James “Jim” Guinn has recently stepped down from his position as Management Trustee of
the BAC 3 Joint Apprenticeship Training and Education Committee “JATEC”. Jim Guinn has
always been, and continues to be a great believer and supporter of BAC Apprenticeship.
His unwavering devotion of time, energy, and wisdom has literally supplied generations of
BAC members with quality Apprenticeship Training. That training has strengthened the Union
Masonry Industry with quality Journeyman Craftworkers.
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Jim and his son William “Bill”, and although I have known Jim for 26 years, I learned more about him. Some of the important dates in his life correspond with dates in American History.
Jim Guinn was born on March 4, 1924 in Stigler, Oklahoma, the eldest of seven. His father was a Farmer from Arkansas and his mother was born on an Indian Reservation in Oklahoma. His family moved from Oklahoma in 1930 during the Dust Bowl. They settled in the San Joaquin Valley. Jim married his lovely wife Oma on December 4, 1941, 3 days before the Attack on Pearl Harbor. They started their family of three boys before Jim joined the Marine Corps in 1943, serving his country at the end of World War II.
Returning to Los Banos in 1946, Jim was unable to find work farming. He found work as a Laborer in the San Francisco Bay Area, and settled his family in Woodside. After one year as a Laborer and three as a Hodcarrier, Jim began laying Brick in 1950.
Jim started his company in 1952 and incorporated James Guinn Masonry in 1958. He joined the Mason and Builders Contractors Association in the mid 1950’s and the CCMCA in the early 1960’s. It was also during the late 1950’s that Jim applied his devotion to training. On weekends, his yard was open to Apprentices that were eager to learn the Trade. Jim, along with the Union and other contractors, started the San Francisco Local 7 Labor/Management Joint Apprenticeship Committee nearly 45 years ago. Jim also began his years of dedication to the Brick 7 Pension and Health & Welfare Funds during the 1950’s. Tom Dee of Dee Engineering, a good friend of Jims over the years, was also one of the Pioneers of these Trust Funds in the 1950’s. Tom also just recently resigned as a Management Trustee.
During the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, Guinn Masonry had as many as 125 employees from San Luis Obispo to the Oregon border. From the 1960’s through the 1980’s, James Guinn Masonry Inc. continued to be one of the largest Masonry Contractors on the San Francisco Peninsula. Jim also served a term as President of the Masonry Institute.
During the 1960’s, Jim’s three sons, Bill, Robert “Bob”, and Wayne served their Apprenticeship in the Brick 7 JAC and started their careers with Guinn Masonry. The Guinn’s have since lost their son Bob to illness.
Guinn Masonry, along with Dee Engineering, Person-Western and Local 7, was integral in the purchase of the 180 Potrero Ave. San Francisco Apprentice Training Facility in the early 1970’s.
Jim continued to serve as Management Trustee on Brick 7 Defined Benefit Pension, Defined Contribution Pension (from inception), and BAC 3 Health &Welfare (through merger) over the years before resigning in 2003. Jim recently has served on these funds with Horst Mittelstadt of Milo Masonry and Bob Filippi of American Terrazzo.
Jim Guinn is proud to have “dealt with everyone fairly” while accomplishing so much, including family and business. Of the Apprentices he had contact with through the JATEC and/or his Company, Jim “felt like the Apprentices were part of him”. Jim goes on to say “It has been a pleasure to be a part of the JATEC, and working with the many people associated with it”. Jim feels the BAC Apprenticeship “has come a long way with many accomplishments, and continues to give all Apprentices a good, and fair opportunity to succeed”.
Thank You James Guinn, for your hard work and dedication to BAC 3 Apprenticeship Training. Enjoy your 80th Birthday this March, and many more.
Dave Jackson
News from the Apprenticeship Office
We are continuing to take applications at the Apprenticeship Office for Bricklayers and Pointer, Cleaner, Caulkers. The apprentices work hours have remained fairly steady in these crafts. The work situation for our Marble Masons and Finishers is still slow.
Checks will be mailed on 28 January to the apprentices who live distant from the Training Center. Apprentices who meet the criteria for travel reimbursement should receive their checks by Friday or Saturday this week.
The Bricklayers from Pleasanton will be traveling to Fresno for our Local Bricklaying Contest on 20 March. The contest will be held at the apprentice school located at 2698 North Brawley in Fresno. Thirty of our Apprentices will be competing for a chance to compete in the Western States Brick and Tile Contest scheduled for 8 May in Seattle, Washington.
The Fresno Contest will begin at 8:45 am and end at 1:00 pm. We plan to cook and serve lunch immediately following the contest. Local 3 bricklayers and Contractors are invited to join us at the contest. It’s a good opportunity to get a glimpse of our program.
Recently Certified Journeypersons
PCC
Erasmo Perez
Bricklayer
Brent Martin
Marble Finisher
Patrick Muller
Congratulations to each of you for choosing a respected and rewarding craft.
BAC Local 3 JATEC
BAC local 3, Joint Apprenticeship Training and Education Committee (“JATEC”) is responsible for operating the training programs for the members of Bricklayers and Allied Craft-workers, Local 3, California, who are working in the crafts of Bricklayer / Stonemason, Pointer, Cleaner, Caulker (“PCC”), Marble Mason and Marble Finisher. This is a joint committee, as the name implies, with trustees appointed from the union and also from the contractors. Committee members are not required to be trustees by law, as is the case with consultants from the State of California Division of Apprenticeship Standards (“DAS”), the Hayward Unified School District, and the Central Unified School District in Fresno. Consultants serve in an advisory capacity and are not allowed to vote on matters facing the committee. The Apprenticeship Coordinator also serves as a consultant along with a secretary, who records the minutes of the monthly meetings.
BAC Local 3 JATEC, not to be confused with BAC Local 3 (“the union”) are separate organizations. Even though the JATEC works exclusively with BAC Local 3 and it’s signatory contractors, they reserve their own autonomy. The JATEC elects a chairman and a secretary treasurer to a two-year term, with the office alternating between labor and management. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees is Dave Jackson, representing labor. Other trustees from labor are Bob Keeles, Greg Miranda, and Al Knauer. The trustees from management are Secretary / Treasurer, Ron Bennett, also Bob Filippi, Wayne Mika, and Horst Mittelstadt. The primary objective of the trustees is to maintain the apprenticeship training program in the best interest of the industry, while complying with state and federal law. These trustees are progressive minded, positive thinking individuals who strive to work harmoniously toward a collective vision, while exercising their fiduciary responsibility.
The apprenticeship program has made considerable progress in the past that will enable us continued progress toward our ultimate goal of a training program second to none. We invite input from all who share this vision.
Skilled Bricklayers Needed
We recently were informed of an opportunity for a skilled bricklayer to travel to southern Sudan to help build a medical clinic. Please read the following letter that will provide you with some background information. If you would like to find out more about this rare opportunity you should contact Ursula Bowman, 510-499-1186 for additional information.
The political and economical instability that has prevailed in Sudan since 1991 has led to the displacement of masses of people to many parts of Southern Sudan.
Since the collapse of a ruling government, and alongside all the social infrastructures, including health, the meager control measures that were in place have been neglected. Conditions of poor solid waste disposal, as well as increasingly large population movements have contributed to the spread of diseases and epidemics.
Southern Sudan is also particularly vulnerable to occurrence of epidemics due to several other factors, including civil strife, lack of national disease control programs, poorly functioning public water supply, high prevalence of malnutrition, destruction of most of the health services infrastructure and loss of the majority of professional medical staff as well the presence of large rivers with un-maintained canals.
My goal is to improve the health of the people of Southern Sudan, by establishing a local medical clinic that will provide basic health care services, preventive and curative services and programs. The village where the medical clinic will be located is in an area with a population of 200,000 people, who have no access to medical treatment or social services. As always, raising the necessary funding is a real challenge. Thus far, I have the money for the building materials and solid commitments for continued support to cover operational expenses. My employer, along with a number of other health care providers are donating all of the medical equipment, supplies and the cost of the container for shipping these items. Cosmopolitan Baptist Church, Shiloh Baptist Church and Harambee, CEDC are sponsoring partners in this endeavor.
In order to move forward, I need a team of volunteers who are skilled as Bricklayers to assist in the construction; they will be responsible for the building of the clinic and supervision of the community workers that are providing (pro bono) the labor. Bricks for this project are being made by the community and should be completed by the beginning of February 2004.
Any assistance that you can render will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ursula Bowman Missionary/Board Vice-Chairperson
Email: ursbow@aol.com (510) 499-1186
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J. W. McCulloch
Change
Change is often brought about by our own actions, or it may be a result of circumstances beyond our control. One thing we can count on is that things will change. Changes may be viewed as stepping-stones to something better, one change leading to another, and so on. Another view, why change something if it has been working this long. Most of us probably see it both ways at times, we can embrace change for good reason, but change for the sake of change doesn’t necessarily amount to good reason.
We recently saw a big change within our union last month with the election of a new president. Jim Bresnahan will assume the office of president on February 2, 2004. Other changes are sure to follow. Jim has worked hard for this position and will be looking for the support of the membership. The office of president carries a tremendous responsibility, not only to the membership but also to the welfare of the entire masonry industry. We certainly wish him the best of luck in this chosen endeavor.
As union members, we are obligated to comply with the will of the majority. We also should accept the responsibility as union members to attend, and be a part of our local chapter meetings, working for positive change for the good of the membership.
Unless we change direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed.
J. W. McCulloch