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BAC local 3, Joint Apprenticeship Training and Education Committee (“JATEC”) is responsible for
operating the training programs for the members of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, 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 primary objective of the trustees is to develop and maintain the apprenticeship
training program in the best interest of the industry, while complying with state and federal law. The
Chairman of the Board of Trustees is Bob Filippi, representing management. Other trustees from management
are Ron Bennett, Wayne Mika, and Horst Mittelstadt. New trustees from labor are being considered and are
expected to be appointed soon. These trustees should be progressive minded, positive thinking individuals
who strive to work harmoniously toward a collective vision.
The apprenticeship program has made considerable strides in years past. Our ultimate goal is a training
program second to none. We invite input from all who share this vision.
Apprentices are able to earn extra credit as they progress through our apprenticeship program. This additional
credit is applied to their school hours which is one of the requirements for pay increases and ultimately
completion of the training program. We limit extra credit to no more than fourteen (14) school hours each
year.
Apprentices earn extra credit in several ways. One of these is by donating their time, skills and training to
community service projects. We occasionally get requests for these types of projects. Extra credit is also given
to apprentices for field trips such as plant tours etc. We are currently setting up a tour of a historic
building. The third way apprentices are able to earn extra credit is by attending union meetings. Apprentices
may earn up to seven (7) hours credit for attending union meetings. Specific details regarding this will be
sent to current apprentices, instructors and union officials.
Contact the Apprenticeship Office if you have suggestions for an interesting field trip.
Travel Reimbursements
Travel reimbursement checks were mailed on January 24. The JATEC has authorized travel reimbursements for
apprentices who live distant from the training center. Distances are measured by crow, with the per class
rates listed below;
In addition to the mileage chart, apprentices must receive full credit for the school dates to receive
reimbursement. Make every effort to be at school on time.
The checks mailed on January 24 are for the first nine classes of the school year. Reimbursements for the second
half of the school year will be mailed on June 27.
If you have any questions pertaining to travel reimbursement contact the apprenticeship office.
CPR/First Aid
CPR/First Aid classes will be continuing in February and March. We expect to certify more than sixty (60)
apprentices this year through our association with Hayward Adult School.
Bricklayers who completed the course on 18 November are Mason Coit, Carl McCormick, Bill Swanson, Elder Martinez,
Antonio Gonzalez, Ramon Ponce, Justin Jones, Sebastian Stephenson, and Ryan Ruf. Pointer, Cleaner, Caulkers,
Dimitrius Tsinakis, Carlos Segovia, Dave Steiner, Jesus Perez, Jose Barreras, Raymundo Marin, Juan Ruben Alcibar
and Tomas Ramirez were also certified.
We will include our marble masons and finishers in one of our future classes.
OSHA Training
We plan to expand our OSHA training program as the year progresses. The ten hour course is being taught by
Vince Schneider, who has been one of our PCC instructors for more than six years. The course which began in
2005 has been taught exclusively to PCC apprentices. Later this year we plan to add some bricklayers and
increase the frequency of the classes.
Apprenticeship Contests
Local Contest
Our local contest will be held on 14 April in Fresno, at our training center located at 2698 North Brawley.
Contestants will receive their project drawings a few weeks prior to the contest to allow them some time to
practice. They will be allowed five hours to complete the project which consists of 190 bricks.
All are invited to join us for this event. The contest begins at 8:45 AM and ends at 2:00 PM. Lunch will be
served immediately following the contest. Winners will be announced later in the afternoon, with the top
apprentices qualifying to advance to the Western States Contest.
We would like to thank Gerry Smith Masonry for donating the bricks for this year’s contest.
Western States Contest
The 2007 Western States Apprenticeship Contest will be held at he Golden Nugget Hotel
in Las Vegas on 9 June.
The contest is being hosted by Local 13, Nevada. Contestants here will be competing for
a chance to advance to the National Contest in September.
National Contest
The National Contest which is hosted by the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers and
the International Masonry Institute was last held in 2002. Plans are underway for a contest to be held
at the BAC/IMI National Training Center now under construction in Bowie, Maryland.
We will keep you informed in this newsletter as plans develop for both the Western States and
the National Contests.
New Guidelines Adopted
On 11 January 2007, the State Board of Education, in a unanimous vote, approved new curriculum guides that
show the academic standards for courses seventh through twelfth grade students must take to prepare them
for a career in the construction trades. The Career Technical Education (CTE) curriculum will include a
study of workers’ rights as well as their responsibilities as employees.
Adoption of these curriculum standards is a step toward renewing a commitment to technical education
by California’s public schools.
Family, Friends and Ordinary People and How They Impact Our Lives
It seems to me that the older we get the more we realize the impact of others on our lives. Looking
back I am able to count five people outside of my immediate family that have had a dynamic and lasting
impact on who I am and the way I see things. There have been countless others that I am reminded of by
various situations and circumstances.
It can be quite interesting to revisit the past and consider situations and occurrences and what may have been
done or not done to precipitate a different outcome. Obviously the older we get the more experiences we have
to look back on, a good many of which include our family, friends and ordinary people. This allows us to draw
on the actions of others as much so as our own, regardless of whether they are still alive or dead. Whether we
do this consciously or not we are shaped by the impact of past events and the consequences of those events on
those close to us.
We are also able to look to the future and take steps to make things better. This is quite different than
considering past occurrences where the true outcome has been established. Caution is advised here.
From time to time we may find ourselves in an environment that causes us to operate in conflict with our
established sense of moral and ethical values. In determining a response to this type of situation we should
consider what can be done to change this environment and will these actions be better for others as well as
myself. We should then consider the possible consequences before taking the perceived steps.
Our decision and its’ impact will ultimately be shaped by family, friends and ordinary people.
That is who we are.
Zack Lambert
Extra Credit
News from the Apprenticeship Office
Mileage Chart
30 - 50 miles
$10
50 - 75 miles
$25
75 - 100 miles
$30
100+ miles
$40
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Zack Lambert