From the desk of Lenny Paredes:
To the brothers and sisters of BAC Local 3 Northern California. I hope when you read this labor article your family, friends and co-workers are safe and healthy.
We are in the middle of one of the worst fire seasons in California’s history. In this time of unsettled weather, life can be stressful, worrisome and full of unknowns. Added stress comes from the smoke that has encompassed the Central Valley of California for the last couple months to the evacuations in place with the numerous fires in the area. The air quality has been terrible, but our trades have weathered the storm and continue to put in the hours and keep many of the jobs on schedule and on budget.
If you or another member have been impacted by the CA wildfires, the BAC Disaster Relief Fund can help assist members in good standing. Reach out to myself or call the Union Hall for more information.
As if the fires weren’t enough to deal with, COVID has reemerged with the Delta variant. Some jobsites are requiring that all workers on site be vaccinated. There is nothing we can do if an owner chooses to do so. Approximately 65 percent of our BAC members are fully vaccinated. I believe that number will get higher with the more transmissible Delta variant. We as BAC can do our part by getting vaccinated, wearing masks, and keeping social distance.
September 14th is the date for the republican recall election. You may or may not like or agree with Governor Gavin Newsom, but we should vote NO on the recall and keep our governor in office. He supports union labor and has a lot of influence on where money should be spent. We will be hosting our BAC picnic on October 9th at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. We hope to see you there for a great time.
BAC staff are looking for teams to compete in the regional SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 on October 30th at CastleLite block plant in Dixon, CA. Teams will consist of a Bricklayer and a Hodcarrier. The winner will be awarded an entry into the National Bricklayer 500 contest at World of Concrete in January 2022.
Remember if you’re out of work please call the Union Hall every Monday to be put on the out of work list. BAC contractors use this as a recourse and all Field Representatives are sent this list on a weekly basis. You also can call signatory contactors directly. BAC contractor lists are available on our website.
Stay current on your dues and utilize Operating Engineers Federal Credit Union to pay your dues from your vacation account.
In closing I hope everyone stays safe, healthy and happy during these trying times. Feel free to reach out to me at any time with any questions you may have.
We are the best hands in the business.