Organized Labor

IBEW Local 6 members work on floating platforms.

By Richard Bermack, Contributing Writer and Photographer

By Richard Bermack
Contributing Writer and Photographer

Now in its third year, the San Francisco Unified School District summer intern program is hitting its stride. “Our placements are really starting to gel and become solid,” said Gus Amador, the program instructor and field supervisor. “We’ve learned from our past years, and the placements this year were of much more value to the interns, the contractors and the union.”

By Richard Bermack
Contributing Writer and Photographer

By Richard Bermack
Contributing Writer and Photographer

Last year, a Project Labor Agreement with contractors renovating San Francisco schools created a program to introduce high school students to the building trades by placing student interns at job sites. The program was so popular that this year, the number of placements more than doubled.

By Richard Bermack
Contributing Writer and Photographer

The work of Laborers Local 67 is environmental remediation. They remove or contain asbestos, lead, mold, and other toxic materials. They start by securing their work space to prevent containments from leaking into the environment, sealing off the workspace with plastic sheeting. They sometimes wrap plastic around entire buildings.