Promising Work Picture Ahead
Dear Brothers and Sisters – It’s been a busy summer at Local 11 – from securing our prevailing wages from a brazen attack last month to securing more work for our members on a variety of projects coming up in the fall. Our organizing department has been going gangbusters as well, bringing on 11 new signatory contractors in the last year, which will create more work for members. In fact, we’re already getting calls from some of those contractors who are putting our members to work.
I’m pleased to report that we received an award at the 9th District Progress Meeting for most contractors organized within the 9th District in 2024 (See our story on page 4). A big shoutout to the whole organizing department for their hard work.
On the work front, I’m happy to highlight our big $442-million PLA victory at Rio Hondo College last week. Thank you to our Business Development team for maintaining these long-standing relationships and helping bring this victory home (Read the full story on page 1).
We’re also fighting for battery storage facilities in Acton, that will create hundreds of jobs for our members. The upcoming 2028 Olympics will also create many work opportunities as we renovate existing facilities and build some new facilities to host Olympic events.
Prevailing Wage Win
Last month we successfully protected our prevailing wage rates from an attack by another building trades craft and some of our friends in the legislature. We jumped into action with our fellow IBEW Brothers and Sisters around the state with phone calls, emails, and in-person visits to legislators. As a result, we were able to uphold our wages and not get downgraded to $20 an hour! Thank you to all who reached out to legislators and urged them to opt for skilled and trained workers rather than engage in a race to the bottom in filling California’s affordable housing gap.
Our message was loud and clear: We refuse to build affordable housing on the backs of our members.
There’s also encouraging news on the renewable energy front. With federal funding now at risk with the Trump administration clawing back billions of dollars in promised funding, we are continuing to pursue grants and private funding for future-focused technologies like offshore wind, geothermal, battery storage, and more.
ICE Raids Fall Out
I know the continuing ICE raids have many of our members and their families on edge. We are doing what we can, but we are constrained by the legal extent of the law. We are working with our Brothers and Sisters at the LA County Federation of Labor pushing back as much as legally possible to protect our members. If you have any problems at the worksite, please call us ASAP for assistance. We know some of you are having trouble making appointments for your work visas. Many of these appointments are getting pushed back due to staff shortages and a general slowdown in processing these appointments.
I also want to urge you to be on the lookout for safety rollbacks on the jobsite with OSHA funding being squeezed. If you notice safety violations or don’t feel safe on the jobsite, please contact your job steward, Business Agent, or call us at the Local. This is one more example of why politics matters. Remember that next election.
And, finally, I want to remind everyone that, “It’s okay not to be okay.” We have a mental health crisis in the construction industry, with our suicide rates 3-5 times higher than the general population. In that vein, remember that September is mental health month. Reach out if you’re having issues. We’re here for you. We are family. We are your Brothers and Sisters.
In solidarity,
Robert Corona
Business Manager/Financial Secretary
