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By Richard Bermack
Contributing Writer and Photographer
Members of Carpenters Local 22 work in the midst of what they create at the San Francisco International Airport carpentry shop. Every day, the 15 members working on site see people benefiting from what they have built. Their job is to construct whatever is required for the airport to meet the needs of the flying public and the airport tenants.
 They do everything from maintenance and remodeling to new construction, from building walls to manufacturing cabinets. The airport is open 24 hours a day and has no down time, so their primary concern is to do their work quickly, efficiently and without causing any inconvenience to the public.
Current projects include constructing a plywood barrier as part of a movable dog run for the airport police, and installing a glass light in a conference room door. When Organized Labor visited recently, Local 22 member, Carpenter Supervisor Royal Sims, was examining the blueprints for companion restrooms. Similar to those in European airports, they allow people with a disability to have their partners or attendants of the opposite sex assist them. Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act is one of the airport’s priorities. “When you see someone with a walker or on crutches getting the assistance they need at the airport, we feel proud that we contributed,” Sims said.
 Royal Sims
Supervisor
It is very important to the director to make the airport user friendly, especially with all the new security procedures. We are trying to soften up the environment to make it more like a lounge or mall, rather than just a place to wait for a plane.
Safety is very important. It’s rewarding when you finish a project and realize it was done without any accidents. The key is being prepared for the unexpected by learning from the past and from other people and supervisors. We sit down with everyone involved to figure out what can be done to insure our safety and that of the general public. We particularly consult with the guys in the trenches because they are the ones who really know what is going on. The other day an employee created a different way to set up the red hazard cones to channel the public more efficiently. There is always something new.
We work cohesively with the electric and plumbing shop. We enjoy working with the same guys. Machines are machines, but people are what make it all work. Along with the workers in the trades, the secretaries and administrators in the front office are a big part of what makes this a great place to work. You can’t ask for anything better from a construction career. I look forward to coming to work every day.
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 Dave Ragni
Supervisor
We just got a call from an electrician who happened to be walking by one of the ticket counters. He said, “You’re going to be hearing about 20 or so ceiling tiles that fell down at the United ticket counter. Just want to give you the heads up.” Why they fell doesn’t matter. Our job is to respond to the situation, put the ceiling back together, and make it safe for the public and the airport’s tenants. We get calls and have to respond at all hours. We get a lot of calls for rain leaks, especially when they are near electronics.
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 Joe Capizano
Supervisor
Every day I walk through the terminal making sure everything is in order, safety and appearance wise. Appearances are important at the airport. When I run into a project we did years ago, it brings back memories. When we do cabinet work in somebody’s office, they really appreciate the work.
I’ve worked at the airport for 34 years. It’s quite an adventure dealing with the traveling public and all the different departments, especially the airport fire department and the police department.
The airport runs 24 hours a day, and there are thousands and thousands of doors to maintain, especially with the new security standards. Security doors have to close properly in order for the security systems to function. That is one of our top priorities. The doors take a lot of abuse from vendors and the traveling public. We are constantly working on a door somewhere.
Every day is a new adventure. That’s what makes this job so satisfying, and never boring.
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 Mike Alvers
Carpenter
Every day is unique. One day you are on the airfield alongside a jet 15 to 20 feet below grade shoring and excavating a broken water main. The next you are constructing office space for administration or a tenant space.
We do a lot of remodeling of the boarding areas and checkpoints for Homeland Security, keeping up to date with TSA requirements for magnetometer and X-ray installations.
There are always new designs to make it easier for the traveling public to get in and out of the airport facilities. The most challenging part is to work around the hours of the airport’s schedule. We want to make improvements that help the public, but not impede the public while we’re working.
Carpenters Local 22 is a big part of what allows us to do our job well. The local assures carpenters get quality training and maintain the standards of our trade.
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 Robert Ruigomez
Carpenter
I have worked here for 10 years. Before this job I spent 20 years beating my brains out doing commercial and residential work. I started working as a carpenter when I was 17, and now I have over 30 years in the trade. The best part of this job is that I work with a great group of guys, not only the carpenters, but those in the allied trades as well. We all work together toward a common goal of completing a job in a timely and efficient manner, delivering the highest quality job and doing it with safety as our number one concern.
The airport can be a dangerous place. When you work on the airway you have to be very mindful. Jet engines spin at some serious RPMs, creating strong turbulence. The exhaust from a jet engine can flip over a truck with ease. If one of those engines powers up and you’re driving behind it, you can get catapulted.
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 Sean Kerrisk
Carpenter Steward
What I love is the variety of work, from framing and sheet rocking to finish work. We do everything, including fixing furniture and building cabinets for tenants. Normally, if you’re working for a framing company all you do is frame. If you work for a trim company, all you do is trim. Working here, we start the job, finish the job and we’re not stuck on one thing.
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 Skip Lang
Carpenter
I’m the new guy. I’ve only been here a couple of years. It’s a great job. I’ve learned a lot. Previously, I worked for one of the airlines in the maintenance office in aircraft parts and supplies. I wanted to change careers. I used to be a carpenter and I am happy to be doing it again. |
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