August 2009 Vol. 12 No. 8

CIA Update

Carpenters in Action keep Oakland BART project on track

After months in stall mode, the $500 million Oakland Airport Connector (OAC) project is on track to get underway in January 2010, bringing some sorely needed jobs to the East Bay. UBC members’ involvement was crucial to the decision.


General Sheppard, CIA Local 713, speaks to MTC members.

Over the past couple of months, NCCRC members attended and spoke at six public hearings, and their testimony helped move the votes to bring this project into reality.

The idea of connecting the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system to the Oakland Airport has been around for years. The idea is to build an elevated tramway running for three miles from the Oakland Coliseum BART station down Hegenberger Road to the airport. Financing the project has always been the challenge, and it looked like the current economy might stop it again.

Fortunately, the American Recovery and Re-Investment Act (ARRA), better known as the stimulus bill, came along and provided the money for infrastructure projects in Northern California. After a long series of hearings (which were detailed in last month’s issue of this paper), the final hurdle was a decision by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to fully commit the ARRA funds, and about $50 million in other transportation funds for the project.

Having come this far, members of Carpenters in Action (CIA) weren’t about to leave anything to chance. Nearly 20 members showed up at the MTC hearing in July, and pressed the Commissioners to give final approval. Brothers General Sheppard and Clint Walker from Local 713, and Brother Doyle Williams from Local 9068, all urged the panel to fund this project and create desperately needed jobs.

Front Row: Nathan Page, CIA Local 713; Sims Lebanon, Local 713; Jim McDonald, CIA Local 713; Doyle Williams, CIA Local 9068. Second Row: Darrell Harris, Job Tracker Local 713; Daniel Rodriguez, CIA Local 9068; Mario Cruz, CIA Local 7134; Paul Diaz, CIA Local 713. Third Row: Tony Granado, CIA Local 713; Victor Valdez, CIA Local 713; Doug Orr, CIA Local 713; Roger Stanfield, CIA Local 713. Fourth Row: Jim Mac Williams, Lead Organizer Local 713; Austin Bradford, CIA Local 713; Tim Williams, Organizer Local 217; Clint Walker, CIA Local 713. (Not in the photo: General Sheppard and Juan Cobos, both CIA members from Local 713.)

Regional Council Political Director Paul Cohen followed up by stressing that the project represents good transportation policy, as well as good economic and social policy. This followed a day of lobbying before the meeting with Field Representatives from around the Bay Area calling or visiting MTC members individually to request their support. The teamwork by Field Representatives, Organizers, and—most importantly!—the dedicated members of the CIA overwhelmed the opposition.

Thanks to consistent involvement by UBC members, this project is now on a fast track, and BART staffers are moving quickly to get the job out to bid. Construction is expected to begin in January 2010. The pre-qualified design/build teams have been identified, and the prime contractor for each team is signatory to the Carpenters’ Master Agreement. We’ll see union carpenters at work on this project soon!

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