L-92 member Oscar Davila addresses a jobs rally in Los Angeles.
Lodge joins other unions to protest stimulus money delay
BUREAUCRACY AND RED tape are delaying the distribution of federal stimulus money and holding up tens of thousands of jobs in California. That was the message delivered at the Los Angeles City Hall April 14, where Boilermakers Local 92 joined in a jobs rally with other unions, community groups, and elected officials to protest the delay.
The Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council organized the event and invited L-92 BM-ST Eddie Marquez to be one of the speakers. Marquez described how job delays are affecting Boilermakers and their families. He said that when unions support politicians they expect those politicians to represent union interests and keep the promises they made to get union votes.
Also representing Local 92 at the rally were lodge president Mark Thomas, trustee Oscar Davila, Kipp Wikum, Santiago Ramirez, Stan Kelley, Robin Bewsee, Steve Clenard, Octavio Morales, Paul Gonzales, Oney Pineda, Marcos Del Rio, Jason Proctor, Jeff Neahr, John Koepp, and Guillermo Villanes. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa addressed the rally in support of the unions.
The construction industry in Los Angeles currently has an unemployment rate near 35 percent, according to Villaraigosa.
