Organized Labor

IBEW Local 6 Wires the New Exploratorium

IBEW Local 6 members work on floating platforms.

By Richard Bermack, Contributing Writer and Photographer

Creating a new home for the San Francisco Exploratorium is a challenge. The old building was part of the Palace of Fine Arts. To create a new site for the institution with the same aura of mystery, fused with the creativity and the light-hearted enjoyment of scientific discovery, carries a lot of expectation. But after visiting with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 6 as they transform Piers 15 and 17 on the Embarcadero from a monolithic warehouse shell to the Exploratorium’s new home, one can rest assured the Electricians, along with all the other San Francisco Building Trades, are up to the task.

Building the Trades

Occupy II

By Michael Theriault, Secretary-Treasurer

An earnest young man came along the line of us seated on cold pavers. Every few steps he repeated that we should soak our dust masks in white vinegar and, in the event of a tear gas attack, dab a little milk of magnesia in our eyes.

Election Brings Proposition Victories and Full Term for Mayor Lee

Measures for School Finance and Pensions Win as Interim Leader Bests Several Challengers

The Building Trades and other unions scored major victories in San Francisco’s Nov. 8 election with the passage of Propositions A and C, and the defeat of Prop. D. Results were mixed in the contests for elected office. Voter turnout was only 33 percent.

Union Labor Celebrated at Potrero Launch Construction Project

AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust Brings Jobs and Funding to San Francisco

Building Trades members at the Potrero Launch Apartments construction site were honored Nov. 3 at a workers’ appreciation luncheon hosted by the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust (HIT) at the job site. Potrero Launch at 2235 3rd Street is one of three residential projects currently under construction in San Francisco with HIT financing. The union members were joined by representatives from HIT, along with San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council Secretary-Treasurer Mike Theriault and several local union business agents.

Trades Headlines

Economy ends tough 2011 on a surprising upswing

December 21

The economy has grown faster each quarter this year, and the last three months should be the best.

Obama Names Two to Serve on Labor Board

December 14

The president is nominating Sharon Block, deputy assistant secretary for Congressional affairs at the Labor Department and Richard Griffin, the general counsel for the International Union of Operating Engineers.

With Port Actions, Occupy Oakland Tests Labor Leaders

December 13

Union officials were irked by Occupy Oakland’s claim that it was advancing port worker's cause even though several unions opposed protests.

Recall Walker Signatures Pass 500,000 Mark

December 15

Working families have until Jan. 17 to collect 540,000 names.

Ohio votes to overturn new collective bargaining law

November 9

Ohioans voted Tuesday to overturn the state's new law limiting collective bargaining rights for public employees, a victory for organized labor and their Democratic allies in the key electoral battleground.