Organized Labor

Mark Sevieri
General Foreman

Working on the water, you have to be aware of all the changes in the water conditions. When you’re working underneath a pier on a float, the tide can push you up underneath the pier, and with all the utilities beneath the pier, you can get pinned up. You have to watch not only the tides, but wakes from the ferry boats carrying passengers across the bay. We’ve had some close calls, but now we take into account the tide and the ferry boat schedules.

The Exploratorium wanted all the electrical installed in conduit to give them the capability to re-pull the wires for whatever wiring they need for future expansion and exhibits. Everything outside has to be done using Ocal PVC coated rigid conduit and stainless steel hardware. The Ocal rigid is more difficult to work with. You have to thread it and use special bending machines, but it stands up better to the saltwater.

In the cement we’re using a Walkerduct system, which is an old-fashioned system you don’t see much of any more. But it works great on this job. The AC goes on one side of the channel and the telephone lines on the other to keep them from having any harmonic interference.

The wiring in the floor has to be coordinated with the radiant heating system. During the installation, we’re using color coding to identify the different systems. Everything will be labeled, documented, and then repainted at the end of the project. This building has a 40,000 amp service coming in at 12,000 volts from PG&E that’s stepped down in the service area and distributed throughout the building. Solar panels on the roof will generate enough power to run most of the building, and they’ll even be able to sell some back to PG&E. The solar power requires inverters to change from Direct Current to Alternating Current.

The warehouse has high ceilings and most of the work is done off lifts. We have 20 people out here and 12 to 14 lifts to work off, which means a lot of sharing and coordination with not only our trade, but the other trades as well.

We got together all the trades at the beginning of the project and entered all the detailing and drawing of the building into a computer and created a BIM model, where you can look at the building through the computer and see all the trades and what the infrastructure will be like at different stages of the installation, so you can see who’s going to be working where and at what elevation. This is the third project I’ve worked on using the program, and it works pretty well.

It’s a tough job getting everybody on the same page. You have to be patient. I went to one meeting where the people were disagreeing and we had to stay an extra 30 minutes until we got consensus on what was going to happen.

URS is a major contracting firm that works with a lot of architects and engineers. Right now they are working on the Transbay Terminal and the high-speed rail system.

I went to one meeting where these guys were proposing a bike station where you can rent bikes and go all around the city. I didn’t realize everything that was involved in getting something like that going. There were a couple meetings where I got confused, but my co-worker explained everything to me.

I had no idea there would be so much personal interaction. I thought it would all be through e-mail. I think it’s really cool. I’m a guy who likes interacting with other people. There’s less confusion in person.

Fred Johansen
Foreman

This is a great job for apprentices. When you get a cookie cutter condo tower, where everything is prefab, it can be hard to keep their interest. You have to explain to them that this is our work and you got to take the good with the bad. But on a job like this, you don’t have to motivate them. The job does it all. They get hands on experience doing interesting and challenging work. They are really appreciative of all the variety and being able to do something special. You can really see the quality of their work improve.

It reminds me of the old days, when you saw a little bit of everything. It’s magic. Everybody appreciates the opportunity to work here. Even working with the guys in the other trades. I actually went to high school with some of them, and we bend over backwards to lend each other stuff and get along.

Part of it is the economy, which has made everyone more humble, but it’s more than that. One time I was working at the old Academy of Science building putting in an exhibit that simulated an earthquake, and as I walked all over the building, I noticed that everyone was happy. I realize that it was because they all enjoyed what they were doing. This job has the same feeling. Everyone’s all excited, like a bunch of little kids. It’s just a big, fun project.

I believe in the apprentice system. That’s how trades were traditionally handed down for centuries. I’m a third generation electrician.

Neal O’Leary
Foreman

I do whatever needs to be done. Today we’re drilling some cores for anchor bolts to pipe in some lights.

The most interesting part is working underneath the pier. We’re on floats and use scaffolding and then climb on our hands and knees dragging 120-pound sticks of pipe on and off the boat. That takes a little extra effort, but the rest of the job is routine. It’s all just pipe and wire. Working over the water is interesting, especially when a swell hits you. I haven’t fallen in, but a few tools have gone missing.

When we’re not working on the water, we’re working on the ceiling on scissor lifts doing high elevation work. It doesn’t bother me. I can swim and I’m not afraid of heights. It’s really a great job. You get to see a building go from a blank slate to a completed project. We’re the first ones here and the last ones to go.

A neighbor of mine was an electrical contractor and talked me into the trade. It’s been an awesome opportunity, 30 years, and I’m thankful every day that I have the job. It’s supported me through a lot of things in life.

Melvin Meadows
General Foreman

It’s challenging to build an entirely new building within an existing structure, where you have to maintain the historical aspects and at the same time build a new and up-to-date facility within that old building.

The hardest part of this job has been coordinating with the other trades. We always have to work with guys in the other trades, but here you’re always working in the same area. We share lifts and swap tools, help each other move stuff around and store stuff. There are a lot of favor games going on. It can work both ways, but so far we’ve been fortunate and it’s been positive, a lot of really good guys working together. The economy and the job situation, in part, has made everyone want to get along. We have pipe fitters, plumbers, sheet metal workers, concrete workers, and even underwater divers.

I just talk to people all day long and draw pictures and explain things. There’s so much going on here.

Mark Brooke
Superior Coring

I love working here on the water and being outside in the fresh air. It balances out all the time I spend underneath buildings. But no matter what the work, as long as I keep busy, it’s good. We’re providing a service that people really need and appreciate. You’re the one delivering the power that makes everything else work. You want to make sure you do it right the first time, so there are no call backs and you can get on to the next.

It’s a rewarding career. I feel proud every day.

Nick Schalch
Apprentice

This job is fun. The big conduit is pretty cool. It’s the same as working with small conduit but more enjoyable. You have to be more accurate. If you make a mistake, you can’t just tweak it a little. With four-inch conduit you have to bend it just right, and that takes a lot of practice. You have to use the big bender. Each bender and each conduit is a little different. You have to learn where the center bends. It’s an art to making them look good. I like that.

I’m a fourth generation electrician and a fourth generation member of Local 6.