Class of 2025

Hermanos y Hermanas,

I hope this article finds you working and looking forward to cooler weather. This past Saturday the JATC honored the graduating class of 2025 at Scott’s Seafood in Oakland. The men and women who were being honored have dedicated the past 5 years of their lives working to master their trades. Being an apprentice is different from when I went through the program (1994-1988), under the DC16 Director of Training Alex Beltran it has become the best program it has ever been. Every week that an apprentice attends training all their time is dedicated to classroom work, hand on training, CORE classes such as CPR/First Aide and so on. There is no downtime, with only eight hundred hours of school training there is no time to waste. The biggest improvement is the Exit Exam. The exam has three parts, written exam, hard surface and carpet. The apprentices are given a few days to complete the exam and are graded by the JATC instructors and several contractors who have no idea who mockup they are grading. Congratulations to the Class of 2025, you just graduated from the School of Hard Knocks.

Graduating Floor Coverers from Local 1237

Eric S. Ariaza Joya

Ben Bird-Jones

Joseph A. Castiglia

Ethan A. Cooksey

Steve E. Gomez

Jacob Lester

Jose Mares

Israel Olivares

Aaron J. Ringor

Ronnie Rose

Aaron D. Woolsey

The article below was written by Local 12 Business Rep. Edgar Flores

IUPAT District Council 16 and Benco Union Advisors Partnership

IUPAT District Council 16 and Benco Union Advisors work together to support union members by providing financial education, retirement planning, and member benefit services. Their partnership helps members make informed financial decisions while strengthening the overall value of union membership.

Key Areas of Collaboration

• Provide financial education and planning resources to union members.
• Offer guidance on retirement planning and long-term financial wellness.
• Educate members about available union-sponsored benefits and savings opportunities.
• Participate in union meetings, training sessions, and member events.
• Support members in developing financial strategies that align with their career goals.

Benefits to Union Members

• Improved understanding of personal financial management.
• Access to professional financial guidance tailored to union workers.
• Increased awareness of retirement and investment options.
• Enhanced member support beyond workplace representation.
• Greater financial confidence throughout members’ careers and into retirement.

Conclusión

The partnership between IUPAT District Council 16 and Benco Union Advisors combines strong union representation with financial education and advisory services. By working together, they help members strengthen both their professional and financial futures while supporting the long-term success of the union community.

www.iupat-benco.com