David 4 Business Manager

FIRST TERM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. BELOW ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS.

1. NEGOTIATED A RECORD SETTING CONTRACT.

WE NEGOTIATED A CONTRACT THAT NOT ONLY PROVIDED A SOLID WAGE INCREASE, BUT ALSO INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE APPRENTICESHIP BY OVER 30%. WE INTRODUCED FOUR (4) PAID HOLIDAYS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LOCAL 278's HISTORY, AND GOT ALL APPRENTICES WORKING UNDER THE CONTRACT HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A DECADE.

2. TRAINING BUILDING/PORTABLE'S IMPROVEMENTS

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID AFTER BEING ELECTED BUSINESS MANAGER WAS FIX THE MOLD PROBLEM IN OUR TRAINING BUILDING AND COMPLETLY REMODEL IT. MY GOAL WAS TO CREATE A SAFE, UPDATED SPACE FOR OUR APPRENTICES TO LEARN AND GET CERTIFIED IN THEIR CRAFT. TODAY THE ROBERT S. SHAKE TRAINING BUILDING IS A MULTI-USE FACILITY DEDICATED TO HANDS-ON ELECTRICAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

3. UNION HALL IMPROVEMENTS

IF YOU HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF OUR UNION FOR THE PAST TWO TO THREE YEARS, YOU HAVE LIKELY NOTICED THE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO BOTH THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF OUR UNION HALL. FROM GIVING THE HALL A FRESH, UPDATED LOOK WITH NEW PAINT TO ADDING AN ADDITIONAL SERVICE WINDOW IN THE LOBBY, THESE UPGRADES WERE MADE TO ENHANCE OUR BUILDING AND BETTER SERVE OUR MEMBERSHIP.

4. B.R.P. - BROTHERHOOD REIMBURESMENT PROGRAM

5 YEARS AGO I INTRODUCED AND LEAD IN THE APPROVAL OF THE BROTHERHOOD REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM, THIS PROGRAM COVERS THE COST OF TUITION AND BOOKS FOR APPRENTICES UPON COMPLETING CERTAIN CLASSROOM AND UNION MEETING ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS, THIS PROGRAM HAS PROVEN TO BE QUITE POPULAR AND SUCCESSFULL.

5. EXPANDED AND IMPROVED OUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

IN ADDITION TO REDUCING THE PROGRAM DURATION FROM FIVE (5) YEARS TO FOUR (4), WE STRONGLY ADVOCATED FOR THE ADOPTION OF CRAFT CERTIFICATION AND PERFORMANCE BASED EVALUATIONS. THESE CHANGES ENSURE THAT APPRENTICES DEVELOP THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS NEEDED TO SUCCEED ON THE JOB SITE.

THE TRANSITION FROM A FIVE-YEAR TO A FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM ALSO ALLOWED US TO INCREASE WAGES FOR APPRENTICES, INCLUDING A 5% RAISE WHEN ADVANCING TO THE NEXT PERIOD AND A 10% INCREASE WHEN MOVING FROM THE THIRD TO THE FOURTH PERIOD. THESE IMPROVEMENTS WERE NOT EASY TO ACHIEVE, BUT THROUGH DEDICATION AND PERSISTENCE, WE GOT IT DONE.

6. PRIORITIZED ENGAGEMENT IN LOCAL POLITICS

AS A LABOR LEADER, IVE SEEN HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE INVOLVED IN LOCAL POLITICS. OTHER UNIONS THAT STAY ENGAGED HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SECURE MORE WORK AND GROW THEIR MARKET, AND I KNEW IT WAS TIME FOR IBEW 278 TO DO THE SAME. TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A STRONG VOICE AND A SEAT AT THE TABLE, I HIRED AN EXPERIENCED POLITICAL DIRECTOR TO HELP US BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND ADVOCATE FOR THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO OUR MEMBERS.

7. ELECTED TRUSTEE TO THE SOUTHWESTERN HEALTH & BENEFIT FUND.

IN DECEMBER OF 2023, I WAS HONORED TO BE NOMINATED AND ELECTED TO SERVE ON THE SOUTHWESTERN HEALTH & BENEFIT FUND. THIS MARKED A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR BOTH THE FUND AND LOCAL UNION 278, AS IT WAS THE FIRST TIME OUR MEMBERS HAS A DIRECT VOICE AND VOTE IN SHAPING HEALTH BENEFIT RESOURCES TO BETTER SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED.

8. ELECTED COASTAL BEND LABOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT

IN DECEMBER 2024, I WAS HONORED TO BE NOMINATED AND ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE COASTAL BEND LABOR COUNCIL BY ITS DELEGATES. RECOGNIZING THE PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENTS MADE AT IBEW 278 UNDER MY LEADERSHIP, THE COUNCIL ENTRUSTED ME WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP GUIDE AND STRENTGHEN THE LABOR MOVEMENT ACROSS OUR REGION.

9. LEAD EFFORTS IN LAWSUIT AGAINST CCISD RESULTING IN WIN FOR LABOR.

PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE SUCCESSFULL APPEAL AGAINST THE CORPUS CHRISTI INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT (CCISD) REGARDING DAVIS-BACON PREVAILING WAGES. THE COURT OF APPEALS OVERTURNED A SUMMARY JUDGEMENT IN CCISD'S FAVOR, SETTING A PRECEDENT THAT PROHIBITS THE DISTRICT FROM USING THIRD-PARTY WAGE SURVEYS FOR FUTURE DETERMINATIONS. THIS MONUMENTAL WIN SECURES FAIR WAGES FOR ALL BUILDING TRADES WORKERS ON BOND PROJECTS AND REINFORCES THE IMPORTANCE OF ORGANIZED LABOR.

10. ELECTED SOUTH TEXAS BUILDING and CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL PRESIDENT

IN JANUARY 2025, I WAS HONORED TO BE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH TEXAS BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL (STBCTC) BY ITS DELEGATES. THIS COUNCIL IS A COALITION OF BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES UNIONS, WHILE THE COASTAL BEND LABOR COUNCIL REPRESENTS A BROADER RANGE OF LABOR UNIONS AFFILIATED WITH THE TEXAS AFL-CIO. THE STBCTC TOOK NOTICE OF IBEW 278'S LEADERSHIP IN HOLDING THE CORPUS CHRISTI INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ACCOUNTABLE.

11. MONTHLY NEWSLETTER TO KEEP MEMBERSHIP INFORMED

KEEPING OUR MEMBERS INFORMED ON THE LATEST NEWS, UPDATES, AND EVENTS IS A TOP PRIORITY. THATS WHY I LAUNCHED OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, "THE CURRENT CONNECTION" TO PROVIDE IMPORTANT INFORMATION DIRECTLY TO OUR MEMBERS THROUGH REGULAR MAIL-OUTS. THE SUCCESS AND POPULARITY OF THIS NEWSLETTER HAVE INSPIRED US TO EXPAND OUR COMMUNICATION EFFORTS EVEN FURTHER.

WE ARE EXCITED TO INTRODUCE "THE CURRENT CONNECTION PODCAST," A DIGITAL EXTENSION OF OUR NEWSLETTER. THIS PLATFORM WILL KEEP WORKERS IN OUR COMMUNITY UPDATED ON LOCAL LABOR POLICIES AND ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THEM, ENSURING THEY STAY INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

12. LAUNCHED NEW PHONE APP

WE ALSO DEVELOPED OUR OWN IBEW 278 MOBILE APP TO GIVE MEMBERS EASY ACCESS TO IMPORTANT INFORMATION RIGHT AT THEIR FINGERTIPS. IN ADDITION, WE INTRODUCED A CONVENIENT FEATURE THAT ALLOWS MEMBERS TO PAY THEIR DUES SECURELY BY CREDIT CARD - MODERNIZING THE WAY OUR LOCAL UNION CONDUCTS BUSINESS MAKING IT EASIER THAN EVER TO STAY CONNECTED AND UP TO DATE.

13. COAST LIFE CREDIT UNION - AUTO PAY UNION DUES

IN LATE 2024, COAST LIFE CREDIT UNION INFORMED US THAT THEY WOULD BE CLOSING THE BRANCH IN OUR BUILDING. THEY ALSO SAID THEY WOULD STOP PROCESSING AUTOMATIC DUES PAYMENTS FROM OUR MEMBERS' ACCOUNTS- A SERVICE THAT OVER 250 MEMBERS RELY ON.

I IMMEDIATELY STEPPED IN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND PUSHED BACK ON THE DECISION. AFTER NEGOTIATING WITH COAST LIFE CREDIT UNION, I WAS ABLE TO SECURE AN AGREEMENT FOR THEM TO CONTINUE PROCESSING DUES PAYMENTS WITH NO EXTRA FEES. THIS WAS A BIG WIN FOR OUR MEMBERS, ENSURING THEY COULD KEEP USING THIS CONVENIENT SERVICE WITHOUT ANY ADDED COSTS.

14. REVAMPED OUR ADVERTISING

ANOTHER KEY IMPROVEMENT WE MADE WAS ENHANCING OUR LOCAL MEDIA ADVERTISING PRESENCE TO STRENGTHEN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND EXPAND OUR MARKETSHARE. THIS EFFORT WAS AIMED NOT ONLY AT ATTRACTING NEW MEMBERS BUT ALSO AT CONNECTING WITH EMPLOYERS SEEKING HIGHLY SKILLED, QUALIFIED ELECTRICIANS FOR THEIR PROJECTS. THIS MODERNIZATION OF OUR OUTREACH STRATEGY WAS A LONG-OVERDUE STEP FORWARD FOR THE LOCAL UNION.

15. NLRB WIN FOR 278 MEMBERS

LED EFFORTS RESULTING IN TWO IBEW 278 MEMBERS WINNING AN UNPRECEDDENTED RULING BY THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD (NLRB) IN OCTOBER 2024. THE BOARD FOUND THAT TL ELECTRIC VIOLATED THEIR RIGHTS UNDER SECTION 7 OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT, AWARDING $45,000 AND $20,000 IN BACK PAY, AMONG OTHER REMEDIES. THIS DECISION SETS A SIGNIFICANT PRECEDENT FOR PROTECTING WORKERS' RIGHTS IN THE COASTAL BEND.

PROGRESS YOU CAN SEE. LEADERSHIP THAT DELIVERS RESULTS.