Building Trades News

IBEW Local 11
Marvin Kropke, Bus. Mgr.
297 N, Marengo
Pasadena, CA 91001
(626)243-9700

There are now more than 80 members who have taken the new contracting class at the ETI. Eleven of these brothers and sisters have signed up as union contractors already. Tom Martinez, from our Business Development Department (LMCC), has been working his very hardest to make sure we have a full classroom.
“We have had students from as far away as Illinois taking our class. The word is out,” he said.

“It is a credit to the hard work we do in local 11 that we are leading the way again. If we can keep up this pace, we will have 20 new contractors by the end of 2007” said Business Manager Marvin Kropke, when asked about the class.

The next 3 day course is on February 2nd, 3rd, & 4th.

Our solar training classes are under way to prepare our members for this emerging market. Some contractors that have solar jobs or bidding on them are Independence Energy, Rosendin, Morrow Meadows, CSI, Sunbelt Controls, among others.

To sign up for these classes, call Tom Martinez at (626) 243-9700 Ext.738.

We had mixed results in the November election.  But the California work picture looks to be very busy for quite some time. The $43 billion  in Bond work will go a long way toward fixing our infrastructure and funding light rail in southern California. Specific bonds will provide millions for improvements in port security and clean air initiatives in both LA and Long Beach harbors.

Locally, two school bonds were passed in Arcadia and Santa Monica that should provide jobs for local 11 members. Many labor endorsed candidates were elected across the county to every conceivable elected position from local water boards to the US Senate. Local 11 members were recognized in local newspapers, local TV programs, the LA County Federation of Labor ‘On the Move’ newsletter, the IBEW Journal and the Building Trades News and website.

Two local 11 members, Gary Parker and Herb Lyons, did a great job working with the LA Union “Get Out the Vote” campaign. They were part of a team of Ironworkers, Pipe fitters, Painters, Plumbers, and of course Electricians, that visited over thirty jobsites contacting 14,000 Building Trades members. These brothers were not alone. There were over 250 members that attended rallies, walked door to door, phone banked and leafleted worksites.

The Grand Avenue project cleared an important first hurdle toward being built. The Grand Avenue Project Committee with elected officials from LA City and County and the developer the Related Companies approved the project to move forward.

The $2 billion project will have several high rise buildings providing a mixed use with office, retail and residential uses. The project is situated near the Disney Concert hall. The job will be built 100% union under a Project Labor Agreement. Another project that will be built with union labor is the hi-rise ‘Wilshire and Vermont’ project by developer Gerding Edlin.

 The project was recently given a green light from the city of Los Angeles. The developer has two high rise projects underway at Flower and 11th St. in LA. Those projects are also 100% union and utilize some pension money from the NEBF. They are very happy with local 11 contractors and our political support for these critical projects. They are currently working on approvals for several other projects at the moment.   
 Best Wishes for a great year in 2007