliance department as a Compliance Officer.
“I’m really excited to start this new role,” said Rodarte. “Sometimes members are not too familiar with how we work, but when it comes to compliance and holding contractors accountable, we go in there and let them have it, because you’re talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars or millions of dollars.”
News@11 spoke with Rodarte about his new role and the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Explain the role of the Compliance department and why it’s important to our members.
Rodarte: My job in Compliance is to facilitate the pre-jobs. The Business Manager, he’s at an 80,000-foot level overviewing the whole ship. The Compliance department makes sure that projects under PLA, and CWA are following the union rules and making sure they follow the CBA as well—our contract bargaining agreement. And if, for some reason they don’t, we hold them accountable.
How do you rectify any non-compliance issues?
Rodarte: We’ll file a grievance. We’re here to protect our members. Our members let us know if they’re getting the right wages or their benefits are getting paid. If, for some reason they’re not, then a red flag goes up, and Compliance gets aware of it. We gather the evidence, and then we have a discussion. My boss [Veronica Martinez] will generate the grievance and go through the whole process.
You’ve gone from Inside Wireman, to foreman, to organizer, and now Compliance. Do you miss being on the job site?
Rodarte: I miss the camaraderie with the members on site. To have fun when I go to work is a blessing. When I was an organizer, I had that sense of seeing the members, which was cool. Now that I’m in Compliance, I’m behind a desk, but it’s a blessing to be in this position and be able to continue representing the Local and the membership.
How did your time as organizer inform what you’re doing now?
Rodarte: As an organizer, we organize non-union electricians. So, you gain more knowledge, and you see other parts of the job. Now that I’m in a whole different department, it opens up even more. It’s like, “Oh, that’s how that works.”
How does the Compliance team—Veronica Martinez, Diana Limon, and yourself—work together? How do your roles differ, and how do they complement each other?
Rodarte: Veronica oversees the entire department, so she’s the one that sets up all the grievances. She wears a lot of hats. She’s on committees and goes to Sacramento all the time with our politicians and legislators. Diana is a Compliance officer and also manages women’s recruitment. Every year we want to double [our female membership]. We want more women in our trades. I oversee all the pre-jobs – reviewing packages, making sure these non-union companies have a smooth transition, because sometimes they can be a little intimidated. My job is knowing that, “Hey, you guys look intimidated, but let me help you. I want you to be successful because you’re putting my members to work.”
What about your work do you think most members are not aware of? What do you wish members would know about what you do behind the scenes?
Rodarte: I want the membership to know that the Compliance department’s number one priority is protecting them and their loved ones. We’re making sure they’re getting their wages and fringe benefits. And if companies are not paying, we’ll hold them accountable.
Local 11 just set a record for the number of contractors signed last year. What opportunities and challenges does that present?
Rodarte: It’s exciting. We have billions of dollars being invested in LA County with projects like LAX, LAUSD, the 2028 Olympic Games, and the LA Convention Center expansion, which is a $2.6-billion project. I want to be able to bring these non-union companies into our Local. I’m going to be very busy making sure their transition into the Local is as smooth as possible.
