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Training Classes Begin
The school year is beginning to smooth out after our first four classes. We have 24 new apprentices this
year, twelve PCC, eight Marble Finishers, two Marble Masons and two Bricklayers.
PCC instructors this year are Troy Garland, Justin Garland, Bill O’Connell, and Doug Stokes.
Larry Buranen is teaching our bricklayers in Fresno with Brent Kirkes and Michael Height teaching
at the Pleasanton facility. Steve Kantoniemi, Charlie Woodard, and Pete Kruckewitt are teaching
the Marble Masons and Finishers. Thanks to each of them for their dedication and commitment.
Much thanks to Vince Schneider for his many years of dedicated service. Vince, who has decided not
to teach this year, has been one of our PCC instructors for the past eight years. He has also taught
the OSHA 10 course to ninety five (95) apprentice Pointer, Cleaner, Caulker and Bricklayer apprentices
over the years.
On October 4, we had our CPR/First Aid class at the Fresno School. The students received a day of
training in CPR and the Basic First Aid Course; treatment of broken bones, bleeding, burns, and
other medical emergencies such as seizures and heart attack. Apprentices who completed the course
are Rodney Davis, Chris Garcia, William Hughes, Jacob Lenhof, Joel Lopez, Garrett Markert, Santos
Mijangos, Daren Olson, Francisco Ramirez, Nicholas Voolstra, and Allan Walls. They are now able
to treat injuries with more confidence and possibly save lives if necessary, as a result of their
CPR/First Aid training. Congratulations to each of them.
We will have our Local Apprentice Bricklaying Contest in Fresno on April 18, 2009. Apprentices
will be competing for a chance to advance to the 2009 Western States Apprentice Contest, which
will include the crafts of Bricklayers, Tile Layers, and Marble Masons. The contest will take
place in Portland, Oregon. No date has been set at this time.
We will be scheduling more Journeyman classes this year. A CPR/First Aid class for PCC Journeymen
will be held at the Pleasanton School on November 15 and again on January 10. Interested PCC
Journeymen should contact the Apprenticeship Office (510-553-0991) to get on the list for these
classes. Call soon as space is limited. We will also be scheduling Journeyman classes for OSHA
10 Training and also Aerial Lift Safety Training. You will be notified as dates become available.
We are looking forward to another good year for the training program.
The national election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4. Barack Obama and John McCain have
dominated the news media with their campaigns for President of the United States. In addition
to the Presidential Election, there are a number of state and local races and initiatives on the
ballot.
You have not only the right, but the responsibility to help select the people who write the laws
and govern your life. Consider how you will be affected by the outcome of this election. Take the
time to read about the candidates and initiatives so you will be an informed voter.
Secretary
Lauren, our Apprenticeship Secretary of many years, will retire on October 31. She began working
in June 1998 as the apprenticeship secretary for both the Tile and Brick committees. In addition
to the day to day activities in the apprentice office, Lauren was instrumental in the planning
and execution of the 2000 and 2006 Western States Brick and Tile Apprentice Contests. Lauren has
worked full time for BAC Local 3 JATEC since 2007. We would like to thank her for her many years
of valued service, and wish her many years of happy retirement.
I would like to introduce you to her replacement, Olga Hurtado. Olga is fluent in Portuguese and
Spanish. For the last ten years she has worked for Hayward Adult School. We are proud to have
her on our staff and are sure she will be able to give you the kind of service that you have come
to expect from the BAC Local 3 Apprenticeship Office.
Please call the Apprenticeship Office, if there is anything we can do for you.
Remember to Vote on Tuesday, November 4
News from 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 Journeyman
Bricklayers
Justin Jones
Andrew Ramirez
Kristian Trotter
PCC
Policarpio Perez
Dimitrios Tsinakis
Sean Vines
Congratulations for choosing a respected and rewarding craft.
The Masonry Skills Challenge for apprentices and the Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition for Journeymen was held at the Basalite Plant in Dixon on September 20. In The Masonry Skills Challenge Tim Birmingham, who works for John Jackson Masonry, was first place in the first year competition. In the second year competition, Marcelo Lopez, with Pengilly Masonry, finished in first place followed by Jose Robles, with John Jackson Masonry, in second place and Daniel Gonzalez, with Joseph J. Albanese, finishing in third place. Dossy Monroe also competed. Congratulations to each of these BAC Local 3 apprentices.
Tim Birmingham and Marcelo Lopez will advance to the next level of competition in Las Vegas on February 29.
In the Fastest Trowel on the Block competition, second place went to Brian Cogburn with Stoney Masonry, third place was Robert Jackson with John Wait Masonry. Other Local 3 members who competed were, Brad Detar, Oneal Masonry, Jose Lopez, John Jackson Masonry, David Jones Jr., Masonry Design, Erik Zador, Pengilly Masonry, Richard Dayton, John Jackson Masonry, and Sam Baeder, with PTS Masonry.
Congratulations to each of these BAC Local 3 Bricklayers.
Never miss a day of work
As the days get shorter and cooler those of us who work outside are more susceptible to illness. It can make for a miserable day and sometimes leads to missed time from work. This can cause problems for you, lost wages, lost benefits, and also chronic absenteeism may cause you to lose a job.
Some healthcare professionals would have you believe colds are not caused by you getting cold or wet. I disagree. By adhering to some basic guidelines you can greatly reduce your chances of suffering colds, flu and the like.
Dress to maintain your normal body temperature (98.6 degrees). Dress in layers, as you heat up take off, as you cool down put back on.
We lose most of our heat from our head; wear a hard hat liner on wet cold and windy days.
Don’t wear gloves, if your hands are cold it’s a signal to put on more clothes.
Keep good rain gear on hand, once you get wet your body will cool down much faster.
That nice cool breeze you enjoy on the ride home may be the source of that earache or head cold.
We can get sick from something we eat, drink, inhale or absorb through our skin. Pay attention to what you eat and drink, wear a mask when working around chemicals or in dusty conditions. Wash thoroughly if you come in contact with anything questionable.
If you follow these guidelines and still get sick, take 2 aspirins and drive on.
Zack Lambert