Construction Update of Our New JATC
Right now, there are roughly 22 Local 332 members working to expand the JATC from a 30,000 sq. ft. facility to a 79,000 sq. ft. The turnover date is Oct. 15th. We hope to be open for business on Nov. 1st when members can tour.
It’s your investment for generations of electricians to come.
Grand Opening Tentatively Nov. 1
“We hope to be open for business on November 1st,” said Dan Romero. “Right now, the walls are up and drywalled, the MEP rough has been completed, and we are waiting on a new main switch board to install. Then we can start pulling feeders, branch wire, and installing light fixtures. Before you know it, we’ll be painting, and installing finishes and flooring.
“Remote learning classes will continue in the fall, but we plan on transitioning to in-person as soon as possible, pending county health guidelines.
“This project is coming to fruition thanks to the leadership of the local and the members who have made it possible with your financial support. We will have a grand opening where you will be invited to tour your investment.”
Francisco Chavez, 3rd Year Apprentice & Sharing the Trades with High School Students
“Before I got into the trades, I was a Brinks armored guard, an airport worker, and a student. I was always intrigued with electricity and where power comes from. The apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to learn, to meet others who are learning, and do stuff with your hands that you’ve never done before.
“I like being in the union. Great people are what make the union, people come together around one thing, and everyone can voice an opinion. I’ve gone to meetings and done a bunch of community service projects. I helped with a job fair at JATC and did Christmas in the Park, which were both great experiences.
“Probably the most memorable community service experience was doing a high school job outreach program. We talked to students and made them aware of the trades and what’s out there aside from college. Honestly, in my high school, we didn’t have all that information, and a lot of students only hear about the trades if a family member is in one. But when you open their eyes to that information, you open doors. It can lead you into a lifetime career with good pay, benefits, and a pension. It was cool to be part of that.
“In my free time, I love to play sports. I’m a soccer forward, and in softball, I’m an outfielder. I also like travel, especially to California’s national parks and out of the country.”
Angel Birruete, Material Handler & 2nd Generation Construction Worker
“I’ve been a union material handler for three years after working in nonunion warehouses for a while. In this job, you get to know all the materials that the journeymen use and help out with whatever is needed. It’s something I enjoy, and now I want to do the inside commercial apprenticeship.
“Being a materials handler, you’re a step closer to being a wireman, and I’m learning so much about what needs to be done to wire a building. I’ve always wanted to be a a part of a union since I was young, and IBEW is the best. Everyone says it’s the best thing that’s happened to them.
“I have an eight-month-old and a two-year-old. Providing for them is my number one priority, and being in the union, I can do that.
“I was born and raised in Santa Clara. My dad was a construction worker, and when I was growing up I’d see apartment buildings going up, all the machinery used, and the people working on the buildings. I always wanted to be one of those people, and now I am.”
Anthony Castro, Foreman & Marine Corps Veteran
“I turned out in 2020. Before that, I was in the Marines for eight years. It’s something I wanted to do prior to joining the service, so I just picked up where I left off. I was in Afghanistan for seven months. It was hard, but I’d go back in a heartbeat, because of the camaraderie of the Marines. That’s why the union is important too.
“The union is the brotherhood which applies to our sisters as well. It plays a huge factor on the job. Everybody is looking out for each other and has the same goal. We all come from different backgrounds, but we come together for the same mission. One day someone might be tired, and someone else might pick up the slack. We carry that weight for each other.
“I love working with my hands, and I like to see the fruits of my labor. I’m going to be able to walk through the JATC for the rest of my life and feel proud. I feel like it’s a huge honor. I want everything to be perfect. There will be so many electricians who walk through these halls and see every bit of pipe. When instructors are teaching in class, I want them to point up and see the textbook example of what it should look like to a T.
“Outside of work, I keep busy with my two daughters, ages 16 and eight. One is on a traveling softball team which I coach, though when I’m watching sports, I like contact sports like hockey, and specifically the Sharks!”
Alex Jansky, 3rd Year Apprentice & Car Mechanic
“Before I started the inside apprenticeship, I did the full residential apprenticeship and turned out. And before that I managed a pizza shop. There, I got to hire people I know, but now I have a career.
“I wanted to get into the trades because I was always mechanically inclined and built a couple cars. My favorite part of the job is the creativity of bending pipe or laying out electrical rooms. If you get someone who knows what they are doing, it looks really organized and polished. I like knowing I can do that.
“I love that I’m on the JATC job, and in a few months, I’ll be going to school in the same building I’m building. I’ll be in a classroom learning about the very things I’ve worked on. And of course, I’ll have bragging rights to be able to say I helped build that.
“Someday I hope to own my own electrical business, but I still have a lot to learn. In the meantime, I’m building motorcycles and dirt bikes. Eventually, I’ll get back to building cars, but I want to own a house first.”