Organized Labor

Hayes Valley Will Host Music Organization’s First Permanent Home

By Paul Burton, Contributing Writer

The San Francisco-based union contractor Hathaway Dinwiddie has been chosen as the general contractor for the $50 million SFJAZZ Center, the first permanent home for the 28-year-old San Francisco institution. The selection of Hathaway Dinwiddie followed an extensive bidding process conducted by SFJAZZ. The SF Planning Commission approved the project last July.

Mayoral candidate Michela Alioto-Pier

Delegates to the San Francisco Building & Construction Trades Council have voted to endorse Michela Alioto-Pier for Mayor. The SFBCTC endorsed State Senator Leland Yee at an earlier meeting. The dual endorsement came after the SFBCTC delegates interviewed six of the eight candidates: City Attorney Dennis Herrera, Assessor Phil Ting, business owner Joanna Rees, former Supervisor Bevan Dufty, Yee and Alioto-Pier.

On September 9, 2010 a natural gas pipeline exploded in San Bruno, California killing several people, severely burning several others and demolishing dozens of homes. James Ruigomez, a Business Representative for District Council 16, was attending a local union meeting at the time of the explosion. He had no idea that his family and his home were involved in a major disaster. After leaving the local union meeting, James began receiving phone calls from friends that his home was devastated in the blast. James got the word that his wife and daughter had left their home just moments before the blast to go shopping. James’ 19 year old son, Joe, and his girlfriend, Jessica Morales stayed home to watch a football game. Moments after James’ wife and daughter left the house the street directly in front of their house exploded as a thirty inch high-pressure gas line erupted. James’ house was the closest house to the explosion.

Project Would Create 1,000 Construction Jobs for Next 20 Years

By Paul Burton, Contributing Writer