Greetings Brothers & Sisters:
As we close out the year, many of you have asked, “What is happening in 2025?” Right now, construction is steady; it looks like our work will be going full throttle. Hours and calls have steadily increased. However, RBL does remain in effect. Please remember only Local 332 hands contribute to our retirement.
Looking ahead, I have a message for journeymen: As business picks up, training our apprentices becomes more important. There is a tendency to begin moving faster, and quality fails to keep up. To demand higher wages, we need to increase our electrical proficiency. This includes doubling down on our apprentices’ education. Please take time to explain “the why” and how we do things in 332. Ask your apprentices questions and have them demonstrate their proficiency.
A lot of times we can have a tough time connecting with the younger members. I heard this the other day: “I teach the ones that want to learn.” We need to do better and can’t afford to leave anyone behind. We are the stewards of 332’s future and need to embrace the futures of all our apprentices. Sooner or later, we all get to the finish line of our careers, and by giving our best effort in training, we invest in a secure retirement.
For our apprentices, a wise member once told me, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” I bet he read it from a fortune cookie LOL, but I took it to heart. In interviews, I have never seen so many eager to be 332 electricians. A 3- or 5-year apprenticeship seems like a long time, but goes faster than you think. Evaluate your skills and compare them with the journeymen on your jobs. Are you putting in the effort in class and on the job to compete when you are done with our program? Work to be better than the day before, and your skills will last for a lifetime. The construction industry has ups and downs, but your electrical proficiency will last you a lifetime.
Always Union,
Javier M. Casillas
Business Manager
P.S. The 332 Christmas party is truly one of my favorite events! It is a chance to see members with your families, and it comes only once a year. I enjoy the bike build as well as creating positive memories for 332 kids. Conversations range in no particular order around the work outlook, issues on job, kids, travel, and sports.
I had a chance to catch up with a former student. The first thing he said was, “I bet you never thought I would be married with two kids right?” I was going to tell him, “I told you so,” but I kept that to myself.
All in all, we had hundreds of kids, pictures with Santa, arts and crafts, and nobody had a potty accident to my knowledge. At least Santa said his lucky streak remains intact regarding kid accidents. LOL!
