This year will be very busy and that means more work for Laborers in Local 585. The Infrastructure Bill that many of you wrote letters and emails to help pass will bring $44 Billion for California's roads, bridges, public transportation, and water projects, among many other projects. Local 585 will be fighting to make sure those projects hire local workers. Elections are three months away in June 2022. We are interviewing candidates for local offices that will support using local skilled and trained workers for local projects. Please get involved in helping get Local 585 candidates elected. Getting the right person elected can make a difference between driving hours to your job outside the county and working locally. The team in the Local 585 office will be working on member events and gatherings as the COVID-19 pandemic makes it safe to gather. We are here working for you. Please contact us if you need anything. -- Anthony Mireles
House of Representatives Passes $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill
Historic legislation funds critical infrastructure in the areas of roads/bridges, dams, water systems, broadband, clean energy projects
On Friday, November 5th, the House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill which funds $1.2 Trillion in critical infrastructure projects. The funds will restore our roads and bridges, our water systems, transit, and broadband with historic new investments. The investment will put Laborers to work in every community, revitalize Ventura County’s economy, and open doors to the middle-class for thousands of working men and women.
“Laborers are builders and our membership is ready to get to work on building the state-of-the-art infrastructure that this country deserves, said Anthony Mireles, Business Manager, Laborers, Local 585. “We have been talking about making a meaningful investment in infrastructure for a long time and our leaders finally got it done. We commend leaders from both parties for coming together and getting this done.”
With the added demand for labor resources for these upcoming projects, the Laborers have taken the lead in developing pre-apprenticeship programs with the Oxnard Union High School District and the City of Oxnard. There will be work for everyone and the Local 585 leadership is making sure that there are enough workers to meet this demand.
Stay tuned for future updates as details on the type of projects approved for funding will happen in the next few months.
Laborers backing a ballot measure to bring more dollars to fund transportation projects
Ventura County roads, bridges, and local public transit need a big boost to reduce traffic, make it easier for people to take public transportation, use their bikes to get to work or feel safe driving on local roads. That’s why the Laborers are part of a coalition of local organizations working to get a measure on the November 2022 election ballot to raise local sales taxes by half-cent.
Why are we supporting raising taxes by half a cent?
That half-cent in sales taxes will be matched by federal and state transit funds needed to move forward on projects in Ventura County that create jobs for the Laborers. Many of these funds are only awarded to counties that have matching funds. Since Ventura County does not have a dedicated source of funds for local transportation projects, it is not eligible for hundreds of millions of dollars for local projects.
According to the Ventura County Comprehensive Transportation Plan, there is a projected $438 million funding shortfall over the next ten years to maintain public roadways in Ventura County at current conditions. There are highways segments in unincorporated Ventura County that are operating at unacceptable conditions.
In order to get on the ballot, we need to gather thousands of signatures from Ventura County voters. Local 585 staff have been out on job sites collecting signatures. Even our retirees have been active in gathering signatures. If you haven’t signed, contact our office or ask when you stop by the Local. You need to be a registered voter to sign the petition.
More funds available means more projects which result in more local jobs for our members at Local 585.
Del Sol High School in Oxnard Project Moving Forward
Construction at Del Sol High School is moving forward thanks to skilled labor from all trades, but the Laborers play an important role early in any construction project. Trenching, utilities, laying a foundation are what we do as Laborers and the project would not move forward or be as high quality without the skilled labor provided by Local 585.
Recently, LiUNA Local 585 members performed concrete work for Santa Clarita Concrete on the New Del Sol High School Project in Oxnard. This multi-million-dollar project is being built under a Community Workforce Agreement with the Oxnard Union High School District. LIUNA, Local 585 and the Building Trades put a lot of time and effort into negotiating this agreement with the school district. This project will employ hundreds of Laborers for the next several years.
Once finished, the $178 million high school will be a shining example of the result of hiring local skilled labor for local projects.
News and Announcements
Starting January 1, 2022 our dues have increased to $47 approved by the delegation to the 26th LiUNA! Convention under constitution and policy rules. Retirees will still pay $18 per month.
Congratulations to our 2021 graduation class. We had 21 apprentices complete their OJT and classroom hours graduate into new skilled and trained journeymen!
Download the Local 585 App to get the latest news, resources, and opportunities to advocate for local jobs in your community.
On Friday, November 5th, the House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill which funds $1.2 Trillion in critical infrastructure projects. The funds will restore our roads and bridges, our water systems, transit, and broadband with historic new investments. The investment will put Laborers to work in every community, revitalize Ventura County’s economy, and open doors to the middle-class for thousands of working men and women.
Construction at Del Sol High School is moving forward thanks to skilled labor from all trades, but the Laborers play an important role early in any construction project. Trenching, utilities, laying a foundation are what we do as Laborers and the project would not move forward or be as high quality without the skilled labor provided by Local 585.