Engineers News - December 2015

edding
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20308 Engineers Lane
Redding, CA 96002•(530) 222-6093
District Rep. Bob Vanderpol
What to expect for the new year
Season’s greetings! As we record another year in the books,
let’s run down some ongoing jobs and a few upcoming ones for
next year.
Tutor Perini is working for a mid to late summer completion
on the Antlers Bridge in Lakehead. Steve Manning Construction
will work next year on the Hwy. 299/Buckhorn Summit
project. (That project may continue through this winter as well,
depending on the severity of this season’s storms.) J. F. Shea
Co. will work near Ingot doing paving and road realignment
on Hwy. 299, and the company will also be working on a bridge
project near Hilt on I-5. C. C. Myers will continue the Hwy. 99/
Thomes Creek Bridge work near Richfield. Meyers Earthwork
will be performing site work on the Karuk Tribe Casino in Yreka
sometime after the first of the year, weather permitting.
A $33 million road rehab project is going out for bid next
season in Mt. Shasta/Weed on I-5 in Siskiyou County, as is a
$22.7 million bridge replacement on I-5 north in Shasta County.
In Modoc County, a $19 million road rehab/Hot Mix Asphalt
(HMA) job on Hwy. 139 will also go out for bid. We will also
see $1.5 million of overhead and roadway sign replacement
throughout Shasta, Siskiyou and Tehama counties go out for bid.
Members working for Pacific States and A J Diani
Construction Co. have put in many hours doing rehabilitation
after the recent fires, and remediation projects throughout the
North State have provided relief to those affected.
We welcome Northern Industrial Electric as our newest
signatory employer.
We wish you and your families a merry Christmas and a
happy new year!
Eureka
840 E St., Suite 20
Eureka, CA 95501•(707) 443-7328
District Rep. Dave Kirk
Local mechanic advances
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It is the end of the year, and it has been a busy one for our
district. It has been tough to fill job orders, but that’s a good
problem to have! Work is looking great for next year as well. As
the work winds down, don’t forget to call or stop by the Hall to
make sure you are on the out-of-work list, if necessary, and that
your information has been updated.
Congratulations to John Saldana who recently graduated
from the Apprenticeship Program. He has worked very hard for
the past three years as a mechanic at the Caltrans District 1 shop,
and we proudly recognize his accomplishment.
From politics to projects, District 70 is a very unique district,
and the membership here is second to none. Our members are
very supportive, and our Retirees are very involved. We thank
all of you.
Our District Seafood Feast will be on Jan. 30 this year. It is
always a great time to come and see old friends and make new
ones. Call the Hall to get your tickets early.
As we start a new year, remember to keep our Caltrans Unit
12 members in your thoughts. Winter is a busy season for them,
as they keep highways safe for all of us. Have a very merry
Christmas and a happy new year.
morgan hill I
A father looks back; son looks forward
Retiree Casey Bargas was born at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland,
the fourth of five children. His mother stayed at home, raising
the children, while his father worked at the Ford Motor Plant in
Milpitas. The family lived in San Jose, where they had moved
after Bargas’ father transferred from the Ford Motor Plant in
Richmond in 1954. Shortly after the move, however, tragedy
struck and Bargas’ father was killed in a car accident. The family
remained in San Jose, and Bargas has fond memories of growing
up in the area.
“My mom always took us to the park or to visit our cousins
in Fremont or Oakland,” he said. “Penintencia Creek was at the
end of our street, so there were always adventures to be had for
us young boys.”
It was Bargas’ older brother, Alexis, who introduced him to a
career as an Operating Engineer.
“He told me they were giving an aptitude test, so I took it,”
he said. “I was placed on their list, and a few months later, at the
age of 23, I became a member of OE3.”
His first job was as an apprentice working for Galeb Paving
and Grading. The laborers on the job told him he wouldn’t last
long, since the company boss had a reputation for being tough.
“I told myself that if I could work for him, I could work for
anyone,” he said. “I stayed two years with that company.”
Bargas became a journey-level operator within five years and
worked for Raisch Construction until a recession hit in 1991.
Despite the bad economy, Bargas worked with Granite operating
a 977 track loader for 10 years. Toward the end of that period, he
began gradechecking and eventually went to work for DeSilva
New journey-level Mechanic John Saldana, far right, stands with his Caltrans crew.
325 Digital Drive, Morgan Hill, CA 95037 • (408) 465-8260
District Rep. Manuel Pinheiro
Gates for three years. He worked another seven with RGW and
eventually retired at age 55 with 32 years of service in Local 3.
“It’s been a great career working outdoors, and I’ve met a lot
of interesting coworkers,” he said.
He wouldn’t mind working a few months out of the year, if
given the opportunity, but he enjoys his retirement. “Now I have
time to spend on my artwork (ceramics) and making displays
for my die-cast collection.”
Bargas’ advice: “All you new operators out there, take it one
day at a time, enjoy the work and consider yourself lucky to be
in a great union.”
Growing up in Gilroy, Bargas’ son, Casey Bargas Jr., always
looked up to his father as an Operating Engineer, and today he
is following in his father’s footsteps. He is currently working
for Graniterock as an apprentice GPS gradesetter,
having recently worked for
Curtis Drilling on the Lower
Silver Creek project.
“I applied for the
apprenticeship, and six
months later, I was at
Rancho Murieta,” Casey
Jr. said.
His advice to anyone
thinking about a career
with Local 3 is to go for it.
“Don’t wait six-plus
years like I did,” he said.
18 | Engineers News
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