Building Success: New District 1 South Rep Errol Cutley

By Stephen Lynch

Errol Cutley credits a lot of people for helping him go from having never done any sort of electrical work to recently becoming the new IBEW 11 District 1 South rep in a relatively short amount of time.

In just 10 years, the 43-year-old Cutley has gone from working at LAX as a supervisor for Delta Airlines to his new critical position within the union.

While Cutley is quick to point out all those who have assisted his rise through the union ranks, his ascension to district rep, replacing Shomari Davis, is a testament to his work ethic to do the best at whatever endeavor he undertakes.

Cutley, who grew up in Inglewood with his mother Donna and older sister, has always been a high achiever.

He made good grades in school and assumed the role of man of the house at a young age when his father separated from the rest of the family.

Though an excellent athlete in high school, Cutley focused on his studies in college but dropped out one semester away from graduating due to being busy trying to support himself.

Cutley got involved in electrical work while working at LAX. Every day, he would talk to workers doing an ongoing construction project at the airport and one of them handed him a business card.

“I wasn’t even aware of what trade I was talking to at the time,” Cutley said.

After waiting for six months, Cutley finally decided to call the number on the business card, contacted IBEW Local 11 and began the process of joining the union and becoming an electrician.

“I’ve always been interested in doing construction,” Cutley, who earlier in life helped his friend’s father build houses from the ground up, said. “It intrigued me. It caught my attention. I’ve always been the type to work with my hands, so I was very comfortable and familiar with building things and fixing things.”

Once Cutley joined the union, he was given training through the Electrical Training Institute (ETI) and put through a five-year apprenticeship program, which gave him valuable on-the-job training, classroom training, and upgrades in pay increases.

Before taking his new position as Business Representative/IBEW 11 District 1 South rep a few months ago, Cutley’s job was that of Organizer. In that role, his job was to help the union grow. Before that, he was a journeyman wireman and then a foreman.

Cutley’s current job involves making sure that the collective bargaining agreement between IBEW Local 11 and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) is upheld on both sides.

He says he learned a lot about the job from the now-retired Davis when he first joined the union.

“Shomari was very energized,” Cutley said. “He was a go-getter. One of the biggest things I learned from Shomari was showing me the importance of relationships and networking. He also showed me the importance of knowing the contract and how important it is for our members and contractors to also know what it says.”

Cutley lists Davis, Deon Mayes, Alton Wilkerson, John Harriel, and Eric Brown as mentors who have helped guide him through his career as an electrician. Cutley also credits Business Manager Robert Corona for seeing him fit for his new position.

“These guys were all very influential to me,” Cutley said. “They showed me not only was it important to be a good electrician, but they also showed me the importance of being actively involved.”

Cutley is actively involved in things other than the union. He’s been training in various martial arts disciplines for the past 16 years and is a black belt in Tang Soo Do.

While Cutley enjoys studying martial arts, he says being part of the union is what has changed his life.

“Being a member of IBEW has been a wonderful opportunity,” Cutley said. “Once I passed my state exam and I finished my apprenticeship, that’s something that no one can ever take away from me. I have the skills and the knowledge to be an electrician wherever I want to be. The great benefits the IBEW offers as well as the camaraderie, the brotherhood we have, is something that is immeasurable.”