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Trustees Purchase Land For Training Center
Earlier this month, the Bricklayers and Allied Crafts Apprentice Training Trust finalized the
purchase of, just under, two acres of land west of Tracy. Construction is expected to begin
soon on a sixteen thousand square foot building. The planned BAC Local 3 Apprentice Training
Center will combine a hands-on training area, classrooms and the Apprenticeship Office.
We are now about halfway through the process, of attaining our goal, which began in May, 2007
with the commitment, by the trustees, to sell the San Francisco property. The JATEC has since
been actively searching for property suitable in size, location and price. There remains a great
deal of work to do. Plans are being made that will provide for an adequate training center, while
staying within an affordable budget. The building will be built using one hundred percent union
craftsmen. We will be making changes to our curriculum as well as our method of scheduling
classes. Apprentices will soon be attending three (3) one week classes each year. Saturday
classes will be a thing of the past. We plan to initiate a pre-apprenticeship class, and also
make the training center available for journeyman upgrade classes for our Bricklayer, PCC, Marble
Mason and Marble Finisher Local 3 members.
Much thanks to our current trustees, Tom Spear, David Jackson, Gary Peifer, and Al Kauer
representing the union, and Ron Bennett, Wayne Mika, Bob Filippi, and Horst Mittlestadt
representing the contractors.
We will keep you informed of our progress.
Career Day
The Eighth Annual Construction Career Awareness Day was held recently in Sacramento.
The event, which attracted more than a thousand area youth, was hosted by Teichert Construction.
BAC Local 3 Apprenticeship set up an information booth and a hands-on demonstration area.
Mark Gilson and Alex Cobb (4th year apprentice), both employed with John Jackson Masonry,
assisted the young people with the opportunity to lay a few bricks. Much thanks to Mark, Alex,
John Jackson Masonry, Gary Peifer and H. C. Muddox for their help with this event.
Work Jackets
The JATEC recently agreed to present work jackets to journeymen who complete the apprentice training
program. Journeymen who were certified since March, 2007, when BAC Local 3 discontinued their
jacket policy, were notified by mail. The Work Jackets were presented at the local contest on
April 12, in Pleasanton. Those who received jackets were, Marble Finisher; Alfonso Herrera, PCC;
Arvel Nelson, Rigoberto Florean- Cruz, Travis McManus, Jaime Rodriguez, Rafael Castorena,
Jose Barreras, Efrain Tapia, Hector Salcedo, Sidi Qadiri, and Norbert Diedrick, Bricklayers;
Jarrod Tyler, William Phillips, Joshua Height, Daniel Voolstra, and Warren Cheatham. We
congratulate them on their achievement and wish each of them the best of luck in their
chosen craft.
If you completed the program since March, 2007 and did not receive your jacket, contact
the apprentice office.
Applications
We take applications at the apprentice Office in Oakland each week day between the hours of 8:30 am and 11:30 am.
Applicants for apprenticeship should bring their High School Diploma or equivalent. If you know of someone
interested in joining one of our training programs, ask them to contact the Apprenticeship Office, 510-553-0991.
If you see a new apprentice on your jobsite, ask if he or she has registered with the Apprenticeship Office. If
they have not, ask them to contact us.
Recently Certified Journeymen
Bricklayers
Ryan Green
Victor Zarza
Rolando Mazariego
We held our local apprentice bricklaying and PCC contests on April 12 in Pleasanton. Twenty five Bricklayer
apprentices from our Fresno and Pleasanton schools and eight PCC apprentices competed. A good crowd of family,
friends and fellow union members showed up to watch this year’s event. BAC Local 3 served tri-tip sandwiches
for lunch at the conclusion of the contest. The meat was provided, courtesy of the mason contractors
associations.
Tomas Ramirez took first place in the PCC contest, followed by Hector Cortez and David Penney in second
and third place. Congratulations to each of them. Much thanks to the brick judges, Ed Birmingham, Derek
Piper and Tyler Simpson for a job well done. Justin Jones was the first place Bricklayer this year. Justin,
who also won last year works for Bratton Masonry. Congratulations also to Santos Mijangos who took second
place and third place finisher Jose Miguel Morales. Our top finishers who meet the requirements to advance
to the Western States Apprentice Bricklaying Contest are; Joel Lopez, Kenneth Jones, Marcelo Lopez, Kristian
Trotter, Daniel Gonzalez, Sean Pengilly, and Jacob Cobb. We wish them the best of luck in San Diego on May 31.
Congratulations to all of our apprentices who competed in the contest this year. Thanks also to Brent Kirkes
for all that he does, and the apprentices who worked as tenders and those who helped out
with the lunch crew.
Stay Flexible
Generally, when we hear someone mention flexibility, we think of our aching back, stiff joints
and sore muscles. We can stretch and do flexibility exercises that help.
Mental flexibility is not altogether different. We can also do exercises that help. A mentally fit
person typically will display flexibility in their manner of thinking. Unlike the rigid thinking individual,
mental flexibility allows one to observe others, their ideas and beliefs, without judgment. Since there is
really not much we can do to change someone else, it makes little sense to make the attempt.
More importantly, we can look at ourselves and search for ways that we can become more flexible, in our
approach to dealing with others and considering new ideas. Even though our jobs sometimes require the
opposite, we would be wise to regularly practice and advance our mental flexibility. You may be surprised
at the result of a new approach or method to solving problems. The satisfaction of doing something different,
simply having waffles for supper, or washing your truck with your left hand are examples.
As you try new things, and realize that there is “more than one way to skin a cat”, it will open up your
creativity. Your confidence will grow and you will find good reason to believe in yourself. Purposely
change your routine, not simply to be different, but to be you. This can help keep you out of a rut, and
people will be easier to take. You will, not only get better at solving problems, you will also get better
at anticipating and avoiding them.
Zack Lambert
News from the Apprentice Office
Marble Masons
PCC
Congratulations for choosing a respected and rewarding craft.
Local Apprentice Contest
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Zack Lambert