Organized Labor

Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 104 Training Center

By Richard Bermack contributing Writer and Photographer

At the Sheet Metal Training Center in San Francisco, across the hall from a room with rows of yellow wooden drafting tables circa 1950s, another classroom is filled with AutoCAD computers and a video projector. “Some things have changed a lot and others are still the same,” explains Frank Cuneo, the training coordinator for Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 104. “We still use traditional drafting tools for basic layout, incidental patterns and sketching, and we use AutoCAD and other specialized software for detailing ductwork and complex layouts.”

Building the Trades

The Green Handyperson

By Michael Theriault, Secretary-Treasurer

I was appointed some months ago to the Workforce Investment Board of San Francisco, which is charged with overseeing how some government workforce training and development funds are allocated. The Board recently established a “green sector” committee. I asked to sit on it and was accepted. We met for the first time in mid-December.

We discussed retrofit of buildings for greater energy efficiency. One of the committee members said that we needed to “break down silos” separating tasks in green building retrofits, that we needed to cross-train a new class of “green” worker.

Work Begins on $887 Million SF General Trauma Center

Work has begun on construction of the new San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center on Potrero Avenue between 22nd and 23rd Streets. The new building will be seven stories high, with two stories below ground. It will also incorporate environmentally sensitive design principles to bring it to a LEED certification level of Silver or better. It was designed by Fong and Chan Architects. The Department of Public Works retained Webcor Builders as the General Contractor.

Trans Bay Cable Project Completed

Testing Begins on System that Will Supply Up to 10 Percent of City’s Electric Power

By Paul Burton, Contributing Writer

Construction crews have completed the San Francisco substation at 23rd and Illinois Streets that will receive electricity from the city of Pittsburg via a 53-mile-long high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line—the TransBay Cable.

Senator Leno’s Candlestick Point Bill Signed into Law

SB 792 Will Transfer State Parkland to City for Development & Protect Candlestick Point

State Sen. Mark Leno’s bill to transfer a portion of the Candlestick Point State Recreation Area to the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency for development was signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger Oct. 11. It passed the Senate and Assembly in September with only two votes against its passage: Tom Ammiano in the Assembly and Leland Yee in the State Senate.

More Water System Improvement Projects Begin Construction

University Mound, San Andreas Pipeline Part of $4.3 Billion Hetch Hetchy Seismic Upgrade

By Paul Burton, Contributing Writer

Two more projects that are part of the seismic upgrade work for the Hetch Hetchy Water and Power system that are covered by a project labor agreement with the building trades are currently underway in the city. Organized Labor recently visited the projects at University Mound Reservoir next to McLaren Park and the San Andreas Pipeline project near Parkmerced.

Trades Headlines

Construction starts on 4th bore of Caldecott Tunnel

(Pleasanton Weekly, January 26)

Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Creek, joined members of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the state Legislature, Caltrans, and local transportation agencies at the groundbreaking ceremony for the project that will add a fourth bore to the tunnel connecting Oakland and Contra Costa County via state Highway 24.

UC Regents approve two high-profile construction projects

(SF Chronicle, January 22)

The regents meeting in San Francisco approved two high-profile construction projects: a $321 million seismic retrofit of UC Berkeley's Memorial Stadium, which sits on the Hayward Fault, and a $200 million neuroscience building at UCSF's Mission Bay campus, where scientists will try to find treatments for diseases ranging from Alzheimer's to multiple sclerosis.

California approves toughest statewide green building code in U.S.

(USA Today, January 13)

California approved Tueday the most stringent, eco-friendly statewide building code in the United States.

The new code, which won a unanimous vote by the state building commssion and will apply to new homes, hospitals, schools and shopping malls, takes effect next Janaury.

Bay Area green buildings strive for LEED certification

KGO, January 4

Going green is becoming the norm in Northern California and for many people the gold standard is to get a LEED certification. San Francisco's iconic spire just turned green; the Transamerica Pyramid isn't changing colors - but changing the way it functions.

Stimulus money pouring into Bay Area

Contra Costa Times, Jan 3

Call it fire money. In Oakland, $50,000 is going to a nonprofit best known for its fiery performance art. Call it wine money. In Napa County, $54 million is going to protect the tracks on which a train hauls tourists through vineyards as they sip chardonnay.