In This Edition:

·        Union Mandates Disguised as Policy

·        Tax Subsidies for Some

·        Faster Labor Contracts Act

·        PLAs Claim Another Victim

·        Swalwell Impact

·        Walkaround Rule

·        IBEW joins Wildfire Victims First

·        Fire Reconstruction

·        Withdrawal Liability Industry Rules

·        Arizona Workplace Heat Rules

·        Retainage and Payment Practices

·        Arbitration Limits and PAGA

·        Can the AG Police an Elected Sheriff?

·        Team Building

·        How Long Does It Take to Buy Books for Children?

·        More DOL Drama

A Troubling Pattern, Union Mandates Disguised as Policy

A recent CalMatters article highlights a growing trend in Sacramento: conditioning basic business operations on union agreements. The legislation, SB 1203, would require private security firms to enter union contracts simply to provide required “use-of-force” training. In effect, the state is leveraging regulatory authority to compel unionization in an otherwise private industry. (CalMatters)

While framed as workforce training and public safety reform, the mechanism is unmistakable: no union agreement, no ability to operate fully. This is not an isolated policy experiment—it is part of a broader legislative pattern that should concern every open-shop contractor in California.

This same approach is now being applied to construction through measures such as AB 1809 (Fong), which would require school districts to adopt Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) as a condition for using Job Order Contracting (JOC). JOC has long been one of the most accessible procurement methods for small, emerging, and diverse contractors. Conditioning its use on a PLA effectively shuts the door on those firms unless they agree to union terms—terms many of their employees have not chosen.

AB 2152 (Gonzalez) takes this model even further. By tying judicial streamlining, a valuable tool to accelerate critical public safety projects like fire stations, to the adoption of a PLA, the Legislature is again using public policy as leverage. Contractors and public agencies face a coercive choice: accept a PLA or lose access to expedited approvals.

Across these proposals, the pattern is clear:

• SB 1203 (Security Guards): No union contract, no training authority.
• AB 1809 (School Construction): No PLA, no access to JOC.
• AB 2152 (Fire Stations): No PLA, no judicial streamlining.

Each bill conditions participation in the marketplace, or access to critical tools, on entering into union agreements. This is not about safety, training, or efficiency alone; it is about restructuring entire industries through indirect mandates.

For contractors, construction or security, particularly small, minority-owned, and merit shop firms, these policies create significant barriers:

• Reduced competition and fewer bidding opportunities
• Increased costs and administrative burdens
• Exclusion of skilled workers who have chosen not to affiliate with a union

For public agencies and taxpayers, the result is fewer bidders, higher costs, and less flexibility in delivering critical infrastructure.

Whether in private security or public construction, Sacramento is increasingly using regulatory “carrots and sticks” to compel unionization. The result is a steady erosion of fair and open competition.

WECA supports high standards for safety, training, and workforce development. But those goals can, and should, be achieved without excluding the majority of California’s construction workforce.

If these policies continue to expand, the question is no longer where this model will be applied next, but whether any sector will be left untouched.

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Sacramento’s Selective Subsidies: Hollywood Gets the Red Carpet, Agriculture Gets the Cold Shoulder

California policymakers have made one thing abundantly clear: when it comes to subsidizing labor costs, it’s not the policy, it’s the politics.

For years, the state has generously supported the entertainment industry through expansive film and television tax credits. These subsidies, now totaling hundreds of millions of dollars annually, are explicitly designed to offset production costs, particularly labor costs, to keep Hollywood rooted in California. Lawmakers and labor leaders alike defend these incentives as essential to preserving jobs and economic activity.

Yet when a similar concept is proposed for one of California’s oldest and most essential industries, agriculture, the reaction is dramatically different.

Senate Bill 921, authored by Senator Shannon Grove, seeks to address a very real and well-documented consequence of prior legislative action. When California phased in agricultural overtime requirements under AB 1066, the intent was to increase worker pay. The reality, however, has often been the opposite: growers reduced hours to control costs, and many farmworkers saw their take-home pay decline.

SB 921 attempts to correct that outcome. By offering a targeted tax credit to offset overtime costs, the bill would incentivize employers to restore hours and increase earnings for workers. It is, quite plainly, an effort to fix a problem created by the Legislature itself.

But unlike Hollywood, agriculture has not been welcomed with open arms.

The California Labor Federation has come out strongly against SB 921, arguing that it would “subsidize employers” and shift the cost of wages onto taxpayers. That argument might carry more weight if the state were not already doing precisely that for the entertainment industry.

The inconsistency is hard to ignore.

When the beneficiaries are film studios and unionized production crews, subsidies are framed as “economic development.” When the beneficiaries are farmers and farmworkers, many of whom are among the most economically vulnerable in the state, the same policy becomes an unacceptable “corporate giveaway.”

This is not just a contradiction; it is a policy double standard.

And the issue is not confined to agriculture.

California is increasingly experimenting with aggressive wage mandates across multiple sectors. The fast-food industry has already seen the implementation of a $20 minimum wage, with early reports indicating reduced hours and workforce adjustments. In Los Angeles, proposals are advancing that would push hotel and tourism wages toward, and in some cases beyond, $30 per hour.

The pattern is becoming familiar: mandate higher wages, then confront the unintended consequences as employers adapt by cutting hours, raising prices, or reducing hiring.

SB 921 represents a rare acknowledgment of those consequences and an attempt to mitigate them. Yet instead of engaging with the underlying problem, opponents have chosen to reject the solution outright.

California cannot continue to pick winners and losers based on political alignment or industry profile. If subsidizing labor costs is sound policy for Hollywood, it cannot be dismissed as irresponsible for agriculture. And if the state is unwilling to revisit the impacts of its own mandates, it risks compounding the very inequities it claims to address.

At a minimum, policymakers owe it to farmworkers and to the broader economy to apply their principles consistently.

Right now, Sacramento’s message is clear: red carpets for some, closed doors for others.

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Josh Hawley is Still Trying to Sell Unions to Republicans. It’s Not Working.

Sen. Josh Hawley, a populist Republican who has rankled conservatives and union organizers alike with his picket-line visits and labor policies, aims to put forward a slew of legislation based on his self-proclaimed “pro-worker framework.” The framework includes increasing civil penalties for employers who violate labor laws and banning required “captive audience” meetings, where employers discourage workers from organizing.

Hawley has also introduced the Faster Labor Contracts Act, which requires employers to start negotiations for a first contract within 10 days of a union’s certification.

These policies are lifted from Democrats’ Protect the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act, a comprehensive labor-reform bill that never came to a floor vote when Democrats controlled the Senate. Unions, from the Teamsters to the AFL-CIO to the United Food and Commercial Workers, say they are on board with the PRO Act and Hawley’s Faster Labor Contracts Act.

“There was just not a realistic path forward to the president’s desk for that bill as a whole,” said Sunshine McBride, the Teamsters’ federal legislative director, who added that the union worked with Hawley on turning the framework into legislation. “By doing the bills as standalones, we were creating more opportunities for Republicans to start to take those actions depending on where they fell on a continuum of support for labor.”

Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) on Monday filed a discharge petition to force a vote on Hawley's bill. Teamsters leader Sean O’Brien joined Norcross and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) for a press conference on Monday ahead of the discharge petition, which the New Jersey lawmaker filed Monday night. The move comes after O’Brien met with White House officials last week.  Story

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Sacramento’s I Street Bridge Bids Come in Millions Over Budget; PLA Victim?

Construction bids Sacramento received for the I Street Bridge replacement project were millions of dollars higher than anticipated, the city announced Wednesday. The existing bridge over the Sacramento River has connected Yolo and Sacramento counties for more than a century. Bid documents show that the city expected the cost to be $260 million, but the lowest bid received was for just under $399 million. The city still hopes to complete the project, but the timeline has been pushed back to at least 2027. It was previously expected to begin this summer. The city has a PLA in place, which undoubtedly contributed to the bids exceeding the engineer’s estimates. Story

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Friend of a Predator

The fallout from Swalwell’s implosion hasn’t been confined to the house. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) has been a longtime personal friend and political ally of Swalwell’s, and he came strongly to his defense when rumors about the congressman’s behavior started swirling.

Now the senator, too, has been forced into damage-control mode. In a press conference in his office, a harried Gallego disclaimed all knowledge of the predations of his, he insisted, former friend. “I let this man into my family,” Gallego said. “Look, we socialized. We went out. But I never saw him engage in any of the predatory behavior, harassment, sexual assault, anything like that.”

“I definitely look at the world a different way now,” Gallego added, pledging to “take, you know, personal steps and office steps to make sure that we don’t even get close to a gray line.”

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Cal/OSHA’s Proposed Walkaround Rule

Cal/OSHA has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would significantly expand the scope of individuals who may accompany agency inspectors during workplace walkaround inspections. The proposed regulation, 8 CCR § 331.8, would, among other things, allow third parties such as union organizers, attorneys, and outside consultants to accompany Cal/OSHA compliance officers during inspections of non-union workplaces, so long as the inspector finds “good cause” for their participation.

Most opponents of the rule criticized Cal/OSHA for advancing this proposal while a federal court decision on the legality of Fed/OSHA’s similar Walkaround Rule could come at any time.

Key Themes in Comments

• The proposed rule opens the door for union organizers, plaintiff’s attorneys, and other third parties to access non-union workplaces under the guise of assisting with safety inspections, creating significant risks of workplace disruption, litigation exposure, and trade secret compromise.
• Cal/OSHA is rushing this rulemaking without justification, particularly given the pending federal court challenge to Fed/OSHA’s analogous rule. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several trade groups have filed suit in the Western District of Texas, and a decision on summary judgment could arrive any day.
• The coalition urged Cal/OSHA to convene an advisory committee process before sending any proposal to the Cal/OSHA Standards Board. An advisory committee would allow for more meaningful stakeholder engagement, including the opportunity to review and comment on draft regulatory text; a step that has been absent from this process so far.

If Cal/OSHA will take up our recommendation to slow the process and convene an advisory committee. Regardless, we will continue to monitor the rulemaking and look for every opportunity to engage, both informally with the agency and formally through the Cal/OSHA Standards Board process that would follow if Cal/OSHA proceeds.

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#WCGW

Housing construction groups like the state building industry, apartment associations, and the IBEW are banding together in a new coalition pressing state lawmakers to urgently adopt changes to the state’s electric and insurance systems. They argue that it would improve California's recovery from catastrophic wildfires. Major utilities, including PG&E, are part of the effort, too, said Nathan Click, a spokesperson for the group.

The coalition group, called “Wildfire Victims First,” seized on the California Earthquake Authority’s big disaster resilience report to press the Legislature to act “with urgency” on “comprehensive reforms” in a joint statement.

The group is staying away, for now, from embracing specific policies, like getting rid of inverse condemnation, the state’s legal doctrine automatically holding electric utilities liable for damages from wildfires they spark, according to a spokesperson.

But its broad focus includes ensuring faster payouts for victims and criticizing hedge funds and trial attorneys for taking a cut of victims' payouts. That position puts the group sharply at odds with those who seek compensation directly from utilities for wildfires they spark, including trial attorneys who represent wildfire victims and the property insurance industry. [Politico]

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Big Talk, Little Build

Soon after wildfires leveled two Los Angeles communities last year, public officials touted the record-setting speed of the recovery. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said it was happening “faster than ever before.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass boasted it was “on track to be the fastest in California history.”

That’s no longer true, according to an analysis of permitting data.

The analysis found just 34 homes have been built in Pacific Palisades and Altadena in the 15 months since the blazes, a figure that trails the rate of construction following two recent, similarly destructive fires in Northern California.

The review also determined that owners of fewer than half of the 9,900 lots where homes were destroyed have applied for permits to build new houses.

The data show that what residents and policymakers alike have increasingly feared is the case: Los Angeles is falling short of early expectations for rapid rebuilding, as frustrated wildfire survivors continue to confront barriers to returning home. [Politico]

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Ninth Circuit Clarifies Withdrawal Liability Industry Rules

The Ninth Circuit (which has jurisdiction over these 9 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and includes Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands), recently issued a pair of decisions clarifying how the rules governing withdrawal liability apply to employers in certain industries.  In Walker Specialty Const., Inc. v. Bd. of Trs. of the Constr. Indus. & Laborers Joint Pension Tr. for S. Nev., No. 24-1560, 2026 WL 21743 (9th Cir. Jan. 5, 2026), the Court held that an employer did not withdraw from a multiemployer pension plan, and thus did not owe withdrawal liability, because the employer’s asbestos abatement work qualified for the “building and construction industry” exemption.  And in Nevada Resort Ass’n–Int’l All. of Theatrical Stage Emps. & Moving Picture Mach. Operators of the U.S. and Can., Local 720 Pension Tr. v. JB Viva Vegas, LP, Nos. In 24-3047 & 24-2791, 2026 WL 32577 (9th Cir. Jan. 6, 2026), the Court held that the plan primarily covered employees in the entertainment industry because the majority of employees performed at least some entertainment-related work. More

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Industrial Commission Approves Arizona Workplace Heat Rules Supported by Businesses

The Industrial Commission of Arizona voted recently to adopt strengthened workplace heat safety guidelines for employers statewide, delivering an outcome the business community called a practical, Arizona-driven solution to a genuine challenge. The commission’s action follows nearly a year of work by the Governor’s Workplace Heat Safety Task Force, which brought together business, labor, and occupational safety experts to develop guidance grounded in real-world conditions. The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Arizona Manufacturers Council participated throughout that process, with Grace Appelbe representing both organizations. More

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New California Statutes Reshape Retainage and Payment Practices in Private Construction Contracts

Effective January 1, 2026, two groundbreaking California statutes will significantly impact private construction contracts executed after this date. The first, California Civil Code § 8811, imposes a strict five percent (5%) cap on retainage for most private projects, fundamentally changing the longstanding practice of parties negotiating retainage terms and percentages. The second, California Civil Code § 8850, introduces an elaborate prompt payment and claim resolution framework for private works, aimed at alleviating payment delays and providing clear procedures for the resolution of construction contract disputes. Together, these statutes are poised to enhance payment transparency, limit tactical withholding of funds, and encourage prompt, fair compensation for contractors and subcontractors, while also creating new compliance obligations and potential penalties for owners. Construction industry participants should familiarize themselves with these changes to ensure contractual practices align with the new statutory requirements and to mitigate risks associated with noncompliance. Story

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Arbitration Limits and PAGA Maneuvering

Employers in California continue to face rough waters when it comes to enforcing arbitration agreements. Through the lens of some recent California cases, employers may want to consider at each stage, from the roll-out of the arbitration agreements to after arbitration is initiated. Story

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Ballot Seizure Case Poses a Major Legal Question: Can the AG Police an Elected Sheriff?

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco’s unprecedented seizure of more than 650,000 ballots as part of an investigation into dubious election fraud claims has drawn widespread public attention, welcomed by the Republican gubernatorial hopeful, and condemnation from Democrats and election law experts.

But as California’s highest court weighs the merits of Bianco’s investigation, it will also be taking a stand on a much bigger political and legal question: does the state’s elected attorney general ultimately have authority over local sheriffs, who are themselves independently elected?

Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, contends California law makes him the state’s chief law officer, with the power to override decisions by local sheriffs. Bianco argues the attorney general’s authority is not absolute, and points to the fact that a Superior Court judge in his county approved a criminal search warrant for seizure and examination of the ballots.

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Team Building

There's a corporate team-building exercise where you have to climb on the boss.

Companies are always looking for fresh ways to foster team spirit by swapping traditional icebreakers for activities like country music songwriting. But even in this era of blurring professional boundaries, what's happening in the Spanish region of Catalonia is extreme. Employers are ditching escape rooms in favor of human tower workshops. Catalans have been erecting human towers-castells, to celebrate local festivities since the 18th century. While the activity sounds like a gross breach of corporate etiquette, feedback is overwhelmingly positive.

Story

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Quiz: How Long Does It Take to Buy Books For Children?

Four years ago, California set aside $70 million to provide more books to children, and so far zero books have been distributed, reports CalMatters' Adam Echelman.

In 2022, lawmakers allocated funds to the California State Library so it could partner with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to provide kids with books. The state library then created a separate nonprofit, the Strong Reader Partnership, which spent $1.1 million in state funding to pay a consultant, financial services companies, and marketing firms. But as of 2025, the organization had not distributed a single book.

Then, in 2024, when the project first came under scrutiny because most of the program's money sat idle for nearly two years, the Legislature passed a law rerouting 90% of the money earmarked in 2022 to go directly to the Tennessee-based Dollywood Foundation, instead of the Strong Reader Partnership or another California nonprofit.

At a Senate hearing last week, top officials from the Strong Reader Partnership argued that the program failed because lawmakers pulled funding prematurely. They also said the nonprofit fulfilled its duty to fundraise and secure participation from local organizations, not to deliver books.

But Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez remained skeptical. The Pasadena Democrat said the state plans to audit the program. Story

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More DOL Drama

The escalating standoff between two of Donald Trump's appointees is roiling the Labor Department and could force the White House to fill another Cabinet vacancy. Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito is nearing the end of an internal probe into Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer over alleged misconduct, including misuse of government resources and workplace behavior. The Labor secretary has denied wrongdoing. (Update: LC-D is headed to a great new private sector job, I am betting at a union)

The investigation has already led to multiple resignations and drawn in dozens of staff interviews and outside records. The clash has created tensions inside the department and raised political stakes for the administration, which is juggling other vacancies and midterm pressures.

Questions have also emerged about D’Esposito’s independence as a Trump appointee. The probe’s outcome could determine whether Chavez-DeRemer remains in her post or exits under pressure. DOL spokesperson Courtney Parella declined to comment on the investigation, but she said the agency “continues to deliver on the President’s agenda and advance major results for American workers. Any suggestion that the Department’s work has been slowed or distracted is not accurate,” Parella said in a statement. [Politico]

 

WECA’s new Industry Partner, Raiven, Inc., was founded to address longstanding inefficiencies in how contractors source and purchase materials across the building trades. Recognizing that procurement is often fragmented, manual, and reactive, Raiven set out to transform the process into something more intelligent, coordinated, and proactive.

Since its founding, Raiven has focused its products and services on supporting electrical, HVAC, and multi-trade contractors nationwide. By combining advanced AI capabilities, a broad supplier network, and hands-on procurement support, Raiven helps contractors operate with greater speed, consistency, and control across jobs and branches.

At the core of this approach is Agentic Procurement — a new model for the building trades. Rather than relying on manual coordination or static systems, Raiven deploys trade-specific AI agents that actively manage sourcing, purchasing, and material availability on behalf of contractors — essentially building an agentic Chief Procurement Office that allows teams to move from reactive purchasing to continuous, intelligent execution.

Central to this model is Raiven Assist, an AI-powered procurement assistant that delivers real-time support, recommendations, and sourcing intelligence. By continuously analyzing supplier data, pricing, and availability, Raiven Assist helps contractors make faster decisions, adapt to changing conditions, and keep projects moving without disruption.

Operating as an extension of contractors’ teams, Raiven supports day-to-day procurement activities—reducing friction, minimizing delays, and improving outcomes without requiring changes to existing workflows.

“Through our platform, Raiven connects contractors with suppliers, pricing, and real-time alternatives—while our AI agents actively work behind the scenes to anticipate needs and navigate complexity,” says Tim Moegan, Director of Ecosystem at Raiven, Inc. “Agentic procurement is about keeping contractors moving, even as conditions change.”

Raiven differentiates itself through a unique combination of service, technology, and network:

·        Your Agentic Chief Procurement Office: AI agents that bring the rigor and methodology of a fully functional Chief Procurement Office to actively manage sourcing and purchasing workflows — not just track them.

·        Best Value AI™: Patented AI that evaluates quotes and purchasing decisions to surface the best value recommendation — factoring in price, availability, supplier reliability, and total cost.

·        Built for the Trades: Designed specifically for electrical and mechanical contractors

·        Supplier-Agnostic Network: Works across a broad ecosystem while supporting existing supplier relationships

·        Real-Time Sourcing & Alternatives: Continuously surfaces options to respond to availability and pricing changes

·        No Workflow Disruption: Integrates seamlessly into existing processes

This approach enables contractors to improve speed, consistency, and cost control—without adding operational complexity.

Moegan notes that WECA Member Contractors would benefit from Raiven through:

·        Improved job readiness: Faster, more reliable access to required materials

·        Greater purchasing consistency: Standardized execution across jobs and branches

·        Reduced delays: Proactive sourcing and real-time alternatives

·        Time savings: Less manual coordination with multiple suppliers

·        Better cost control: Increased visibility into purchasing and pricing

Raiven is committed to supporting the electrical contracting community and advancing efficiency across the trades. Through its partnership with WECA, Raiven aims to deliver meaningful value to Member Contractors by introducing a smarter, more proactive approach to procurement—one powered by AI and built for how contractors actually work today.

WECA Honors Greg Anderson with Release of "Wall of Fame" Video and Formal Dedication of HQ as "The Greg Anderson Training Facility"



Watch our video tribute to Greg Anderson

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On Thursday, April 2nd, WECA honored Greg Anderson's memory and legacy at a memorial video premiere and building dedication held at WECA's California headquarters in Rancho Cordova.

For over 30 years, Greg Anderson dedicated his time, expertise, and passion to WECA, serving on the Board, the Executive Committee, and as WECA's esteemed Board President and Chair of the WECA Apprenticeship Training Committee/Apprenticeship Training Trust Board of Trustees. Greg's contributions to WECA were immeasurable. His leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment shaped WECA's direction and apprenticeship programs, and with his guidance, WECA achieved numerous milestones and remarkable growth.

During the event, Greg's loved ones, coworkers from Rex Moore, WECA staff, and our greater WECA and industry community watched the premiere of a memorial video celebrating Greg's impact on WECA, and witnessed the formal dedication of WECA's California headquarters as the Greg Anderson Training Facility. 

"We held a wonderful event to officially launch the Hall of Fame video for Greg Anderson and to fully commemorate the naming of our building," reflected Don Black, WECA's Executive Director and CEO. "It was well-attended by friends and family who shared stories, laughed, and remembered what an impactful person Greg was."

"Greg is a wonderful example of how a person can positively influence others and an organization by striving for excellence and understanding that success comes from being determined to work through the challenges faced along the way," continued Black. "My hope is that as you watch the video, you are inspired to pursue excellence and are reminded that success and challenges go hand in hand. WECA is an exceptional organization because of each individual who focuses on being excellent every day. We are exceptional because we know we will face challenges, but we will face them together, work through them together, and not give up. Each of us will have days when we fall short; it is up to our teammates to lift us up when this happens. Greg provided a great example for us all!"

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Learn About Key Changes to the National Electrical Code for 2026

Access the Free EC&M and ABB Webinar "Mastering the 2026 NEC: Key Changes for Electrical Contractors" Within
 

Content courtesy of EC&M and ABB

The 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC) marks another year of significant change for the electrical industry. The most impactful updates in Articles 110 – 300 include revisions to working space requirements, continuous load calculations, GFCI protection rules, service disconnect requirements, and fire and water damage to wiring methods. Understanding these complex code changes helps electrical contractors, engineers, inspectors, and maintenance technicians avoid violations, improve safety, and streamline installations.

Access the webinar here. (Free registration required).

 

You're cordially invited to WECA's open house at our Fresno training facility! All are welcome!

When: Today, April 16, 2026 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Where: 7328 N. Remington Ave., Fresno, CA 93711

• Enjoy food and libations
• Tour the facility
• Network with other contractors, WECA staff, members of the WECA Board of Directors and Trustees, and other members of our Central Valley community
• Learn about WECA and how the merit shop philosophy benefits electrical and low voltage contractors
• See how our apprentices learn, including the innovative technology and training tools used in WECA's apprenticeship learning labs

Please RSVP at the link so we can look forward to seeing you there!

Register here for our Fresno open house

There's Almost Two Weeks Left to Register to Join WECA at Our Utah Open House and Mixer in Celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2026!

Wednesday, April 29th at WECA's Salt Lake Region Training Center/Utah Headquarters


 

WECA Utah Open House and Mixer

When: Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Time: 2:00 to 3:30 PM

Where: WECA Salt Lake Region Training Center/Utah HQ

2511 S. Redwood Rd., Ste. 22

Woods Cross, UT 84047
 

Join WECA at our Salt Lake City Region Training Center and Utah Headquarters for an open house and mixer in celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2026, on Wednesday, April 29th from 2:00 to 3:30 PM.

Join us for an afternoon of networking and insight into how WECA Utah is building the next generation of skilled electricians through our industry-leading Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship program.

This special event welcomes anyone interested in WECA contractor membership, Utah community partners, workforce development and grant partners, policy makers supporting apprenticeship programs, industry advocates, prospective apprentices, and any other interested members of our community.

Enjoy meeting the WECA team and our greater Utah community, touring our state-of-the-art learning facilities, and learning more about the WECA Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program for Utah.

We look forward to hosting you at our open house and mixer. To help us plan for the event, please pre-register. You'll receive event reminders and any updated event information. (No chance to RSVP? We'll still be happy to see you on the day of the event.)

Register for the WECA Utah Open House and Mixer here!
 

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Help us spread the news in Utah! Download our event flyer:

Let's Get Cracking! RSVP Today to Support the Western Electrical Contractors Education Foundation (WECEF's) Mission at the 2026 Claws for a Cause Crab Feed Benefit and Annual Installation of Officers Event

Friday, May 15th at WECA's California HQ




 

2026 WECEF Claws for a Cause Crab Feed Benefit and

Annual WECA Installation of Officers Event

 

When: Friday, May 15, 2026

Time: 5:00 to 8:00 PM

Where: WECA California HQ | 3695 Bleckely St. | Rancho Cordova, CA 95655

 

The Western Electrical Contractors Education Foundation (WECEF) is pleased to invite you to come out for a good cause on May 15, 2026! Join us for WECEF's crab feed benefit and WECA's annual installation of officers! This benefit supports education and careers in the electrical and low voltage trades, helping WECEF create more opportunities for student scholarships, materials, and improvements to WECA labs, classrooms, and the electrical industry.

At this event, you will enjoy a delicious dinner of fresh Dungeness crab, sides, and festive libations, get to celebrate in support of WECEF's mission, and have a great time with members of WECA and the industry.

• King Crab Sponsorship ($1,500) (6 reserved seats per table)
• Snow Crab Sponsorship ($1,100) (4 reserved seats per table)
• Blue Crab Sponsorship ($600) (2 reserved seats per table)
• Crab Feed Attendee ($100 per person)
• Six feet of Raffle Tickets ($25)

Sign up for a sponsorship or purchase individual seats, plus get a great deal on pre-purchased raffle tickets at the link. Thank you for your continued support of electrical and low voltage education!

Reserve your sponsorship and dinner tickets today!

 

Legislature Advances Dumb Bills

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the California Legislature likes anything the State Building and Construction Trades Council sponsors.

AB 1859 (Ortega – D) requires awarding bodies or owners to grant access to joint labor-management committees to enforce prevailing wage and apprenticeship standards. These committees can take legal action if access is denied. Additionally, the bill specifies that courts may impose civil penalties for violations. Passed Assembly Judiciary 9-3 party-line. WECA Opposes

SB 1154 (Reyes - D) gives best-value contracting option to community college districts for projects over $1,000,000. It includes bad safety language that deems any union contractor “safe” regardless of their experience. It includes STW mandates unless covered by a PLA. It mandates a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2030, on its utilization. These provisions will expire on January 1, 2031. Passed by Senate Education on a party-line 5-2 vote. WECA Opposes.  Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Redlands), whose husband is a subcontractor and recently visited WECA/AGC Riverside, spoke passionately in opposition to the bill’s discriminatory nature. You can watch the hearing here. SB 1154 is the first bill.

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Washington Post Rips FLCA as Anti-Worker

On April 8, the Washington Post’s editorial board slammed the Faster Labor Contracts Act, (HR 5408), saying it would rush newly recognized unions and employers into a compressed bargaining timeline, ending in binding arbitration if no deal is reached. The board added that this could leave workers bound to a contract they never voted on and limit unions' and employers' ability to negotiate terms tailored to a specific workplace.

On March 26, Rep. Donald Norcross, D-N.J., filed a discharge petition to move the Act, which would impose mandatory arbitration on the private sector and allow the federal government to mandate terms of contracts between unions and companies.

Discharge petitions require at least 218 signatures to bypass the traditional legislative process and fast-track a bill to the floor for a full House vote. Assuming all Democrats sign the petition, Rep. Norcross would need just four Republicans to bring the FLCA for a vote. There are currently 17 Republican cosponsors on the bill!

The FLCA is a core provision of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act). Under this proposal, after a union organizing campaign, the parties would have less than 150 days to reach a first contract. If no agreement is reached, a government-appointed arbitrator would dictate the terms. Washington could override private-sector labor negotiations and impose contract terms on American workplaces. This would mark an extreme shift away from an economy built on voluntary agreements, worker choice, and free enterprise. [CDW]

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Sweet Lord, Scott Wiener isn’t Progressive Enough for SEIU!

Per the San Francisco Chronicle (I know, you shake your head that I read the Chron and the New York Times)

“The California Service Employees International Union, with 750,000 members statewide, has pulled its endorsement of state Sen. Scott Wiener over his opposition to Proposition D, San Francisco’s “Overpaid CEO Act,” set to appear on the June 2 ballot. In the race to succeed Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in a San Francisco House seat, the union will endorse only San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, who supports the tax. Previously, the union had issued a dual endorsement of Chan and Wiener. Proposition D would tax companies with more than 1,000 employees and $1 billion in annual revenue whose top executives earn more than 100 times the median pay of their San Francisco employees. SEIU locals 2015 and 1021 are sponsors of the Yes on D campaign.”

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and the city’s Chamber of Commerce oppose the tax. Wiener said he is worried the measure would slow the city’s recovery.

—

Kiley to Punish States with High Gas Taxes

California Rep. Kevin Kiley introduced a bill on Wednesday that would withhold federal transportation funding from the five states with the highest gas taxes. Kiley, a former Republican recently turned independent, announced in a post on X that he had introduced legislation to withhold annual federal transportation funding from states with gas taxes exceeding 50 cents per gallon. The move comes after Kiley warned in January that he was preparing to author the proposal, which he framed as an effort to punish California, which has the nation’s highest gas tax at nearly 71 cents per gallon. “This will stop states like California from overtaxing their residents,” Kiley wrote in his X post on Wednesday. The bill would also affect Illinois, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, which have gas taxes ranging from 54 to 66 cents per gallon. California Republicans have long blamed the state’s Democratic majority for high gas prices and have failed to advance state legislation to freeze the gas tax in recent years.

Kiley’s bill would impose an 8 percent reduction in funding on states from the National Highway Performance Program and the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, two of the five federal highway formula grant programs.

—

Record-High Number of U.S. House Candidates Filed to Run in California After Prop 50 Mid-Decade Redistricting

A record 289 candidates, 5.6 per district, are running for California's 52 congressional districts in the state’s June 2 top-two primaries. That’s the most candidates to run for the U.S. House since 2014 and the most candidates per district since 2022, when California was apportioned 52 districts following the 2020 census.

These primaries are happening against the backdrop of mid-decade redistricting. On Nov. 4, 2025, California voters approved Proposition 50 64.4% to 35.6%. The constitutional amendment allows the state to use a new, Legislature-drawn congressional district map for 2026 through 2030. The state’s Citizens Redistricting Commission will redraw congressional districts in 2031.

According to The New York Times’ Kellen Browning, the new congressional map makes five Republican-held districts more favorable to Democrats. As of April 6, California’s U.S. House delegation includes 43 Democrats, seven Republicans, one independent, and one vacancy.

Of the 289 candidates running, there are 154 Democrats, 97 Republicans, and 38 independent or minor party candidates. The chart below shows how the total number of candidates running and the number per district compare to recent years.



 

California and five other states — Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota — are holding U.S. House primaries on June 2.

Click here to learn more about California's 2026 U.S. House elections.

—

Campaign Hijinx

An opponent of Assemblymember Mike Gipson’s bid for the Board of Equalization is accusing his campaign of recruiting a candidate with a similar last name to confuse voters and split the Asian vote, according to POLITICO.

The candidate in question is Zhijing Liu, an undergraduate at the University of Southern California who will be listed on the ballot as a “banker!” Gipson’s campaign flatly denies recruiting her, and a representative told POLITICO it had never heard of her.

Yvonne Yiu, a former Monterey Park City Council member, who is running against Gipson, ties Liu to Gipson through Jose Ugarte, who used to consult for Gipson and was paid by his campaign as recently as last April, according to campaign finance records. Liu’s papers were filed by another USC student, Amir King, who has volunteered for Ugarte. But both Ugarte and Gipson’s campaigns say Ugarte, who is running for the Los Angeles City Council, had no involvement in Liu’s candidacy.

King says the explanation is simple. It was Liu’s own idea to run, and the two got connected through a mutual friend. Liu said in an email that she’s been “working at a bank and wanted to run to explore our state's tax policies to advocate for a better system. I thought the Board of Equalization was a good fit to do that,” she said. She did not respond to additional questions about the allegations, saying she needed to focus on school until finals were over.

Assemblymember Gipson has been a leader on police reform in the state Legislature for more than a decade, frequently citing his background as a Maywood police officer and publicly describing the on-duty murder of his partner.

But the Gardena Democrat has been exaggerating his brief stint as a reserve police officer — and especially his relationship with a fallen officer, John Hoglund, who was gunned down responding to a robbery in 1992.

“He’s definitely, definitely not being honest,” said former sergeant Randy Bundschuh, who was assigned to the murder investigation of Hoglund, whom friends on the force called “Hogie.” He added later in a text message: “He was NOT Hogie’s partner.”

—

CA Supreme Court Halts Bianco's Ballot Seizure

The California Supreme Court has ordered a pause in Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco's investigation and recount of ballots cast in the November 2025 special election as multiple lawsuits challenging the effort make their way through the courts. Bianco, a Republican and a leading candidate for governor, seized more than 1,400 boxes of ballots and other materials from local election officials earlier this year as part of the investigation, alarming voting rights advocates.

The order came in response to one of Attorney General Rob Bonta's court filings seeking to halt the investigation. Bonta, a Democrat running for reelection this year, is also seeking to stop Bianco's effort in Riverside County court. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra has filed a similar, separate suit on behalf of voting rights advocates. Bianco last week said he had put the investigation on hold amid legal challenges.

Also on Wednesday, a Riverside County judge unsealed the three search warrants Bianco obtained from a different county judge — with whom Bianco has political ties — that allowed him to seize the ballots. A coalition of media outlets, including CalMatters, had asked to unseal documents, which include the sworn statements Bianco's deputies made to the judge to justify their investigation. [CalMatters]

—

Quiz: How Much Do You Know About the U.S. Tax System?

The lengthy and complex U.S. tax code can be difficult to understand. Take a quiz to see how much you really know. Quiz. (I scored 70%)

WECA Arizona Reaches Out to 3K High School Students, Including Their Teachers and Career Advisors, at Arizona Construction Career Days and Resource Fair










 

Heath Anderson, WECA Arizona's Outreach and Workforce Development Specialist, reported that WECA Arizona just returned from Arizona Construction Career Days, the state's largest career and resource fair supporting the construction industry.

Arizona Construction Career Days celebrated its 25th anniversary at the Arizona Army National Guard facility. Meanwhile, WECA Arizona joined 90 other contractors and associations to demonstrate the career pathways to approximately 3,200 high school students, teachers, and career advisors.

Among the attendees were WECA Arizona Member Contractors Helix Electric, K2 Electric, PCL, Corbins, EIG, and Brycon. Amber Integrated Services also joined the WECA ranks since they are in the process of becoming a WECA Member Contractor.

Heath also said, "We were able to have some great conversations with many high school juniors and seniors planning their futures, along with school staff gaining more knowledge to support their students. We would like to thank the United States Army for allowing us to continue using their base for the event. They are amazing hosts and provided so much in letting these students and contractors have an amazing venue to convene. Also, a big thank you to both Helix and K2 for helping in our booth. The ability to help our audience truly understand the path into our trade was so incredibly served by having both the WECA team and Member Contractors in the same conversation. We will see you all again next year."

Don't Miss Your Chance to Support the Western Electrical Contractors Education Foundation (WECEF's) Mission at the 2026 Claws for a Cause Crab Feed Benefit and Annual Installation of Officers Event

Friday, May 15th at WECA's California HQ




 

2026 WECEF Claws for a Cause Crab Feed Benefit and

Annual WECA Installation of Officers Event

 

When: Friday, May 15, 2026

Time: 5:00 to 8:00 PM

Where: WECA California HQ | 3695 Bleckely St. | Rancho Cordova, CA 95655

 

The Western Electrical Contractors Education Foundation (WECEF) is pleased to invite you to come out for a good cause on May 15, 2026! Join us for WECEF's crab feed benefit and WECA's annual installation of officers! This benefit supports education and careers in the electrical and low voltage trades, helping WECEF create more opportunities for student scholarships, materials, and improvements to WECA labs, classrooms, and the electrical industry.

At this event, you will enjoy a delicious dinner of fresh Dungeness crab, sides, and festive libations, get to celebrate in support of WECEF's mission, and have a great time with members of WECA and the industry.

• King Crab Sponsorship ($1,500) (6 reserved seats per table)
• Snow Crab Sponsorship ($1,100) (4 reserved seats per table)
• Blue Crab Sponsorship ($600) (2 reserved seats per table)
• Crab Feed Attendee ($100 per person)
• Six feet of Raffle Tickets ($25)

Sign up for a sponsorship or purchase individual seats, plus get a great deal on pre-purchased raffle tickets at the link. Thank you for your continued support of electrical and low voltage education!

Reserve your sponsorship and dinner tickets today!

 

There Are Two Weeks Left to RSVP to Join Us at Our 2026 WECA Fresno Open House on

April 16, 2026 from 4 to 6 p.m.


 

You're cordially invited to WECA's open house at our Fresno training facility! All are welcome!

When: April 16, 2026 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Where: 7328 N. Remington Ave., Fresno, CA 93711
 

• Enjoy food and libations
• Tour the facility
• Network with other contractors, WECA staff, members of the WECA Board of Directors and Trustees, and other members of our Central Valley community
• Learn about WECA and how the merit shop philosophy benefits electrical and low voltage contractors
• See how our apprentices learn, including the innovative technology and training tools used in WECA's apprenticeship learning labs

Please RSVP at the link so we can look forward to seeing you there!

Register here for our Fresno open house

Join WECA at Our Utah Open House and Mixer in Celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2026!

Wednesday, April 29th at WECA's Salt Lake Region Training Center/Utah Headquarters
 

 

WECA Utah Open House and Mixer

 

When: Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Time: 2:00 to 3:30 PM

Where: WECA Salt Lake Region Training Center/Utah HQ

2511 S. Redwood Rd., Ste. 22

Woods Cross, UT 84047

 

Join WECA at our Salt Lake City Region Training Center and Utah Headquarters for an open house and mixer in celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2026, on Wednesday, April 29th from 2:00 to 3:30 PM.

Join us for an afternoon of networking and insight into how WECA Utah is building the next generation of skilled electricians through our industry-leading Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship program.

This special event welcomes anyone interested in WECA contractor membership, Utah community partners, workforce development and grant partners, policy makers supporting apprenticeship programs, industry advocates, prospective apprentices, and any other interested members of our community.

Enjoy meeting the WECA team and our greater Utah community, touring our state-of-the-art learning facilities, and learning more about the WECA Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program for Utah.

We look forward to hosting you at our open house and mixer. To help us plan for the event, please pre-register. You'll receive event reminders and any updated event information. (No chance to RSVP? We'll still be happy to see you on the day of the event.)

Register for the WECA Utah Open House and Mixer here!

----------

Help us spread the news in Utah! Download our event flyer:

The Western Electrical Contractors Education Foundation (WECEF) Announces the 2026 Frank Vellutini Scholarship Award

Share This Information and Encourage Your Apprentices to Apply for Consideration


 

The 2026 Frank Vellutini Apprentice Scholarship Award

Frank Vellutini, longtime owner of Royal Electric and a WECA member since 1971, was actively involved with WECA and responsible for extraordinary contributions to WECA's growth and success for many years. Frank served on the WECA Board of Directors and the WECA Apprenticeship and Training Trust from 1992 to 2015. Royal Electric was one of the founding members that established the Western Electrical Contractors Education Foundation (WECEF). WECEF is pleased to offer a scholarship opportunity for students enrolled in a WECA Apprenticeship program. This scholarship is now offered in memory of Frank Vellutini.

APPLICATION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO PARTICIPATE:

• Active WECA apprentice at time of application and award.
• COMPLETION AND PASSING of at least 1 WECA apprenticeship semester course by May 3, 2026.
• Available Discipline Points requirement as of May 3, 2026: Commercial Apprentice = 40; Residential and Voice Data Video = 30.
• No violation notifications of student contact as outlined in the Apprentice Student Handbook within the past two years.
• Accurate completion of the scholarship application and answers to all the questions, by the deadline of May 3, 2026, through Reviewr. Late applications will not be considered.
• Accelerated apprentices are not eligible.

AWARDS:

Depending on the quality and quantity of the applications, up to 15 recipients will be awarded. Awards are intended to offset the costs of tools, books, and other educational expenses used in the electrical trade.

Each monetary award will be between $500.00 and $1,500.00.

The WECEF Board of Directors will review applications from eligible candidates. All applicants will be notified of the committee's final decision within 60 days of the application deadline, by email.

HOW TO APPLY:

Complete the scholarship application here by May 3, 2026. 

Encourage Someone You Think Should Consider WECA Apprenticeship to Join Us at an Apprenticeship Programs Open House in Sacramento or San Diego in Celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2026!

Sacramento



San Diego



----------
 

What Attendees Can Expect at the WECA Apprenticeship Programs Open House,
A Video Preview:



----------

This April 28th, WECA is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2026 with two Open House events at our Sacramento and San Diego Training Facilities! Please encourage your Electrician Trainees or someone you know to join us for these fun and informative April events that just might be their first step into their future career!

 

WECA Sacramento Open House

Tuesday, April 28th

2:30 to 4:30 PM

3695 Bleckely St.

Rancho Cordova, CA 95655

 

WECA San Diego Open House

Tuesday, April 28th

12:30 to 2:30 PM

6212 Ferris Sq.

San Diego, CA 92121

 

At these WECA Apprenticeship Program Open Houses, they will:

• Learn more about WECA's state and federally-approved Apprenticeship programs
• Tour the training facility
• See lab demos
• Meet WECA instructors and staff
• Get their individual questions answered
• Learn about the application process
• And more!

We encourage them to pre-register for their chosen event ahead of time to secure their spot, but will also accept walk-ins on the day of the event if space allows. Pre-registration will allow them to receive event reminders and updated event information.

Apprenticeship means you get paid to learn. It's a path to a great, skilled career, without having to take on any college debt.

Share this RSVP link for the WECA Sacramento Open House!

Share this RSVP link for the WECA San Diego Open House!

Legislative Committees Advance Building Trade’s Agenda

It’s been a busy two weeks in the California State Capitol.

The Assembly Labor & Employment committee passed:

AB 1707 (Davies – R) would require the DLSE ECU to permit the application for certification and examination as an electrician to be submitted electronically and would also permit electricians to renew their certifications electronically. The bill would permit an individual who fails the electrician certification examination to reregister for certification and to retake the examination immediately at the next available appointment with the division. Passed 7-0. WECA Supports.

AB 1838 (Berman – D) requires contractors to disclose any history of wage-and-hour violations as part of their bid submission. Contractors who fail to provide these disclosures and supporting documents may be disqualified from the bidding process. Passed 7-0. WECA Opposes

AB 1859 (Ortega – D) requires awarding bodies or owners to grant reasonable access to joint labor-management committees to ensure compliance with prevailing wage and apprenticeship standards. These committees can take legal action if access is denied. Additionally, the bill specifies that courts may impose civil penalties for violations. Passed 7-0. WECA Opposes

The Assembly Education Committee passed AB 1809 (Fong - D). This bill would make certain provisions related to job order contracting for school and community college districts permanent by removing their January 1, 2027 expiration date. Job order contracting allows these districts to hire contractors for project management through a simplified process if they have a PLA that covers all public works. Passed 7-0-1. WECA Opposes

The Senate Labor Committee passed:

SB 909 (Smallwood-Cuevas – D) would exempt contractor DIR registration fee adjustments from the APA, remove the $800 cap, and eliminate the publishing requirement. It also mandates that contractors who violate prevailing wage laws face increased penalties, with 50% of the penalties directed to the State Public Works Enforcement Fund. Passed 4-1. WECA Opposes

SB 1241 (Smallwood-Cuevas D) broadens the circumstances under which skilled and trained workforce requirements apply and includes additional changes. It prohibits the waiver of penalties if monthly compliance reports are incomplete or false. The bill also considers whether a contractor submitted and followed a compliance plan when determining penalties. Additionally, a contractor or subcontractor found guilty of material misrepresentation becomes ineligible for public works contracts. The Commissioner must investigate complaints about workforce violations from labor-management committees. Passed 4-1. WECA Opposes

—

Frying Higher

According to a report from the Economic Policy Institute, a DC-based “nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank,” California should raise the $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers to keep pace with inflation. They argue that the $20 wage — the result of a 2023 truce between fast-food companies and labor unions — has improved workers' earnings and has not caused significant job losses. Now, they write that the California Fast Food Council should prioritize a cost-of-living adjustment in 2026.



 

But a new study from researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz suggests the policy may be producing unintended consequences. According to the report, while more people are applying for fast food jobs due to higher wages, many are not seeing increased hours or even securing employment at all. Researchers found that businesses are adjusting by cutting shifts, raising menu prices, and increasingly turning to automation such as self-service kiosks and mobile ordering systems. (Full disclosure, Richard is a Banana Slug)

“Based on what we’ve found, I think this legislation is a classic case of ‘no good deed goes unpunished,’” UC Santa Cruz Economics Lecturer Stephen Owen said. “There are unintended consequences and knock-on effects, and overall, I think the results have definitely not been as positive as policymakers had been expecting.”

Who do you suppose the California Fast Food Council will listen to?

—

Waters Back on Top

Rep. Maxine Waters (CA 43) has all but locked down a second turn as chair of the House Financial Services Committee if Democrats win a majority in November. That means the committee could soon have the oldest leader in its history as it grapples with technological shifts like cryptocurrency, and Democrats look to aggressively ramp up oversight of the president, his family business, and his Wall Street regulators.

Waters faces virtually no opposition, despite a growing chorus of Democrats calling for the end of Capitol Hill’s enduring gerontocracy and a long-shot Democratic challenger back in her district. Privately, some Democrats on and around the committee gripe that she doesn’t do enough to elevate her members or support them with campaign funds from the finance industry. But few are willing to publicly cross her, and she maintains the backing of most senior Democrats on the panel.

But according to the Los Angeles Times, Waters' relatives made ~$1.59 million in 2024 dollars by doing business with companies, candidates, and causes that Waters had helped. They claimed she and her husband helped a company get government bond business, and her daughter, Karen Waters, and son, Edward Waters, profited from her connections. Waters replied, "They do their business, and I do mine." Liberal watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington named Waters to its list of corrupt members of Congress in its 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2011 reports. Citizens Against Government Waste named her the June 2009 Porker of the Month due to her intention to obtain an earmark for the Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center.

Waters came under investigation for ethics violations and was accused by a House panel of at least one ethics violation related to her efforts to help OneUnited Bank receive federal aid. Waters' husband is a stockholder and former director of OneUnited Bank and the bank's executives were major contributors to her campaigns. In September 2008, Waters arranged meetings between U.S. Treasury Department officials and OneUnited Bank so that the bank could plead for federal cash. It had been heavily invested in Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and its capital was "all but wiped out" after the U.S. government took it over. The bank received $12 million in Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) money. The matter was investigated by the House Ethics Committee, which charged Waters with violations of the House's ethics rules in 2010. On September 21, 2012, the House Ethics Committee completed a report clearing Waters of all ethics charges after nearly three years of investigation.

Waters had already served in the State Assembly for ten years when I arrived in 1986. My first encounter with her was in 1990 when I staffed a jail bond bill moving through the California Legislature. SB 1094, which was Proposition 147 on the November ballot. To get the bill out of the Assembly, my boss was “asked” to include $25 million to fund youth centers and youth shelters. When I took that back to my boss, the Senator from Riverside, he chuckled, “Was that from Maxine?” I said “Yes.” “Draft it,” he said, “we won’t get it out of her committee without it.”

Voters in November 1990 were tired of approving more bonds and voted “no” overwhelmingly 37% to 63%. We weren’t alone:


 

Voters to Decide Fate of 80 Local Tax and Bond Measures in June

In local elections across California in June, voters will consider 80 local tax and bond measures, totaling $738.5 million in direct new taxes if approved, along with additional property taxes to repay $2.6 billion in bonds, plus interest.

This total includes San Francisco’s Measure D, which would raise taxes on businesses based on the difference between executive pay and median employee wages. It does not include tax proposals that have not yet qualified for June and are moving toward the November ballot, including two major business taxes – a similar executive pay tax in Los Angeles and a separate San Francisco measure to fund a public bank by increasing gross receipts taxes on financial institutions.

After reviewing election materials from the 58 counties and consulting local election officials, CalTax found that parcel taxes make up 29 of the 80 measures. School bond measures account for 22, while 19 propose sales or transactions and use taxes, three target businesses, and four would increase transient occupancy (hotel) taxes.

Click here for the complete list of local tax measures, compiled by CalTax.

—

Only Days to Comply with New Emergency Contact Rule

Employers must provide their employees with the opportunity to designate an emergency contact and to disclose whether that emergency contact should be notified if the employee is arrested or detained under the various circumstances described in Labor Code §1555. More

—

California Lawmakers' Luxury Freebies

Trips overseas. Free spa treatments. Ritzy resort stays in Hawaii. Fancy dinners and premium seats at sporting events. These are just some of the freebies California lawmakers reported receiving last year in the mandatory reports they file with state ethics regulators. And it's all perfectly legal under California laws, despite giving powerful moneyed interest groups unfettered access to lawmakers that an average voter would never have. Story


 

The United States Is Adding to the National Debt Faster Than Ever

We just passed $39 trillion in national debt, only five months after we passed $38 trillion. It is not your imagination: debt is accumulating at a faster pace. Story

—

No Solar for You!

A California court ruled that regulators acted within their discretion when they established a less generous system for compensating rooftop solar owners for the power they produce, striking down a challenge from solar advocates. The California First Appellate Court issued an opinion that struck down a lawsuit the Center for Biological Diversity, Environmental Working Group and The Protect our Communities Foundation filed against the California Public Utilities Commission. The suit challenged the third-generation net metering system that the CPUC adopted in 2022 to compensate rooftop solar users less, ensuring they paid a larger share of the fixed costs of maintaining the electricity grid.

The ruling snuffed out a glimmer of hope for the rooftop solar industry, which has been fighting the less-generous so-called NEM 3.0 tariff since its adoption. Rooftop solar installations fell significantly in California after the policy went into effect. “At a time when California needs to accelerate local renewables to combat a federal obsession with fossil fuels, this is a huge step in the wrong direction,” Roger Lin, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. [Politico]

—

Trump-Backed Utah Redistricting Repeal Fails to Make Ballot

A Republican-led initiative to repeal an anti-gerrymandering law in Utah will fail to make November’s ballot, despite garnering support from President Donald Trump, Turning Point Action and a host of other GOP influencers and organizations.

The ballot initiative, which sought to repeal a 2018 law that created an independent redistricting commission in the state, fell short of the required signature threshold after a coordinated signature-removal campaign, according to data released Thursday by the state election office.

The initiative’s failure, first reported by the Deseret News, is a major blow to Republicans in the deep-red state, who attempted to overturn a new judge-ordered congressional map that hands Democrats one safe blue seat. Repealing the anti-gerrymandering law would have allowed the Republican-controlled legislature to reinstall a more favorable map ahead of the 2028 elections. [Politico]

 

Join WECA at an Apprenticeship Programs Open House in Sacramento or San Diego in Celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2026!

Already an Apprentice? Share This Opportunity with Someone You Know!

Sacramento



San Diego



----------

What to Expect at the WECA Apprenticeship Programs Open House, A Video Preview:



----------

This April 28th, WECA is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2026 with two Open House events at our Sacramento and San Diego Training Facilities! Please join us for these fun and informative April events that just might be your first step into your future career!

WECA Sacramento Open House

Tuesday, April 28th

2:30 to 4:30 PM

3695 Bleckely St.

Rancho Cordova, CA 95655

 

WECA San Diego Open House

Tuesday, April 28th

12:30 to 2:30 PM

6212 Ferris Sq.

San Diego, CA 92121
 

At these WECA Apprenticeship Program Open Houses, you'll:

• Learn more about WECA's state and federally-approved Apprenticeship programs
• Tour the training facility
• See lab demos
• Meet WECA instructors and staff
• Get your individual questions answered
• Learn about the application process
• And more!

We encourage you to pre-register for your chosen event ahead of time to secure your spot, but will also accept walk-ins on the day of the event if space allows. Pre-registration will allow you to receive event reminders and updated event information.

Apprenticeship means you get paid to learn. It's a path to a great, skilled career, without having to take on any college debt.

Please RSVP here for the WECA Sacramento Open House!

Please RSVP here for the WECA San Diego Open House!
 

----------

Spread the word! Download a flyer:

Sacramento



----------

San Diego

Wednesday, April 29th at WECA's Salt Lake Region Training Center/Utah Headquarters


 

WECA Utah Open House and Mixer

When: Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Time: 2:00 to 3:30 PM

Where: WECA Salt Lake Region Training Center/Utah HQ

2511 S. Redwood Rd., Ste. 22

Woods Cross, UT 84047

 

Join WECA at our Salt Lake City Region Training Center and Utah Headquarters for an open house and mixer in celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2026, on Wednesday, April 29th from 2:00 to 3:30 PM.

Join us for an afternoon of networking and insight into how WECA Utah is building the next generation of skilled electricians through our industry-leading Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship program.

This special event welcomes prospective apprentices and anyone interested in WECA contractor membership, Utah community partners, workforce development and grant partners, policy makers supporting apprenticeship programs, industry advocates, and any other interested members of our community.

Enjoy meeting the WECA team and our greater Utah community, touring our state-of-the-art learning facilities, and learning more about the WECA Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program for Utah.

We look forward to hosting you at our open house and mixer. To help us plan for the event, please pre-register. You'll receive event reminders and any updated event information. (No chance to RSVP? We'll still be happy to see you on the day of the event.)

Register for the WECA Utah Open House and Mixer here!

----------

Help us spread the news! Download our event flyer:

Meet Some of the Women Succeeding in WECA's Apprenticeship and Training Programs
 

Watch: Spotlight on Kamryn Butler, WECA Utah Commercial Electrical Apprentice



----------

Watch: Spotlight on Laura Phun, WECA California Commercial Electrical Apprentice



----------

Watch: Spotlight on Jaklyn Puerto, WECA Utah Commercial Electrical Apprentice



----------

Read: Spotlight on Nikki Elmer, WECA Electrician Trainee



 

“Electricity isn’t going anywhere, so learning how to work with it will be a good investment,” says Nikki Elmer, who is currently enrolled in WECA’s Electrician Trainee Certificate Program.

Nikki is pursuing a career in the electrical industry to ensure that she has a dynamic career with longevity and stability.

“I’ve always enjoyed active jobs, being on my feet, and customer service, and in this field, you get all of that,” she says.

Of being a woman in the electrical industry, Nikki says “It’s interesting to be in such a male-dominated industry as a woman. I am grateful to the people I have worked with directly, who have not treated me differently because I am a woman. I think there is something to prove being a woman in terms of being able to do the work. Thankfully, the guys I have worked with have all wanted to see me succeed and have fostered my learning on the job.”

Nikki also encourages more women to join the electrical industry because “It’s a great skill to have and know, there are a lot of growth opportunities, and why let the guys have all the fun? Seeing more women in the field creates community, which will provide a new image of what an electrical career can look like for young kids.”

Learning online through GetWired classes in WECA’s Electrician Trainee Program has also been fun and rewarding for Nikki.

“So far WECA has been great,” says Nikki. “I hadn’t been to school in a long time and getting back into the routine of studying and class has been a lot of fun. My instructor has been super responsive to questions and patient with his explanations.”

Thank you, Nikki, for working toward your Electrician Trainee Program Certificate with WECA and for continuing to pave the way for more women to join the electrical workforce!

 

 

Women in Construction Week 2026 was one for the books! We hosted our 2026 Women in Construction Week Open House at our California headquarters in Rancho Cordova on March 4th, and were thrilled to celebrate women in construction and spotlight WECA's apprenticeship and training programs, facility, and women in our apprenticeship and electrician trainee certificate programs with so many members of the community.

"Attendees were great and they were all really engaged," said Ricky Nguyen, WECA's Workforce Development Supervisor. "We even had one that is currently in the ET program travel all the way from Riverside to attend. We started with an introduction of WECA and then took them to Randy's low voltage lab, where he showed them around. We then came back to the auditorium, where our third-year apprentice Tyana LaBranch spoke about her experience at WECA and we opened up the room for questions. After, LaKeal did a commercial demo for the attendees. We then closed it out with a PowerPoint and Q&A session."

Thank you to everyone who attended the open house and to everyone who celebrated women in construction, online and in real life, this month!

 

WECA Low Voltage Apprenticeship Instructor Randy Rivera sent some pics and shares with us that the WECA Low Voltage program POE (Power-over-Ethernet) Camera Labs have been getting an upgrade, giving our apprentices an improved hands-on experience with realistic, modern networked security systems. The improved setup allows our apprentices to practice configuring, addressing, and troubleshooting IP cameras using industry-standard Power-over-Ethernet equipment. The goal of the upgrade is to give our apprentices more technical confidence in the field as we prepare them for these systems they'll encounter on job sites.

Late Fees Waived!
 

GetWired 201 Instructor-Led with Onsite In-Person Labs

Starts April 7th


 

GetWired 201 Introduction to Alternating Current, Branch Circuits, and Feeder/Service Calculations

GetWired 201 is designed for students who have completed the 100 Series successfully, or for experienced electricians who want to refresh their knowledge of electrical theory and expand their skills.

You will review content covered in 104 and expand on theories and applications taught in the 100 Series. You will gain practice in making a variety of calculations for:

• Branch circuit loads for single and multi-family dwellings
• Service entrance conductors using optional methods
• Peak to peak voltage

Topics covered in the course include:

• Finding information in the NEC
• Conductor comparisons and resistance
• Branch circuits and feeders
• Make up and box fill calculations – hands-on-lab
• Introduction to service calculations
• Magnetic induction
• Dwelling load calculations
• Services

 

• Total class hours available: 36
• Standard Tuition Fee: $349

Enroll in GetWired 201 Instructor-Led with Onsite In-Person Labs

Starting April 7th!

Prefer to take GetWired 201 as an instructor-led course with an online lab component? Check it out here.

Prefer to take GetWired 201 on your own time, at your own pace? We offer GetWired 201 as a self-paced course, too.

----------

GetWired 202 Instructor-Led with Onsite In-Person Labs
Starts April 6th


 

GetWired 202 Three-Phase Electrical Systems, Conductors and Overcurrent Protection, Grounding, Wiring Methods, Basic Trigonometry and Vectors

GetWired 202 expands on the concepts and skills built in the 201 courses. Topics covered include:

• Conductors and overcurrent protection
• Types of three-phase transformers
• Three-phase transformer calculations and connections
• Grounding
• Wiring methods
• Basic trigonometry and vectors
• Sizing branch circuits – hands-on-lab

 

• Total class hours available: 36
• Standard Tuition Fee: $389

Enroll in GetWired 202 Instructor-Led with Onsite In-Person Labs

Starting April 6th!

Prefer to take GetWired 202 as an instructor-led course with an online lab component? Check it out here.

Prefer to take GetWired 202 on your own time, at your own pace? We offer GetWired 202 as a self-paced course, too.

----------
 

GetWired 203 Instructor-Led with Onsite In-Person Labs

Starts April 7th


 

GetWired 203 Raceway Systems, Switchboards and Panelboards, DC Motors, Three-Phase Alternators and Motors

GetWired 203 expands on skills built in the 202 courses. Topics covered include:

• Wiring materials
• Raceway systems and cable assemblies
• Switchboards and panelboards
• DC motors
• Three-phase alternators and motors
• Equipment for general use
• Lighting automation – hands-on-lab

 

• Total class hours available: 39
• Standard Tuition Fee: $389

Enroll in GetWired 203 Instructor-Led with Onsite In-Person Labs

Starting April 7th!

Prefer to take GetWired 203 as an instructor-led course with an online lab component? Check it out here.

Prefer to take GetWired 203 as an instructor-led course on your own time, at your own pace? We offer GetWired 203 as a self-paced course, too.

----------
 

GetWired 204 Instructor-Led with Onsite In-Person Labs

Starts April 6th


 

GetWired 204 Transformers, Special Locations and Single-Phase Motors
 

GetWired 204 expands on skills taught in the 203 courses. Topics covered include:

• Transformers
• Special locations
• Hazardous locations
• Healthcare facilities
• Places of assembly
• Commercial garages and motor fuel dispensing facilities
• Motors, generators, A/C and refrigeration and fire pumps
• Series-parallel circuits
• Basic lighting control – hands-on-lab
• Single-phase motors

 

• Total class hours available: 39
• Standard Tuition Fee: $389

Enroll in GetWired 204 Instructor-Led with Onsite In-Person Labs

Starting April 6th!

Prefer to take GetWired 204 as an instructor-led course with an online lab component? Check it out here.

Prefer to take GetWired 204 on your own time, at your own pace? We offer GetWired 204 as a self-paced course, too.

Take Advantage of SmartDollar, Your FREE Apprenticeship Benefit

File Your Taxes for Free with Ramsey SmartTax, Included in Your SmartDollar Apprentice Benefit

Not Yet Taking Advantage of SmartDollar? Get Started Below



 

Content courtesy of SmartDollar/Ramsey SmartTax

File your federal and state return for free with Ramsey SmartTax--included at no cost to you as part of your SmartDollar membership.

It's simple, accurate, and actually user-friendly (shocking, we know).

Here's what's already yours:

• 100% accurate tax software backed by 40+ years of trusted service
• All major federal forms included
• Deductions and credits unlocked--no paywalls, no surprises

And switching is no sweat. All you have to do is upload last year's return and let Ramsey SmartTax handle most of the heavy lifting--making it easy to save big and put tax season in your rearview mirror.

Log in to SmartDollar, click "Money Tools", and select Ramsey SmartTax to get started.

----------

Not yet signed up for SmartDollar? No worries -- getting started is easy! Learn how below.

SmartDollar is a financial wellness benefit for WECA apprentices. We announced our partnership with the Dave Ramsey-founded online financial wellness platform in January, 2021 to provide our apprentices with a sound foundation in personal finance management. This benefit is available to all WECA apprentices free of charge. Not yet signed up for SmartDollar? No worries -- scroll to the bottom of this article for instructions!

What is SmartDollar? SmartDollar is a step-by-step approach to handling money with the number-one authority in personal finance, Dave Ramsey. More than 4.5 million people have started on Dave's plan and taken control of their money, and you can too! SmartDollar will equip you to get out of debt, on a budget, and on your way to a strong financial foundation.

The average person pays off $9,405 of debt and saves $6,127 in the first twelve months, and you can too!

"This program is powerful yet simple to understand. The Baby Steps make understanding how to win with money easy! Dave's lessons are fun, informative, and incredibly encouraging. It really doesn't feel like I'm taking a financial course. It's more like learning finances from a good friend...or a financially savvy stand-up comedian! The online tools are fantastic as well, and I love being able to 'ASK DAVE' any question and do my budget online. Love it all!" - Recent participant

With SmartDollar, you'll learn how to...

• Jump-start your money
• Knock out debt
• Secure your dream home
• Retire in style
• Demystify your credit score

How does SmartDollar work? With so many ways to engage in SmartDollar activities and content, SmartDollar Points have been designed to encourage users to establish true behavior change. (Check out the graph below for a quick rundown). The greater the importance and required time of each activity, the greater the amount of points that can be earned. For example, each Core Lesson video completed is worth 250 points. Completing a shorter Deep Dive video is worth 50 points. Tracking a transaction in EveryDollar is only worth 20 points, but users are encouraged to track all their financial transactions with no points limitations. These example activities are key for building the confidence you need to reach your financial goals.





 

Taking advantage of your free financial wellness benefit, SmartDollar, is easy!

To set up your account after accessing your dashboard, click either of the links shown as highlighted in the screenshot to the right of this paragraph. You'll be taken to a page with a SmartDollar enrollment link, where you will be able to set up immediate access to this important benefit.

Ready to get started?

Login to your GOWECA dashboard

Support the Western Electrical Contractors Education Foundation (WECEF's) Mission at the 2026 Claws for a Cause Crab Feed Benefit and Annual Installation of Officers Event

Friday, May 15th at WECA's California HQ




 

2026 WECEF Claws for a Cause Crab Feed Benefit and

Annual WECA Installation of Officers Event
 

When: Friday, May 15, 2026

Time: 5:00 to 8:00 PM

Where: WECA California HQ | 3695 Bleckely St. | Rancho Cordova, CA 95655

 

The Western Electrical Contractors Education Foundation (WECEF) is pleased to invite you to come out for a good cause on May 15, 2026! Join us for WECEF's crab feed benefit and WECA's annual installation of officers! This benefit supports education and careers in the electrical and low voltage trades, helping WECEF create more opportunities for student scholarships, materials, and improvements to WECA labs, classrooms, and the electrical industry.

At this event, you will enjoy a delicious dinner of fresh Dungeness crab, sides, and festive libations, get to celebrate in support of WECEF's mission, and have a great time with members of WECA and the industry.

• King Crab Sponsorship ($1,500) (6 reserved seats per table)
• Snow Crab Sponsorship ($1,100) (4 reserved seats per table)
• Blue Crab Sponsorship ($600) (2 reserved seats per table)
• Crab Feed Attendee ($100 per person)
• Six feet of Raffle Tickets ($25)

Sign up for a sponsorship or purchase individual seats, plus get a great deal on pre-purchased raffle tickets at the link. Thank you for your continued support of electrical and low voltage education!

Reserve your sponsorship and dinner tickets today!

Join Us At WECA Fresno and Network with the Central Valley Business Community at Our 2026 WECA Fresno Open House on ?April 16, 2026 from 4 to 6 p.m.

You're cordially invited to WECA's open house at our Fresno training facility! All are welcome!

When: April 16, 2026 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Where: 7328 N. Remington Ave., Fresno, CA 93711
 

• Enjoy food and libations
• Tour the facility
• Network with other contractors, WECA staff, members of the WECA Board of Directors and Trustees, and other members of our Central Valley community
• Learn about WECA and how the merit shop philosophy benefits electrical and low voltage contractors
• See how our apprentices learn, including the innovative technology and training tools used in WECA's apprenticeship learning labs

Please RSVP at the link so we can look forward to seeing you there!

Register here for our Fresno open house

 

Women in Construction Week 2026 was one for the books! We hosted our 2026 Women in Construction Week Open House at our California headquarters in Rancho Cordova on March 4th, and were thrilled to celebrate women in construction and spotlight WECA's apprenticeship and training programs, facility, and women in our apprenticeship and electrician trainee certificate programs with so many members of the community.

"Attendees were great and they were all really engaged," said Ricky Nguyen, WECA's Workforce Development Supervisor. "We even had one that is currently in the ET program travel all the way from Riverside to attend. We started with an introduction of WECA and then took them to Randy's low voltage lab, where he showed them around. We then came back to the auditorium, where our third-year apprentice Tyana LaBranch spoke about her experience at WECA and we opened up the room for questions. After, LaKeal did a commercial demo for the attendees. We then closed it out with a PowerPoint and Q&A session."

Thank you to everyone who attended the open house and to everyone who celebrated women in construction, online and in real life, this month!

SRBX Middle School Trades Day Event









Twelve Bridges High School Career Fair







Vista High School Futures Fair




 

WECA's Outreach Team has had a full calendar this month! Earlier this month, we attended the SRBX Middle School Trades Day Event, where we talked to 600 middle school students about WECA's apprenticeship programs and careers in the electrical and low voltage industries. Ricky Nguyen, WECA's Workforce Development Supervisor, reports that the students were energetic. KCRA was on hand to cover the event and you can see that coverage here.?

WECA also teamed up with WECA Member Contractor KS Telecom and third year, first semester Low Voltage apprentice Payton Delano at the Twelve Bridges High School Career Fair in Lincoln, CA. During the fair, KS Telecom Vice President Ian Vander Linden and Payton engaged students in a hands-on activity, and the students who visited WECA's booth were "quite engaged" in learning more about entrance requirements for apprenticeship and careers in the electrical trade, according to Diane Trotter, WECA's Assistant Director of Apprenticeship Operations.

WECA San Diego has also been out and about supporting WECA's outreach efforts. Apprenticeship Curriculum Developer Neil Pesarillo and Membership Manager Jeff Van de Moere recently represented WECA at Vista High School's Futures Fair in Vista, CA. During the fair, they had lots of students take part in a Rubik's cube challenge to win WECA swag while learning about the opportunities that electrical and low voltage careers offer, and the Apprenticeship and Electrician Trainee pathways.

Stay tuned for more outreach coming up in April!

US Department of Labor's HIRE Vets Medallion Program Opens Applications for 2026 HIRE Vets Medallion Award

Are You an Employer Who Hires Veterans, or Know of One? Apply for Consideration or Nominate Them for This Award

Content Courtesy of US Department of Labor



 

Content courtesy of the US Department of Labor

Know employers who hire veterans? Please encourage them to apply.

The application period for the 2026 HIRE Vets Medallion Award is now open! As the only federal-level program of its kind, it recognizes employers for their investments in recruiting, employing, and retaining our nation's veterans. You can support the HIRE Vets Medallion Program -- and our nation's veterans -- even if you're not an employer!

If you know an employer that has implemented veteran-inclusive hiring policies and veteran integration assistance programs, please share with them the following resources on HIREVets.gov:

• Program information, including the history of the award
• Full program criteria table to determine which award they may qualify for
• Sample application forms for every level of award and size of employer

Don't wait to share -- the deadline to apply is April 30!

Learn more

 

WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship instructor Joshua Gallegos brings a well-rounded and varied background to his work at WECA. In addition to being an electrician, Joshua attended trade schools to study carpentry and automotive and is currently working on his bachelor’s degree in biology.

Before joining WECA, Joshua—who is a Phoenix native—worked as a Commercial Electrical Foreman and endeavored to become a project manager or superintendent. However, Joshua wanted to have the opportunity to better his knowledge and understanding of the trade while being able to teach and train others in the same field, so he joined WECA as an instructor.

“Teaching and helping others has always been a great desire of mine,” Joshua said. “The electrical industry has so many applications and it is used in so many different ways. Being able to be part of the electrical industry is what interested me in the field. I love being able to understand electrical concepts and having the ability to safely create and build and troubleshoot almost any type of electrical circuit needed, and I love the fact that I can help others do better in their careers and personal development. I am very proud and glad to be part of the team and look forward to spending time with you all.”

When not at work or school, Joshua enjoys traveling, spending time with his family, and focusing on worship. Joshua’s favorite quote is from Jesus Christ: “Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.”

Thank you for being part of the WECA Arizona family, Joshua! Your diverse background is impressive and gives you a unique perspective on teaching and the electrical industry, and your passion for teaching, helping others, and loving your neighbors as yourself shines in what you do. 

PLAs for Data Centers?

As OpenAI continues its data center building spree, CEO Sam Altman and the North America’s Building Trades Unions said in a statement that they wanted to ensure AI infrastructure build-outs support union careers and create economic opportunity in the communities where the infrastructure is built.

“No one is better positioned to deliver the scale of construction needed for the advanced AI facilities, modern transmission systems, and new energy generation driving America’s economic growth,” said Sean McGarvey, president of the NABTU, in the joint statement with OpenAI. The statement said the two sides would “seek to foster constructive engagement” on workforce development, labor standards and other issues.

But the agreement does not commit to using union labor at data centers. “Contracting decisions remain the decision of the site developers,” said OpenAI spokesperson Jamie Radice. “We know America's best-trained, skilled workforce is going to help us to get it done," she added.

Altman, speaking at an event that day, highlighted the need for “skilled trades workers.”

“No matter where the choke point in the supply chain is at any one time, when I talk to people about what it would take to accelerate [data center construction], it is more skilled trades workers to build out all of this infrastructure,” Altman said onstage at the BlackRock Infrastructure Summit in Washington D.C.

Speaking at the BlackRock event, McGarvey said he hoped to get his unions involved in long-term planning of data center construction. The building trades union sees the partnership with OpenAI as an opportunity to get its skilled workers in the field on massive, well-funded projects.

“One of the last things that's decided, particularly in hyperscalers and data, is contractor selection and labor strategy," McGarvey said. “We have the people with the prerequisite skill sets in the geography where we need them on the day that we need them on the job site.” [Politico]

In an unrelated but encouraging story, State Senator Stephen C. Padilla amended his Senate Bill 887 to clarify that data centers are not ministerial projects exempt from CEQA and do not qualify as advanced manufacturing facilities. The bill would also allow data centers to be eligible for Environmental Leadership Development Project (ELDP) certification if they meet the criteria, along with additional requirements specific to data centers. As introduced, one of those requirements was, surprise, a PLA. WECA objected, and Padilla struck the requirement. Thanks, Senator Padilla!

—

Hilton Helps Out

Republican Steve Hilton may be alleviating Democratic fears of a catastrophic lockout in the governor’s race.

A new UC Berkeley Citrin Center for Public Opinion Research-POLITICO poll finds Hilton consolidating GOP support in California’s governor’s race, which would decrease the odds that Democrats fail to place as the top two vote-getters in the June jungle primary.

Hilton leads with 19 percent of likely voters. Behind him is a group of virtually tied candidates— Democrat Tom Steyer at 13%, and Democrats Katie Porter and Eric Swalwell and Republican Chad Bianco each at 11%.

Democrats have panicked that their large field could splinter the party’s vote and have unsuccessfully pressured lower-performing candidates to drop out of the race.

But the prospect of Republican voters coalescing around Hilton could offer Democrats some relief. Democrats outnumber Republicans so heavily in California that they are almost certain to win the governorship as long as one of them advances from the primary. The best chance for Republicans is that Hilton and Bianco split the GOP vote relatively equally, both finishing in the top two and advancing to November.

“If Hilton starts taking votes away from Bianco within that solid Republican pool, that would make it less likely,” said Jack Citrin, a UC Berkeley political science professor and co-director of the poll.

The findings show that Steyer, Swalwell and Porter have firmly established themselves in the top tier of Democratic contenders. The remaining Democrats are stuck in the mid-to-low single digits, with Xavier Becerra at 5%, Antonio Villaraigosa at 4%, Matt Mahan at 3%, Betty Yee at 2% and Tony Thurmond and Bob Bartlett both with 1%. Ian Calderon, who dropped out after the poll was conducted, had 2 %.

The rankings differed substantially from a survey of POLITICO’s audience of key political and policy influencers in the state, including political staffers, lobbyists, policy advisers and others. Swalwell led with 22%, followed by Mahan at 14%, Steyer with 13% and Porter at 12%.

[Politico]

In a related story, Hilton and Gloria Romero, who is running for lieutenant governor, announced that former US Rep. John Duarte was Hilton's "selection for California Secretary for Natural Resources." They explained "their vision for restoring abundance in California's natural resources through improved water management, healthier forests, and policies that support working landscapes such as farms and timberlands," and highlighted "the importance of water infrastructure and the role of expanded storage and better management in addressing California's ongoing water challenges," at an event at Friant Cove Recreational Area.

—

Nonprofit Paid $3.7 Mil to Jennifer Siebel Newsom

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, reportedly has paid herself and her company more than $3.7 million over the past decade from a nonprofit organization. According to IRS filings obtained by the Daily Mail, Siebel Newsom has funneled the money from the nonprofit organization Representation Project to herself and her company, Girls Club LLC. Story

—

Time for a Job Search

The White House told Labor Department chief of staff Jihun Han and deputy chief of staff Rebecca Wright to resign or else be fired amid an IG probe into allegations that they mistreated staff and misused tax dollars, New York Post’s Josh Christenson scoops. The senior aides, who were Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s top deputies, left the agency on March 2, after being placed on administrative leave in January. The Post reports that they were given a choice of “resigning or being fired by the White House Monday night.” Han, Wright, and the White House did not immediately respond to the New York Post for comment.

—

Fresno Concrete Drivers Vote to Remove Teamsters Representation

Cement truck drivers for the CalPortland Ready-mix Fresno facility voted to end their union representation last month. The Ready-mix drivers voted to end their union representation, concluding a month-long effort to remove Teamsters Local 431 from their workplace.

In a Jan. 29 vote, workers voted 9-7 to decertify the union that had represented them for more than two decades, according to results from the National Labor Relations Board. The decertification petition was filed in October 2025 by Ready-mix driver Darrell Dunlap Sr., who received legal assistance from the National Right to Work Foundation. Story

—

Nix on Penalties

A federal appellate court nixed a landmark National Labor Relations Board ruling that sought to impose steep penalties on employers who break labor law during organizing drives — including ordering them to bargain with units that lose the ensuing election.

A split judge panel ruled Friday that the company behind Woodford Reserve bourbon could not be compelled to bargain with a Teamsters unit representing workers at the whiskey-maker under NLRB’s 2023 Cemex decision, which it said was “created through an improper exercise of the Board’s adjudicatory authority.” The dispute stemmed from the company’s conduct during the 2022 unionization push, which ended in a lopsided loss for the union, which they allege was due to management’s illegal tactics.

The two judges who ruled against the NLRB were appointed by George W. Bush, and the dissent was written by a Joe Biden appointee. The panel had appeared skeptical of the NLRB’s interpretation at the oral arguments late last year.

Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW)’s statement on the decision is available here. CDW filed an amicus brief in the case in April 2025.

—

LWDA’s New Proposed PAGA Regulations

On February 6, 2026, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (“LWDA”) provided a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“Notice”) to adopt new Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) regulations intended to supplement the legislative reforms to PAGA in 2024. The proposed rulemaking, in its current form, is great news for employers that have been inundated with frivolous PAGA filings. The proposed regulations require stricter notice requirements, apply special requirements to high-frequency and vexatious filers, and call for additional disclosures related to PAGA settlements. Story and Story

—

Utah Lawmakers Pass Water Reporting Requirement for Large Data Centers

Both the Utah House and Senate signed off on a proposal requiring large data centers relocating to Utah to report their annual water use to state officials. … “The market itself has reacted to the concern nationwide about water use,” said State Representative Jill Koford, R-Ogden, who sponsored the bill. “In the second-driest state in the nation, I think it’s good for us to set the tone nationally.” … Koford’s bill would require data centers that are at least 10,000 square feet and use at least 75 acre-feet of water a year to report their water usage to the state. That water usage data would also be accessible to the public.

—

Permits? We Don’t Need Stinking Permits!

Those FBI agents NOT fired for their investigations, now deemed offensive, will receive training insights and techniques from UFC fighters this weekend, in what FBI Director Kash Patel is calling a historic seminar. It’s unclear if they will be in a cage, but tickets to watch the training are available at www.trump.com. And over at the White House, the UFC is pushing forward with plans to hold a fight on the South Lawn on June 14 without a permit from the D.C. Combat Sports Commission. 

It's Women in Construction Week 2026!

Meet Some of WECA's Women Apprentices and an Electrician Trainee
 

Watch: Spotlight on Kamryn Butler,

WECA Utah Commercial Electrical Apprentice



----------------------

Watch: Spotlight on Laura Phun,

WECA California Commercial Electrical Apprentice



----------------------

Watch: Spotlight on Jaklyn Puerto,

WECA Utah Commercial Electrical Apprentice



----------------------

Read: Spotlight on Nikki Elmer, WECA Electrician Trainee


 

“Electricity isn’t going anywhere, so learning how to work with it will be a good investment,” says Nikki Elmer, who is currently enrolled in WECA’s Electrician Trainee Certificate Program.

Nikki is pursuing a career in the electrical industry to ensure that she has a dynamic career with longevity and stability.

“I’ve always enjoyed active jobs, being on my feet, and customer service, and in this field, you get all of that,” she says.

Of being a woman in the electrical industry, Nikki says “It’s interesting to be in such a male-dominated industry as a woman. I am grateful to the people I have worked with directly, who have not treated me differently because I am a woman. I think there is something to prove being a woman in terms of being able to do the work. Thankfully, the guys I have worked with have all wanted to see me succeed and have fostered my learning on the job.”

Nikki also encourages more women to join the electrical industry because “It’s a great skill to have and know, there are a lot of growth opportunities, and why let the guys have all the fun? Seeing more women in the field creates community, which will provide a new image of what an electrical career can look like for young kids.”

Learning online through GetWired classes in WECA’s Electrician Trainee Program has also been fun and rewarding for Nikki.

“So far WECA has been great,” says Nikki. “I hadn’t been to school in a long time and getting back into the routine of studying and class has been a lot of fun. My instructor has been super responsive to questions and patient with his explanations.”

Thank you, Nikki, for working toward your Electrician Trainee Program Certificate with WECA and for continuing to pave the way for more women to join the electrical workforce! 

 

 

 

WECA’s new Industry Partner, Hubbell Incorporated, was founded in 1888 by American inventor and entrepreneur Harvey Hubbell II. Hubbell, who seized on the opportunities created by the commercial availability of electric power and the advent of the lightbulb, filed pioneering patents like the “pull chain lamp socket” and “separable plug and receptacle”. These patents dramatically changed the way people lived and worked and catapulted Hubbell into an era of innovation, creating never-seen-before products and solutions for a rapidly growing customer base.

Hubbell Incorporated is a leading manufacturer of utility and electrical solutions that help build more reliable, resilient, and renewable energy infrastructure. The company manufactures high-quality critical infrastructure solutions strategically aligned around clean energy megatrends, including grid modernization and energy efficiency.

“With over 135 years of experience, 56 brands, and more than 18,000 employees worldwide, Hubbell delivers best-in-class solutions that electrify economies and energize communities,” said Bob Allen, the Regional Contractor Sales Manager – West for Hubbell Incorporated.

Hubbell differentiates itself from its competitors by offering one of the deepest and broadest brand portfolios in the electrical market.

“When you choose Hubbell, you are choosing innovation backed by more than 130 years of trust, quality, and reliability,” said Allen.

Moreover, Allen said that WECA Member Contractors will benefit from working with Hubbell Incorporated because “Most of the key brands within Hubbell have a direct salesforce, which will allow your members to build relationships directly with a manufacturer. The sales team will work with your members on their product knowledge, project support and solutions, product trainings, and offer overall support with their Hubbell brands.”

The company was interested in becoming a WECA Industry Partner because Hubbell Incorporated believes that working with contractor associations like WECA will help build their relationships with contractors and the electricians that work for them.

WECA Member Contractors who are interested in working with Hubbell Incorporated can contact Bob Allen, Regional Contractor Sales Manager – West, at rallen@hubbell.com or at (951) 704-8995. 

Learn More About WECA Fresno and Network with the Central Valley Business Community at the 2026 WECA Fresno Open House on? April 16, 2026 from 4 to 6 p.m.

You're cordially invited to WECA's open house at our Fresno training facility! All are welcome!

When: April 16, 2026 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Where: 7328 N. Remington Ave., Fresno, CA 93711

• Enjoy food and libations
• Tour the facility
• Network with other contractors, WECA staff, members of the WECA Board of Directors and Trustees, and other members of our Central Valley community
• Learn about WECA and how the merit shop philosophy benefits electrical and low voltage contractors
• See how our apprentices learn, including the innovative technology and training tools used in WECA's apprenticeship learning labs

Please RSVP at the link so we can look forward to seeing you there!

Register here for our Fresno open house

Important CA DIR Information for CA Member Contractors

Coming Soon -- Public Works Portal System Update

Content Courtesy of CA DIR


 

Content courtesy of CA DIR

MESSAGE TO CONTRACTORS AND AWARDING BODIES:

We are pleased to announce an upcoming Public Works Portal system update in March.

Planned enhancements include but are not limited to the following:

• The improvement of the user experience through redesigned UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience).
• A new manual eCPR submission interface to improve navigation and form clarity
• A streamlined contractor registration and payment experience embedded within the portals platform.

Please stay tuned for further communication on the Public Works Portal System launch.

Below are screenshot previews of the forthcoming system updates.

 

WECA's Electrical and Low Voltage Industry Job Board is for talented electricians and low voltage technicians, industry employees, and the contractors who want to hire them in California.

WECA's Electrical and Low Voltage Industry Job Board is designed to help connect individuals seeking employment in the electrical industry in California, from electricians and technicians, trainees to journey workers, forepersons to office personnel, and more, with contractor members in California looking for employees. This is a free, no-obligation service open to all workers seeking employment in the electrical industry. WECA's purpose in providing this service is to help our member contractors find the qualified workers they need.

Contractors: Log in here to peruse the resume bank or post an open position. 

Webinar: Project Labor Agreements (PLAs): Secrets to Understanding Your Costs and Compliance Risks

Content Courtesy of eBacon



 

An invitation from WECA Industry Partner eBacon:

Many contractors focus on wage rates when evaluating a PLA, but that's often not where the real margin impact shows up. Research, including findings from RAND, has linked PLA projects to cost increases exceeding 20%, with added complexity that isn't always obvious upfront.

As PLA adoption expands into 2026, understanding the full financial and compliance picture is becoming more important than ever.

We'll walk through how to evaluate the true impact of PLAs before your next bid.

When: Thursday, March 12th at 10 AM PT/MT

Register now

 

Federal Court Rejects GOP Bid to Block New Utah Congressional Map, Likely Netting Dems a Seat

A federal court rejected a bid by Utah Republicans to block a new court-ordered congressional map, dealing a major blow to the Republican Party following a yearslong redistricting saga. The decision means Democrats are likely to net one seat in the state, which currently has a four-person all-GOP House delegation, absent late intervention by the Supreme Court.

Republican lawmakers in Utah passed a congressional map in October after state court Judge Dianna Gibson ruled that the state could not use previous lines that carved up Democratic stronghold Salt Lake City. Gibson later rejected that map, ruling in November that it “fails to abide by and conform with the requirements” of Proposition 4, a ballot initiative passed by Utah voters in 2018 that created an independent redistricting commission and specific redistricting parameters intended to prevent partisan gerrymandering.

Republicans are hoping to repeal the redistricting proposition via a ballot initiative in this fall’s elections.

The loss for Utah Republicans comes as the GOP pushes to overhaul congressional maps ahead of this fall’s elections at President Donald Trump’s urging. Republicans have redrawn maps in their favor in states from Texas to North Carolina, and Democrats have, in turn, pushed their own gerrymanders in several blue states, including California and Virginia.

Katharine Biele, president of the Utah League of Women Voters, which brought the initial lawsuit against the Legislature, called the GOP’s efforts “futile attempts to undermine” the map. “Utah voters should not have to navigate uncertainty to participate in their elections,” Biele said in a statement. “We are pleased the court protected this fair map, and we remain focused on protecting voters’ ability to make their voices heard.” [Politico]

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Cal/OSHA Proposes State Analog to Worker Walkaround Rule

Consistent with its tradition of dropping surprise regulatory proposals near the end of the day before a holiday weekend, Cal/OSHA published a formal proposal on Friday the 13th, 2026, to promulgate a California version of federal OSHA’s so-called “worker walkaround rule.” That rule allows non-employee third parties to serve as an employee representative during an OSHA workplace inspection, provided that the third party is reasonably necessary to conduct an effective and thorough inspection. California employers should take note of this development and monitor it closely. A public hearing is scheduled for April 1, 2026, during which interested individuals may present statements or arguments on the rule. Read More

This effort may have a legislative analog. AB 1859 (Ortega D-Hayward) would require an awarding body or owner to provide reasonable access to representatives of a joint labor-management committee to monitor compliance with prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements. The bill would authorize the committee to bring an action against an awarding body, contractor, or subcontractor that willfully denies the committee’s representative reasonable access.

—

Audit Axe

California lawmakers killed dozens of proposals that the nonpartisan state auditor had recommended passing, according to a CBS News California analysis. Newsom vetoed at least a dozen more auditor-backed bills.

—

Arizona Moves its Primary from August to July

On Feb. 6, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) signed HB 2022, a bill that moves Arizona’s primary election from the first Tuesday in August to the second-to-last Tuesday in July, starting this year. As a result, Arizona’s 2026 primary will be held on July 21 instead of Aug. 4.

The Arizona House approved HB 2022 unanimously, and the state Senate approved it 27-1.

A statement from the Arizona Senate Republicans said the move was needed to address timing conflicts affecting military and overseas voters, giving them more time to return their ballots before the general election.

The legislation allows signatures gathered on petition forms with the old primary date to be valid. It also:

·        Changes the time for officials to compare a provisional ballot with a list of early voters from five business days to five calendar days.

·        Changes the time for officials to compare a provisional ballot with the polling place roster from 10 calendar days to seven calendar days.

·        Allows county party chairs to appoint election observers for ballot replacement locations.

·        Allows county party chairs to appoint challengers at polling places and early-voting centers.

This is the second time in recent years that Arizona has moved its primary election date. In 2024, Hobbs signed a law moving up that year’s primary by a week to July 30.

—

California’s Proposed Rulemaking Provides Cautious Optimism to Employers Amidst Continuing Abuse of Private Attorneys General Statute

On February 6, 2026, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking announcing its intent to add a new chapter to the California Code of Regulations to implement the Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA). The proposed regulations seek to significantly tighten how employees (or their counsel) must submit PAGA Notices to the LWDA, including:

• Using an LWDA form with fillable fields requiring specific pieces of information about the employee and their claims;
• Factual specificity, including background information regarding the employee’s employment, and the facts and theories supporting each alleged Labor Code violation;
• A certification, signed by the employee or attorney, verifying the claims have legal and evidentiary support.

For employers, this could mean fewer boilerplate “catch-all” notices, more defined or limited allegations at the outset, and, in turn, a more meaningful opportunity to respond. Story

—

MPD at FPB

District of Columbia police searched Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s offices at the agency’s headquarters this month as part of its investigation of sexual assault allegations against her husband, Shawn DeRemer, according to three DOL officials. Employees who work in the secretary’s suite were ushered out of their offices temporarily Feb. 5, and Metropolitan Police Department personnel entered and looked around, according to the DOL officials, who were granted anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. Chavez-DeRemer was aware of the decision to bar her husband from the building but was not involved in the discussion that led to it, according to current DOL officials.

—

Trades Split

While the Building Trades are backing another candidate to succeed Nancy Pelosi in Congress, the union for Sheet Metal Workers is breaking ranks and endorsing state Sen. Scott Wiener. The move by Local 104, which represents 10,000 sheet metal workers, is a plot twist after Supervisor Connie Chan picked up the sole backing of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council earlier this week.

—

OFCCP Poised to Produce Contractors’ EEO-1 Data Following Losses in Litigation

Starting in 2018, the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) and a CIR reporter have been fighting to force OFCCP to disclose EEO-1 reports that have been filed by federal contractors. These contractors have operated with the understanding that the government must keep such reports confidential. In July 2025, the Ninth Circuit held that the EEO-1 data must be made public. Pursuant to agreements between OFCCP and CIR, OFCCP is now getting ready to produce contractors’ consolidated EEO-1 reports from 2016 through 2020. Absent further challenge, the disclosures were scheduled for February 25, 2026. Read More

—

Merced City Councilman Darin DuPont…

is throwing his hat in the ring for one of the Golden State's last remaining Republican-less State Senate battles. DuPont recently announced his candidacy for the 14th Senate District, currently held by Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Merced). The first-term Merced lawmaker joins a field fraught with Democratic infighting as Asm. Esmeralda Soria (D-Fresno) was already slated to face off against Sanger City Councilwoman Esmeralda Hurtado, who has received backing from Soria's colleague and neighbor, Asm. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno).

—

Draft Cap-and-Trade Rules Draw Opposition from Labor Over Refineries

Chris Hannan, president of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, told the California Air Resources Board in a letter the union was concerned the draft rewrite would drive more refineries out of state by imposing strict in-state pollution limits.

“Unfortunately, CARB’s current proposal does not reflect our understanding that regulations should be designed to ensure our employer companies participating in the cap-and-invest program can continue operating within the state,” he wrote. “If these regulations are finalized as currently proposed, they would lead to more refinery closures, costing our members their jobs and middle-class livelihoods for their families, while also causing higher pump prices for all Californians.”

The letter marks a major turnaround from September, when the same union proved pivotal in extending the cap-and-trade program by backing AB 1207 in the waning days of the session, largely because it sets aside $1 billion in annual revenue for high-speed rail.

The new rules, once finalized, will govern California’s signature climate policy through 2045, during a period when current emissions-cutting trajectories are not keeping pace with the sharper reductions required in the coming years to hit state climate goals.

But they are also landing as the oil and gas industry seeks to capitalize on warnings that shrinking in-state refining capacity could spike prices — an argument that gained traction last year when Newsom and progressive lawmakers backed expanded oil production in Kern County.

The agency is taking public comments on its draft rules through March 9. It is then planning on bringing final rules to the board for a vote sometime in the second quarter of 2026. If approved, the new rules would go into effect on Sept. 1.

Special Memories from Our Celebration

WECA Arizona Class of 2025 Graduation Celebration Video Watch:



--------------------------

Some Snaps from the WECA Arizona Class of 2025 Graduation Celebration























--------------------------

Congratulations to the WECA Arizona Class of 2025! We celebrated our Arizona graduates at a graduation ceremony on January 31st at the Doubletree by Hilton Phoenix in Phoenix, AZ.

"This was a great event that was well-attended by grads, their guests, and the contractors that have invested in them," said Wendy Flanagan, Director of Apprenticeship Operations. "It is always wonderful to see the graduates enjoying the celebration with those that have supported them during this phase of their career."

This graduation was also extra special for Arizona Apprenticeship Manager and Lead Instructor Keith Smart.

"This was the last graduating class that I personally taught all the way through the apprenticeship," reflected Keith. WECA has since grown and hired additional instructors in Arizona, meaning future classes will have experienced other instructors besides Keith.

Many graduates also took a moment to express their gratitude for their WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship program journeys.

Valedictorian Isaiah Cook said "I definitely want to make sure that I say thank you to everyone in this room, but especially the WECA program, to Corbins, to Keith. I speak for everyone for sure, but it would not be the same without this instructor all four years. He's been great."

Salutatorian Nathan Urioste said "Keith was definitely really good at explaining a lot of little details and stuff that I didn't know a lot about."

Graduate Matthew Galindo said "There was a lot of stuff that you gain in the classroom that you don't learn in the field."

Graduate Abraham Ramirez said "Keith was very helpful. It's crazy that they got somebody that's so knowledgeable on their team."

Graduate Andrew Moyer said "There's all the on-the-job stuff that you do, but being able to know the electrical theory and everything behind it is also very important."

WECA congratulates the Arizona Class of 2025 for their hard work, accomplishments, and dedication to the future of Arizona's commercial electrical industry! 

--------------------------


 

WECA would like to thank the following generous sponsors and gift donors for supporting the WECA Arizona Class of 2025 and making their graduation celebration memorable:

Volts Level Sponsor

K2 Electric

Corbins

Amps Level Sponsor

Solar Gain

Watts Level Sponsor

Bergelectric

Gift Donors

Milwaukee Tool

IDEAL Electrical

Klein Tools

 

Valedictorian Isaiah Cook

Working on small projects around his house—like replacing outlets or light switches—fascinated WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2025 Valedictorian Isaiah Cook. Later, Isaiah got the opportunity to interview with an electrical contractor and made the switch to an electrical career from a previous unsatisfying one.

Isaiah enjoyed a valuable and productive apprenticeship with WECA and his employer, Arizona Member Contractor Corbins. Isaiah especially enjoyed the opportunities to work on a variety of job sites and supplementing what he learned on-the-job with coursework in WECA’s classrooms and labs.

“One of the interesting jobs I worked on was base housing at Luke Air Force Base. Over several days, I gained all kinds of hands-on experience, including diagnosing issues with light poles, locating underground circuits, replacing blown transformer fuses, and even replacing a panel that had melted due to an arc blast,” said Isaiah.

What’s more, Isaiah said “The ability to step away from field work for a couple of weeks and focus on your knowledge of electrical theory is incredibly helpful for understanding how things work and why.”

Isaiah succeeded in his apprenticeship because he conquered challenges head-on with wisdom and leaned on his mentors and teammates for support.

“I believe one of the biggest challenges anyone will face is overcoming the fear of failing,” said Isaiah. “Mistakes are inevitable—you might kink a pipe, nick a wire, or misread a print, to name a few common ones. But what matters most is owning those mistakes and learning from them. Ultimately, it’s those experiences that help you grow and become a better professional.”

Additionally, Isaiah said “During the early years of my apprenticeship in the service department, Kenneth Morris, Dale Griffith, and Richard Frescas shared so much knowledge and were never stingy with their guidance. Kenneth took me under his wing and spent the time teaching me what he knew when I quite literally knew nothing about electrical work. I wouldn’t be the electrician I am today without their support, and my appreciation for them is immeasurable.”

After graduation, Isaiah will continue to work on medium voltage with his “amazing team” and will focus on continuing to learn as much as possible. Isaiah hopes to become specialized in medium voltage and someday lead his own team.

Congratulations, Isaiah! Your humility, work ethic, and strong teamwork helped you succeed and become the Valedictorian of your class. We know that these traits will help you succeed and mentor the next generation of electricians in the Arizona commercial electrical industry.

----------------------

Salutatorian Nathan Urioste

Being an electrician is a great career for people who like to work with their heads and their hands. That’s certainly true for Nathan Urioste, the Salutatorian of the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2025.

“I found an interest in electrical working on cars and having to troubleshoot circuits and using wiring diagrams. I liked the mental challenge it provided,” said Nathan.

Nathan characterized his apprenticeship with WECA and WECA Arizona Member Contractor Corbins as fun, rewarding, and challenging.

“Working on NTT data centers [on-the-job] was fun. I acquired a lot of knowledge on that site alone and the experience working on medium voltage has been rewarding and inspirational,” said Nathan. “Going to WECA was very rewarding—whether I was learning something new, or expanding on things I already knew, Keith Smart was an awesome instructor, keeping things interesting and making it easy to grasp and understand new concepts and topics.”

Nathan found a lot of support during his apprenticeship. “I would like to thank Jose Iriondo, Logan Stroop, and Eliseo Velazco, just to name a few, for the many opportunities to grow in my career and expand my skillset and setting me up for a successful and fulfilling future,” said Nathan.

After graduation, Nathan plans to continue growing his skillset and take advantage of travel work opportunities that come his way.

Congratulations on your graduation and Salutatorian accomplishment, Nathan! Thank you for setting a great example of hard work and working through challenges for fellow apprentices and future apprentices alike.

----------------------

Graduate Matthew Galindo

WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2025 graduate Matthew Galindo is unique among his cohort because he came to WECA with 10 years of electrical field experience.

Many years ago, Matthew made a career change and got a job as a helper for a fire alarm contractor. He enjoyed the work and challenges that the electrical trade brought and continued crafting a career in the field.

Eventually, Matthew applied for the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program and began working for WECA Arizona Member Contractor Corbins after his acceptance into the program.

However, Matthew acknowledged that “being labeled an apprentice was a challenge” when he began his apprenticeship with 10 years of experience in the electrical industry. Matthew said he was often asked “why now?”, to which he answered that he had never had the opportunity to pursue an electrical apprenticeship before.

During his apprenticeship, Matthew looked forward to learning at WECA every six months and said that the most fun job he had during his apprenticeship was working on the Lucid Motors project.

“The variety of work and my coworkers at the time made that project very enjoyable for me,” Matthew said.

When looking back on his apprenticeship, Matthew thanked WECA Arizona Apprenticeship Manager and Lead Instructor Keith Smart for his tutelage and for “being the only other one besides myself who could appreciate the 80s”, and his employer Corbins for “seeing the potential in me and deciding to invest in my future.”

Congratulations on your graduation, Matthew, and thank you for choosing the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program to further your electrical industry education!

 

WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship instructor Joshua Gallegos brings a well-rounded and varied background to his work at WECA. In addition to being an electrician, Joshua attended trade schools to study carpentry and automotive and is currently working on his bachelor’s degree in biology.

Before joining WECA, Joshua—who is a Phoenix native—worked as a Commercial Electrical Foreman and endeavored to become a project manager or superintendent. However, Joshua wanted to have the opportunity to better his knowledge and understanding of the trade while being able to teach and train others in the same field, so he joined WECA as an instructor.

“Teaching and helping others has always been a great desire of mine,” Joshua said. “The electrical industry has so many applications and it is used in so many different ways. Being able to be part of the electrical industry is what interested me in the field. I love being able to understand electrical concepts and having the ability to safely create and build and troubleshoot almost any type of electrical circuit needed, and I love the fact that I can help others do better in their careers and personal development. I am very proud and glad to be part of the team and look forward to spending time with you all.”

When not at work or school, Joshua enjoys traveling, spending time with his family, and focusing on worship. Joshua’s favorite quote is from Jesus Christ: “Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.”

Thank you for being part of the WECA Arizona family, Joshua! Your diverse background is impressive and gives you a unique perspective on teaching and the electrical industry, and your passion for teaching, helping others, and loving your neighbors as yourself shines in what you do. 

Don't Miss Out on the Opportunity to Celebrate Women in Construction and Get an Up-Close Look at WECA's Apprenticeship Programs

Women in Construction Week 2026 is March 1st-7th!

You're Invited to WECA's Open House in Celebration of Women in Construction Week 2026 on March 3rd at 3 PM

Please Join Us or Share This Invite with Someone Who Should Attend

This March, WECA is celebrating Women in Construction Week 2026 with an open house at our California headquarters and training facility in Rancho Cordova.

Join us on March 3rd at 3 p.m. to learn how to get involved in WECA's electrical apprenticeship and training programs, get a tour of WECA's training facility and labs while meeting the WECA team and networking with women in the field, and to celebrate women in the electrical workforce.

We encourage you to pre-register for the event to secure your spot, though we will accept walk-ins on the day of the event. However, pre-registration will allow you to receive event reminders and updated event information.

RSVP for WECA's Women in Construction Week 2026 Open House

Not for you? Please share this invitation with someone you know!

Download our WECA Women in Construction Week 2026 Open House flyer

Take Advantage of SmartDollar, Your FREE Apprenticeship Benefit

New Year Momentum Meets Extra Motivation

Not Yet Taking Advantage of SmartDollar? Get Started Below



 

Content courtesy of SmartDollar

New Year Momentum Meets Extra Motivation

The first three months of the year are the season when people are the most ready to embrace change, build better habits, and get better with money.

That’s why we’re so excited to share these materials with you: use them to empower and encourage yourself to take control of your money and your future.

Entering the giveaway is easy and will help you make budgeting a habit that will support you throughout the year.

Log into your SmartDollar account to enter the giveaway. Not yet signed up for SmartDollar? Follow the steps below to get started!

--------------

Not yet signed up for SmartDollar? No worries -- getting started is easy! Learn how below.

SmartDollar is a financial wellness benefit for WECA apprentices. We announced our partnership with the Dave Ramsey-founded online financial wellness platform in January, 2021 to provide our apprentices with a sound foundation in personal finance management. This benefit is available to all WECA apprentices free of charge. Not yet signed up for SmartDollar? No worries -- scroll to the bottom of this article for instructions!

What is SmartDollar? SmartDollar is a step-by-step approach to handling money with the number-one authority in personal finance, Dave Ramsey. More than 4.5 million people have started on Dave's plan and taken control of their money, and you can too! SmartDollar will equip you to get out of debt, on a budget, and on your way to a strong financial foundation.

The average person pays off $9,405 of debt and saves $6,127 in the first twelve months, and you can too!

"This program is powerful yet simple to understand. The Baby Steps make understanding how to win with money easy! Dave's lessons are fun, informative, and incredibly encouraging. It really doesn't feel like I'm taking a financial course. It's more like learning finances from a good friend...or a financially savvy stand-up comedian! The online tools are fantastic as well, and I love being able to 'ASK DAVE' any question and do my budget online. Love it all!" - Recent participant

With SmartDollar, you'll learn how to...

• Jump-start your money
• Knock out debt
• Secure your dream home
• Retire in style
• Demystify your credit score

How does SmartDollar work? With so many ways to engage in SmartDollar activities and content, SmartDollar Points have been designed to encourage users to establish true behavior change. (Check out the graph below for a quick rundown). The greater the importance and required time of each activity, the greater the amount of points that can be earned. For example, each Core Lesson video completed is worth 250 points. Completing a shorter Deep Dive video is worth 50 points. Tracking a transaction in EveryDollar is only worth 20 points, but users are encouraged to track all their financial transactions with no points limitations. These example activities are key for building the confidence you need to reach your financial goals.

Taking advantage of your free financial wellness benefit, SmartDollar, is easy!

To set up your account after accessing your dashboard, click either of the links shown as highlighted in the screenshot to the right of this paragraph. You'll be taken to a page with a SmartDollar enrollment link, where you will be able to set up immediate access to this important benefit.

Ready to get started?

Login to your GOWECA dashboard

Special Memories from Our Celebration

WECA Arizona Class of 2025 Graduation Celebration Video Watch:



-----------------------------------------------------

Some Snaps from the WECA Arizona Class of 2025 Graduation Celebration























----------------------------------------------------------------------

Congratulations to the WECA Arizona Class of 2025! We celebrated our Arizona graduates at a graduation ceremony on January 31st at the Doubletree by Hilton Phoenix in Phoenix, AZ.

"This was a great event that was well-attended by grads, their guests, and the contractors that have invested in them," said Wendy Flanagan, Director of Apprenticeship Operations. "It is always wonderful to see the graduates enjoying the celebration with those that have supported them during this phase of their career."

This graduation was also extra special for Arizona Apprenticeship Manager and Lead Instructor Keith Smart.

"This was the last graduating class that I personally taught all the way through the apprenticeship," reflected Keith. WECA has since grown and hired additional instructors in Arizona, meaning future classes will have experienced other instructors besides Keith.

Many graduates also took a moment to express their gratitude for their WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship program journeys.

Valedictorian Isaiah Cook said "I definitely want to make sure that I say thank you to everyone in this room, but especially the WECA program, to Corbins, to Keith. I speak for everyone for sure, but it would not be the same without this instructor all four years. He's been great."

Salutatorian Nathan Urioste said "Keith was definitely really good at explaining a lot of little details and stuff that I didn't know a lot about."

Graduate Matthew Galindo said "There was a lot of stuff that you gain in the classroom that you don't learn in the field."

Graduate Abraham Ramirez said "Keith was very helpful. It's crazy that they got somebody that's so knowledgeable on their team."

Graduate Andrew Moyer said "There's all the on-the-job stuff that you do, but being able to know the electrical theory and everything behind it is also very important."

WECA congratulates the Arizona Class of 2025 for their hard work, accomplishments, and dedication to the future of Arizona's commercial electrical industry! 

----------------------------------------------------------------------


 

WECA would like to thank the following generous sponsors and gift donors for supporting the WECA Arizona Class of 2025 and making their graduation celebration memorable:

Volts Level Sponsor

K2 Electric

Corbins

Amps Level Sponsor

Solar Gain

Watts Level Sponsor

Bergelectric

Gift Donors

Milwaukee Tool

IDEAL Electrical

Klein Tools

DeWalt

 

Spring is just around the corner -- and so is the WECA Apprenticeship Outreach Team's prime outreach season!

WECA's Workforce Development Supervisor, Ricky Nguyen, visited Livermore High School in Livermore, CA on February 10th. The apprenticeship fair had 400 high school students in attendance, and Ricky shared information about WECA's apprenticeship programs with a sizable number of them.

"The wheel spin [for prizes] was a big hit as always, and they really enjoyed the WECA swag," Ricky said.

Thank you, Ricky, for sharing pictures and outreach updates!

Don't Miss Out on the Opportunity to Celebrate Women in Construction and Get an Up-Close Look at WECA's Apprenticeship Programs

Women in Construction Week 2026 is March 1st-7th!

You're Invited to WECA's Open House in Celebration of Women in Construction Week 2026 on March 3rd at 3 PM

Please Join Us or Share This Invite with Someone Who Should Attend




 

This March, WECA is celebrating Women in Construction Week 2026 with an open house at our California headquarters and training facility in Rancho Cordova.

Join us on March 3rd at 3 p.m. to learn how to get involved in WECA's electrical apprenticeship and training programs, get a tour of WECA's training facility and labs while meeting the WECA team and networking with women in the field, and to celebrate women in the electrical workforce.

We encourage you to pre-register for the event to secure your spot, though we will accept walk-ins on the day of the event. However, pre-registration will allow you to receive event reminders and updated event information.

RSVP for WECA's Women in Construction Week 2026 Open House

Not for you? Please share this invitation with someone you know!
 

Download our WECA Women in Construction Week 2026 Open House flyer

 

Republican to Introduce Federal Bill Punishing States with High Gas Taxes

Last time we mentioned a call by California’s Senate Republicans for Gov. Newsom to convene a special legislative session to address high gasoline prices and respond to the impending shutdown of one of the state’s eight remaining gasoline-producing refineries. Recently, Congressman Kevin Kiley announced he is drafting a bill to reduce federal transportation funding for states with gas taxes above 50 cents per gallon. He framed the forthcoming legislation as an effort to punish California, which has the nation’s highest gas tax at nearly 71 cents per gallon. “This bill sends a clear message: states that overtax their citizens to compensate for inefficient spending should not expect unlimited federal support,” Kiley said in a statement. “If Sacramento wants Washington’s help, it should stop punishing drivers.” The bill would also impact Illinois, Washington, Pennsylvania and Indiana, which have gas taxes ranging from 54 to 66 cents per gallon. Kiley, whose congressional district was transformed from a safe Republican to an at-risk district, is looking at fellow Republican Tom McClintock’s seat, a much more Republican district. Kiley was also one of the six Republicans who voted with Democrats to repeal Trump’s tariffs on Canada.

Since Kiley is hinting at a run for Congress in the 5th Congressional District, Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Elk Grove) fired a return volley at his northerly neighbor. He announced he had won the backing of the local GOP committees, which comprise 97% of the population in his district, drawing an early line that a primary challenge from Kiley will be an uphill battle. [Politico]

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Of the $183 Million Raised Nationwide for 2025 Ballot Measures, 94% Went to California Proposition 50

In 2025, campaigns supporting and opposing 30 statewide ballot measures in nine states raised $183.15 million. Ninety-four percent of that fundraising was either for or against California Proposition 50, which authorized the state to use a new congressional district map.

Here’s a closer look at ballot measure campaign finance from 2025 now that the final reporting deadlines have passed.

Campaigns supporting and opposing Proposition 50 raised $172.7 million, with $124.9 million going to PACs supporting the proposition and $47.7 million to PACs opposing it.

Top donors supporting the ballot measure included the House Majority PAC ($16.5 million) and Fund for Policy Reform ($10 million). The top donors opposing the measure were Charles Munger, Jr. ($36 million) and the Congressional Leadership Fund ($5 million).

Since 2015, California Proposition 50 has been the most expensive ballot measure in an odd-numbered year. The second-most-expensive odd-year ballot measure since 2015 was Maine Question 1 in 2021. In that election, proponents and opponents raised a combined $99.9 million.

New Report: National Debt Outlook Gets Worse as Interest Costs Exceed $1 Trillion Annually

Today, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) updated its budget and economic projections, which show that the United States remains on an unsustainable fiscal path — and unfortunately the national debt outlook worsened from last year’s projections.

Revenues over the 10-year period are lower than projected for 2025 due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). In addition, mounting debt and higher interest rates have pushed up interest costs, which threatens to crowd out other priorities. Finally, longstanding demographic pressures continue to weigh on the fiscal outlook. Taken together, CBO’s report should serve as an urgent warning for lawmakers about the need to address the debt and get the United States on a stronger fiscal path.

You can read the report here.

—

Moderate vs. Progressive Race in Valley Heats Up

California's 22nd Congressional District, near Bakersfield, is one of the handful of districts Democrats hope to pick up during the 2026 midterm elections, where a conservative leaning, mostly Hispanic populace voted for Trump in 2024.

But two Democratic candidates making a bid for the seat highlight the rift among the party over how best to oust the district's GOP incumbent, writes CalMatters' Maya C. Miller.

The labor union SEIU California, several California legislators, and the political action committee Emily's List support Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains. The Bakersfield Democrat and physician is one of the more moderate members of her party in the Legislature and was the only Democrat to vote against the plan to fast-track the special election for Proposition 50.

Meanwhile, leaders of the district's local county Democratic Party, the Working Families Party, and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont have endorsed Randy Villegas, a political science professor. Though new to politics, Villegas backs progressive policies, including Medicare for All and raising the hourly minimum wage to $25. Story

Smart Wearables: Bridging the Gap Between Workplace Safety and Productivity

• Communication-enabled wearables integrate two-way radio and cellular technology into personal protective equipment to enhance workplace safety through hands-free connectivity.
• These devices utilize bone-conduction technology and noise-canceling microphones to ensure clear communication in loud industrial environments.
• Real-time audio alerts and GPS tracking allow safety managers to monitor worker locations and respond immediately to potential hazards.
• By reducing the need for hand-held devices, these wearables help prevent distractions and accidents during complex tasks.

More

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More on Lori Chavez-DeRemer

Taxpayers paid nearly $100,000 to resolve an employment discrimination claim that arose from the former congressional office of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, according to a report from the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.

The OCWR annual report lists the amount of the award or settlement — $98,650 — and that it was tied to a part of federal statute that bans discrimination based on a worker’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status or age. The report was uploaded to the office’s website.

It’s the largest award or settlement from a House office since at least 2019, according to past reports, and the secretary’s was the only House office to have an employment discrimination claim payment in 2025.

Awards and settlements that resolve claims under a law are paid from a Treasury Department account that receives appropriations for that purpose, according to a Congressional Research Service report.

The report does not indicate whether Chavez-DeRemer, an Oregon Republican whose one term ended Jan. 3, 2025, was involved in the conduct related to her congressional office.

An internal investigation that sidelined her chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, and a member of her security detail hasn’t tarnished Chavez-DeRemer’s star status in the White House. A month after the New York Post broke the story, Chavez-DeRemer’s standing with the White House remains secure.

"I don’t get the sense from anybody that anybody gives a shit,” a person close to the White House, who requested anonymity to discuss the administration's thinking, told POLITICO. “This has not drawn the ire of anybody, like, 'Oh my god, she’s a problem, we have to deal with her.' I think as long as it stays contained, it’s fine."

Another Republican who regularly interacts with the administration on workforce issues said that the White House “seemed pretty nonchalant about the whole thing.”

Story

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California’s Retention Reform on Private Construction Projects

Retention has long been a contentious issue in California construction. Traditionally, owners withheld retention of 10% from each progress payment until completion, arguing it was necessary to ensure performance, quality and timely delivery. Contractors and subcontractors, however, often struggled with cash flow, payroll, and material costs while waiting months—sometimes even years—for withheld retention.

Recognizing the financial challenges contractors and subcontractors face, the California legislature passed Senate Bill 61, now codified under California Civil Code Section 8811 and effective January 1, 2026, limiting retention to 5% on private works of improvement, aligning with the public works standard in place since 2012. The law’s intent is clear—ease financial strain on contractors and subcontractors while still providing owners with security (albeit reduced) with respect to project completion. More

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Ouch, Thanks for Playing in Santa Clara

Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is being charged a 'jock tax,' which requires him to pay the State of California more in income taxes for his performance in Super Bowl LX than he earned from the game. Here's a look at the backwards tax approach for the athletes playing in the Golden State-hosted Super Bowl. Story

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Bonds for Research?

California lawmakers could ask voters in November to pass the largest single-purpose general obligation bond in state history, a proposal to fund research at California universities that would test not only the public’s appetite for borrowing, but the very idea of what kind of expenses a bond should be used to pay for in the first place.

When California has turned to bond measures in the past, it has done so almost exclusively to fund infrastructure. That’s because buildings usually last for decades, making long-term borrowing to pay off the loan with tax revenues a safe bet.

Only twice in recent memory has the state employed bond measures for research, authorizing $3 billion for stem cell research in 2004, after President George W. Bush blocked the use of federal grants for studying human embryonic stem cells, and approving $5.5 billion more for the same purpose in 2020.

The bond lawmakers are pushing at the Capitol now would cost $23 billion.

The bond, like the 2004 measure’s response to Bush, is in direct response to the policies of a Republican president, this time Donald Trump, and his cuts to scientific research funding. Spearheaded by state Sen. Scott Wiener, with the support of the University of California and UAW 4811, a union representing thousands of academic researchers, the bond would provide grants and loans from a state-backed foundation to universities and other research institutions to insulate them from federal funding cuts. The Trump administration has currently suspended $230 million in research funding to the UCs and another $160 million to the Cal State University system, launching several investigations into alleged antisemitism and other civil rights violations on campuses.

“This is really fucking important,” said Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Labor Federation, at recent event in Sacramento boosting the bond proposal.

Already, nearly a third of the state’s Legislature, including multiple Republicans, have signed onto the proposal, which needs approval from a supermajority to reach Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. Many lawmakers were at the event at the Labor Fed’s downtown office space, where attendees helped themselves to wine and a cheeseboard while learning about projects from researchers at the UC, Stanford and USC paused by the Trump administration’s cuts.

To sweeten the appeal, Wiener added a new provision last month that would give the state a cut of licensing fees from inventions developed with bond money.

One potential competing bond would also benefit higher education: a more traditional infrastructure payout for the UC and CSU systems, a priority for both universities after they were excluded from a $10 billion school bond two years ago and have not benefited from a bond measure in 20 years.

Assemblymember David Alvarez, who is carrying that more traditional measure in the statehouse, said that using bonds for non-infrastructure purposes would be “a major conversation” for state leadership. “I'm not saying yes or no, but it's definitely something the governor needs to weigh in on whether he wants to use bonds in this way,” Alvarez said.

But the state had done it once before, when Bush was in the White House. This time, Alvarez said, “We also definitely need to acknowledge the federal threats, right? And so that's very real.” [Politico]

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Crypto Slumps

The deregulatory Trump bump has now been fully erased. Bitcoin tumbled below $65,000 as the unwinding of leveraged bets and broader market turbulence deepened a selloff that’s wiped out all of the gains since the crypto-friendly Republican returned to the White House.

The token fell as much as 11% Thursday to $64,944, the lowest since October 2024. The rout has erased nearly half of Bitcoin’s value since it reached a record four months ago and has spread to other tokens, related exchange-traded funds and companies like Strategy that hold vast sums of coins.

“The fear and uncertainty across the market is evident,” said Chris Newhouse, head of business development at Ergonia. “Without conviction-based buyers willing to lean into the selling, each wave of ETF redemptions and liquidation cascades.” He said that’s “amplifying the magnitude of each leg lower and reinforcing the defensive positioning that’s keeping organic demand on the sidelines.” [Bloomberg]

 

 

WECA’s new Industry Partner, Professional Contractor Supply, is a family-owned industrial supplier primarily serving commercial, residential, and industrial contractors. The company was founded by Keith Mantis in 1987, and has stayed in the family, with Keith’s son Mike taking over as President and CEO in 2020.

Professional Contractor Supply is a major distributor of tools, equipment, and safety gear for the construction industry, particularly serving commercial, residential, and industrial contractors. They sell products such as power and hand tools, safety and fall protection products, specialized trade tools, consumables and accessories, and jobsite equipment. They also sell products from brands such as Milwaukee Tool, DeWalt, Makita, Bosch, Ridgid, Safewaze, Werner, and more.

“Professional Contractor Supply distinguishes itself through a massive, specialized inventory combined with high-speed logistics and technical support,” said Stalloan Iacono, an Outside Sales representative for the company. “We provide world-class customer service by exceeding customer expectations and outperforming our competition by fostering enduring, long-term relationships.”

Iacono said that the company was interested in becoming a WECA Industry Partner to “deepen its connection with the merit shop electrical industry and expand its market reach,” and said that WECA members would benefit from a strategic partnership with Professional Contractor Supply that focuses on operational efficiency and cost savings. That focus includes exclusive pricing and discounts, specialized product access, logistical support, authorized equipment service, expert training and compliance, as well as industry networking.

WECA members who are interested in partnering with Professional Contractor Supply can choose from working with two company contacts:

·        Stalloan Iacono, Outside Sales Representative: Stalloan.Iacono@PCSTools.com or 619-990-7271

·        Aaron Vallejo, National Account Manager: Aaron.Vallejo@PCSTools.com or 619-932-2805

 

Valedictorian Isaiah Cook

Working on small projects around his house—like replacing outlets or light switches—fascinated WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2025 Valedictorian Isaiah Cook. Later, Isaiah got the opportunity to interview with an electrical contractor and made the switch to an electrical career from a previous unsatisfying one.

Isaiah enjoyed a valuable and productive apprenticeship with WECA and his employer, Arizona Member Contractor Corbins. Isaiah especially enjoyed the opportunities to work on a variety of job sites and supplementing what he learned on-the-job with coursework in WECA’s classrooms and labs.

“One of the interesting jobs I worked on was base housing at Luke Air Force Base. Over several days, I gained all kinds of hands-on experience, including diagnosing issues with light poles, locating underground circuits, replacing blown transformer fuses, and even replacing a panel that had melted due to an arc blast,” said Isaiah.

What’s more, Isaiah said “The ability to step away from field work for a couple of weeks and focus on your knowledge of electrical theory is incredibly helpful for understanding how things work and why.”

Isaiah succeeded in his apprenticeship because he conquered challenges head-on with wisdom and leaned on his mentors and teammates for support.

“I believe one of the biggest challenges anyone will face is overcoming the fear of failing,” said Isaiah. “Mistakes are inevitable—you might kink a pipe, nick a wire, or misread a print, to name a few common ones. But what matters most is owning those mistakes and learning from them. Ultimately, it’s those experiences that help you grow and become a better professional.”

Additionally, Isaiah said “During the early years of my apprenticeship in the service department, Kenneth Morris, Dale Griffith, and Richard Frescas shared so much knowledge and were never stingy with their guidance. Kenneth took me under his wing and spent the time teaching me what he knew when I quite literally knew nothing about electrical work. I wouldn’t be the electrician I am today without their support, and my appreciation for them is immeasurable.”

After graduation, Isaiah will continue to work on medium voltage with his “amazing team” and will focus on continuing to learn as much as possible. Isaiah hopes to become specialized in medium voltage and someday lead his own team.

Congratulations, Isaiah! Your humility, work ethic, and strong teamwork helped you succeed and become the Valedictorian of your class. We know that these traits will help you succeed and mentor the next generation of electricians in the Arizona commercial electrical industry.

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Salutatorian Nathan Urioste

Being an electrician is a great career for people who like to work with their heads and their hands. That’s certainly true for Nathan Urioste, the Salutatorian of the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2025.

“I found an interest in electrical working on cars and having to troubleshoot circuits and using wiring diagrams. I liked the mental challenge it provided,” said Nathan.

Nathan characterized his apprenticeship with WECA and WECA Arizona Member Contractor Corbins as fun, rewarding, and challenging.

“Working on NTT data centers [on-the-job] was fun. I acquired a lot of knowledge on that site alone and the experience working on medium voltage has been rewarding and inspirational,” said Nathan. “Going to WECA was very rewarding—whether I was learning something new, or expanding on things I already knew, Keith Smart was an awesome instructor, keeping things interesting and making it easy to grasp and understand new concepts and topics.”

Nathan found a lot of support during his apprenticeship. “I would like to thank Jose Iriondo, Logan Stroop, and Eliseo Velazco, just to name a few, for the many opportunities to grow in my career and expand my skillset and setting me up for a successful and fulfilling future,” said Nathan.

After graduation, Nathan plans to continue growing his skillset and take advantage of travel work opportunities that come his way.

Congratulations on your graduation and Salutatorian accomplishment, Nathan! Thank you for setting a great example of hard work and working through challenges for fellow apprentices and future apprentices alike.

-------------------------

Graduate Matthew Galindo

WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2025 graduate Matthew Galindo is unique among his cohort because he came to WECA with 10 years of electrical field experience.

Many years ago, Matthew made a career change and got a job as a helper for a fire alarm contractor. He enjoyed the work and challenges that the electrical trade brought and continued crafting a career in the field.

Eventually, Matthew applied for the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program and began working for WECA Arizona Member Contractor Corbins after his acceptance into the program.

However, Matthew acknowledged that “being labeled an apprentice was a challenge” when he began his apprenticeship with 10 years of experience in the electrical industry. Matthew said he was often asked “why now?”, to which he answered that he had never had the opportunity to pursue an electrical apprenticeship before.

During his apprenticeship, Matthew looked forward to learning at WECA every six months and said that the most fun job he had during his apprenticeship was working on the Lucid Motors project.

“The variety of work and my coworkers at the time made that project very enjoyable for me,” Matthew said.

When looking back on his apprenticeship, Matthew thanked WECA Arizona Apprenticeship Manager and Lead Instructor Keith Smart for his tutelage and for “being the only other one besides myself who could appreciate the 80s”, and his employer Corbins for “seeing the potential in me and deciding to invest in my future.”

Congratulations on your graduation, Matthew, and thank you for choosing the WECA Arizona Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship Program to further your electrical industry education!

Women in Construction Week 2026 is March 1st-7th!

You're Invited to WECA's Open House in Celebration of Women in Construction Week 2026 on March 3rd at 3 PM

Please Join Us or Share This Invite with Someone Who Should Attend

This March, WECA is celebrating Women in Construction Week 2026 with an open house at our California headquarters and training facility in Rancho Cordova.

Join us on March 3rd at 3 p.m. to learn how to get involved in WECA's electrical apprenticeship and training programs, get a tour of WECA's training facility and labs while meeting the WECA team and networking with women in the field, and to celebrate women in the electrical workforce.

We encourage you to pre-register for the event to secure your spot, though we will accept walk-ins on the day of the event. However, pre-registration will allow you to receive event reminders and updated event information.

RSVP for WECA's Women in Construction Week 2026 Open House

Not for you? Please share this invitation with someone you know!



Download Our WECA Women in Construction Week 2026 Open House flyer

 

Use WECA's Student Referral Service to Find Your Next Great Employee

Learn How WECA's Student Referral Service Benefits You

New video explaining it all!

WECA's Student Referral Service, exclusively available in California, is a conduit to introduce our current Electrician Trainees, Journey Worker Continuing Education students, and WECA grads to our Member Contractors. It's meant to help our currently-unemployed students and grads find a great new position.

There is no charge to either student or member to use our Student Referral Service. WECA's Student Referral Service provides additional customer service by having WECA staff provide hands-on referrals, taking some work off of students' and members' plates.

This is a free, no-obligation service. WECA's purpose in providing this service is to help our Member Contractors find the qualified workers they need.

Learn more here

Important Information for Member Contractors Who Perform Underground Work

Recent Changes to Excavation Law: What You Need to Know

Content Courtesy of California Underground Safety Board



 

Content courtesy of California Underground Safety Board

Senate Bill 254 Information Bulletin

The Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety (Energy Safety) Underground Safety Board encourages you to learn about Senate Bill 254 (Energy [2025-2026]), which was signed into law and became effective on September 19, 2025. To learn more, read our information bulletin highlighting recent changes to excavation law.

The information bulletin covers key changes to the law such as:

• Planning and Design Information Exchange (information exchange)
• Advance intent to dig notice
• Excavation notices to California Native American tribes
• Report to the Legislature

The bulletin also summarizes the impacts to specific groups, including: 

• Regional Notification Centers
• Operators
• Underground Safety Board
• All Stakeholders

The SB 254 information bulletin is available through the Underground Safety Board Resources webpage:

Read the SB 254 Information Bulletin

 

There Are Exactly Two Weeks Left to Register to Join WECA and Industry Partner eBacon on February 19th for a "Wage Against the Machine" Webinar

Webinar Will Cover Certified Payroll Strategies for Long-Term Success


 

Join WECA and Industry Partner eBacon on February 19th for a webinar covering certified payroll strategies for long-term success.

The webinar will cover topics including:

· What is Certified Payroll and Why Does it Matter?

· Advantages of Certified Payroll for Small Businesses

· Breaking Down the Certified Payroll Process

· Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

· Tools and Strategies for Simplifying Certified Payroll

· Avoiding Costly Mistakes

· Embracing Compliance for Long-Term Success

Register today to join us online on February 19th, at 9 AM PDT/10 AM MST, for this informative, hour-long webinar.

This webinar is complimentary for WECA Member Contractors and their employees. All others are $55/registration.

Join WECA Industry Partner eBacon for a One-Hour Webinar on ?EMOD and Audit Readiness on February 12th

Noon Eastern Time | 9 AM Pacific Time | 10 AM AZ Time

Content Courtesy of WECA Industry Partner eBacon


 

Content courtesy of eBacon

One small audit mistake can follow you for years driving up your EMOD.

That’s not a scare tactic. It’s just how experience rating works.

In this one-hour conversation, eBacon is teaming up with two of our expert partners on the subject, Brown & Brown and KPA Safety, to walk through how EMOD is really calculated, where payroll and audit errors usually sneak in, and what you can do before renewal to keep them from costing you.

No fluff. Just clear explanations, real conversations, and proven tips from industry experts you can actually use.

Register here

California Senate Republicans Call for Special Session on Gasoline Prices

California’s Senate Republicans on Wednesday called on Gov. Gavin Newsom to convene a special legislative session to address high gasoline prices and respond to the impending shutdown of one of the state’s eight remaining gasoline-producing refineries. Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones and his nine Republican peers sent a letter to Newsom with a list of policy proposals to address “the ongoing gasoline cost crisis and the impending gasoline supply emergency.” They blamed a “decades-long political and policy crusade against the oil and gas industry” for “an unprecedented cost and supply crisis” that could depress the economy and lead to government service cuts amid revenue declines. Newsom responded forcefully on social media, pointing out that California’s inflation-adjusted gasoline prices are cheaper today than they were when he took office in January 2019. “They are not serious about solutions, just looking for political points,” Newsom wrote about the Republican senators. [Politico]

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Senator Drops Bill to Restore PAGA

State Senator Scott Weiner (D-San Francisco), anxious to secure labor-fed money for his race to Congress, pressed ahead with his Senate Bill 310.

SB 310 would have undermined the 2024 PAGA Reform deal, which was unanimously approved in both houses mere months earlier. SB 310 would have been used as leverage to secure higher settlements in class action lawsuits. Existing penalty statutes, intended only for willful or intentional violations, are among the most abused in wage and hour litigation. Attorneys always plead that alleged violations were willful or intentional. There is no reason not to include these penalties. Employers see this in every single case with other penalty statutes, such as Labor Code Sections 203 and 226. Employers often face penalty demands under those statutes for tens of millions of dollars, regardless of the facts of the case, with the penalties demanded as much as forty times the alleged harm. Because wage and hour claims always settle, these penalty statutes are used as leverage to secure higher settlements.

SB 310 would have circumvented early resolution processes established in the PAGA Reforms, including a process specifically designed for small businesses that has already been used by dozens of them. No early resolution process would exist under SB 310.

SB 310 still evaded Labor Agency oversight. Since the 2024 PAGA reforms, the LWDA has finally begun cracking down on bad actors. It issued public letters to law firms, demanding that they refile hundreds of boilerplate, copy-and-paste cases. No notice to the LWDA is required under SB 310.

As Weiner struggled to find enough moderate Democrats (I cringe when I write that) to get his bill out of the Senate before this week’s deadline, he finally relented and called to announce he was dropping the bill. One down, 2,000 more to go.

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40-Year PLA

A Silicon Valley–backed real estate venture and major labor unions announced what they’re calling the largest construction labor agreement in U.S. history, according to POLITICO.

It’s organized labor’s foray into plans to build a new city in Solano County, which is supported by tech luminaries like Marc Andreessen, Reid Hoffman, and Laurene Powell Jobs. California Forever, the firm behind the proposal, inked a 40-year deal with the Napa/Solano Building Trades Council and the Northern California Carpenters Union. The agreement covers all of the company's nearly 70,000 acres and requires that the majority of the project's construction be performed by union labor.

The infrastructure plans include “America’s largest advanced manufacturing park,” according to a California Forever press release, along with commercial, office, retail, defense, and energy projects. According to the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, two of the city’s planned projects would generate more than 17,000 direct construction jobs annually in Solano County over the life of the agreement, with average annual compensation of about $108,000.

Yeah, I wonder how soon we’ll see that construction commence.

—

'Doomsday Clock' Advances To 85 Seconds till Midnight

We’re closer than ever to destruction as Russia, China, the U.S., and other countries become “increasingly aggressive, adversarial, and nationalistic,” according to the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists as it advanced its “Doomsday Clock” to 85 seconds till midnight.

They noted “national leaders and their societies have failed to do what is needed to change course. Consequently, we now move the Doomsday Clock from 90 seconds to 89 seconds to midnight—the closest it has ever been to catastrophe. Our fervent hope is that leaders will recognize the world’s existential predicament and take bold action to reduce the threats posed by nuclear weapons, climate change, and the potential misuse of biological science and a variety of emerging technologies.” Story

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Cox Calls for Prayer Again as Utah's Snowpack Nears Record Low

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is again calling on people of all faiths to pray for precipitation, as the state's snowpack nears a low point in modern-era snowpack tracking. The governor called on people to pray for snow this weekend in an open letter. "We know that when people of all different faiths and backgrounds join together and plead for help from a higher power, remarkable things can happen," he wrote. "At the same time, we must do our part to conserve water." Story

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Ongoing Probe of C-DR

A member of Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s security detail has been placed on administrative leave as part of a widening investigation by the department’s inspector general. The IG’s office is investigating allegations that the security staffer and Chavez-DeRemer were engaged in a romantic relationship. The development was first reported by Bloomberg Law. The probe is also examining additional complaints made against some of Chavez-DeRemer’s top aides that they attempted to influence grantmaking.

This follows earlier suspensions of Chief of Staff Jihun Han and Deputy Chief of Staff Rebecca Wright, who were placed on administrative leave and later notified that they would be placed on investigative leave starting Jan. 26, according to the person granted anonymity to discuss the matter. They were initially placed on leave after a New York Post report earlier this month that alleged the two were involved in scheduling official events for the Labor secretary that benefited her personal travel plans. The Post also reported that the complaint, which POLITICO has not independently reviewed, accuses Chavez-DeRemer of an extramarital affair and drinking on the job.

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State Predicts 50% Rise in California Electricity Demand because of EVs, Data Centers

California’s peak electricity demand will rise by roughly half by 2045, driven by increases in electric vehicles, data centers, and building electrification, regulators predicted Wednesday. What happened: The California Energy Commission predicted in its California Energy Demand Forecast from 2025 to 2045 that on the low end, peak energy demand in the California Independent System Operator system will rise from about 46,500 megawatts to 66,000 MW, a 42 percent jump. The mid-range estimate is 53 percent, while the high-end estimate predicts an increase of about 74,900 MW, a 61 percent spike. The forecast, which shows electricity use soaring after decades of relatively stable demand, underpins state regulators' long-term energy planning. The CEC, California Public Utilities Commission, and CAISO draw from their figures when determining how much energy generation to require utilities to purchase, where to upgrade power lines, and how to prevent future blackouts. [Politico]

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Save Local Business Act Vote Pulled

In January, the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace and 74 other employer organizations sent a letter to all members of the House of Representatives in support of the Save Local Business Act, which would amend the NLRA and FLSA to clarify that an entity is only a joint employer if it directly and immediately exercises meaningful control over workers’ essential terms and conditions of employment. The letter explained, “This common-sense approach would provide much-needed clarity to the regulated community, ensure workers are appropriately protected under these statutes, and provide predictability to all stakeholders following years of policy swings with each change of administration.” A floor vote was expected, but unfortunately, it was pulled after several Republican members indicated they wouldn’t support the bill.

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CBS Report: Scathing Report on Democrats' Overwhelming Ignoring of State Auditor Recommendations

A new CBS News analysis confirmed what many taxpayers already suspected: California's Democrat-run Legislature ignores the watchdogs meant to prevent waste, fraud, and government failure. Despite repeated audits flagging serious breakdowns, lawmakers have failed to act on most recommended fixes. These are not partisan attacks; they are formal warnings from the state's own independent auditor. Yet in a Capitol dominated by a Democratic supermajority, accountability consistently takes a back seat to politics. Audits have warned about massive unemployment fraud, weak oversight of homelessness spending, unsafe drinking water in vulnerable communities, and gaps in public safety systems, and lawmakers still failed to follow through. The same problems resurface year after year while costs rise and trust erodes. It is not just bureaucratic dysfunction; it is a pattern of neglect made possible by one-party rule. Check out the CBS report here.

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Bills Moving in the Legislature

AB 805 (Fong) Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program. Establishes the Career Apprenticeship Bridge (CAB) Program to be administered by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) for specific purposes, including to create pathways for preapprenticeship and apprenticeship programs for individuals beginning in high school and connecting with college-level apprenticeships.  1/27/2026 - In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. WECA Position: Rec Support

AB 1198 (Haney) Public works: prevailing wages. It requires contractors to pay the new prevailing wage whenever DIR changes it. AB 2182 (Haney) of 2024 contained identical provisions to this bill. Governor Newsom vetoed the measure. AB 1140 (Daly) of 2013 was identical to this bill and was vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown. The bill exempts a housing development project if 100 percent of the units, excluding managers’ units, are restricted by deed, regulatory restrictions contained in an agreement with a governmental agency, or other recorded document, as affordable housing for persons and families of low or moderate income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code. 1/26/2026 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading. WECA Position: Oppose

AB 1235 (Rogers) California State University: skilled and trained workforce requirement. Prohibits a contractor from being prequalified for, shortlisted for, or awarded a design-build contract with the Trustees of the California State University unless the contractor provides an enforceable commitment to the trustees that the contractor and its subcontractors at every tier will use a skilled and trained workforce to perform all work on the project or contract. Costs of an unknown, but likely significant amount, in excess of $150,000, to CSU for increased administrative costs to ensure compliance with new contracting requirements (General Fund). CSU may also incur potentially significant increased project costs, to the extent this bill increases bid prices or deters some contractors from bidding. In cases where a foregone contractor would have been the low bidder, CSU will pay more, and remaining contractors may face less competitive pressure when bidding on contracts, thus increasing contract costs. Additionally, to the extent this bill slows down the contract and procurement process, thereby jeopardizing time-sensitive funding sources or the use of low-dollar expeditious acquisition methods, there may be a corresponding fiscal impact to CSU. 1/26/2026 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading. WECA Position: Watch

AB 1439 (Garcia) Public retirement systems: development projects: labor standards. Establishes preconditions on public employee retirement system investments and financing of existing and new development projects in California. Requires STWF but not a PLA. 1/26/2026 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading. WECA Position: Watch

SB 33 (Cortese) Public contracts: claim resolution. This bill deletes the sunset date of a claims resolution process that enables contractors to seek public agency review of claims that arise during public works projects. 1/26/2026 - Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39, Noes 0) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. WECA Position: Support

SB 222 (Wiener) Residential heat pump systems: water heaters and HVAC: installations. Establishes limitations and requirements for local agency permitting of residential heat pump heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and heat pump water heaters. 1/26/2026 - Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 29, Noes 8) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. WECA Position: Watch

SB 247 (Smallwood-Cuevas) State agency contracts: bid preference: equity metrics. This bill requires state agencies, in awarding contracts over $35 million using funds from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), or the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, to provide a bid preference up to 10%, depending on the number of total contract labor hours performed by individuals residing in a “distressed area” or “disadvantaged community.” Opposed by various union construction organizations, who argue contractors and subcontractors covered by collective bargaining agreements are obligated to hire workers dispatched from union hiring halls, and there are limited circumstances under which they can reject those workers. This measure provides that to receive a 10% bid preference, contractors must adopt ‘equity metrics’ that include ‘having a required percentage of the workforce for the contract living in areas below the poverty line, in communities disproportionately affected by environmental pollution, or in regions with high unemployment and low-income concentrations.’ In practice, this means that for signatory contractors and subcontractors to receive the 10% benefit, their labor partners must agree to only dispatch workers from specific communities for state-funded projects. 1/27/2026 - Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 30, Noes 10) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. WECA Position: Rec Support

SB 342 (Umberg) Contractors: unlicensed work. This bill permits a contractor to recover compensation for work performed if the person was a duly licensed contractor at the time that the contract for the work was executed and during the portion of times of the performance of the act or contract for which they are seeking to recover, and limits the cause of action that a person who utilized an unlicensed contractor’s services may bring to recover compensation paid to the unlicensed contractor to the compensation paid for work performed during the time in which the contractor was unlicensed. 1/26/2026 - Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39, Noes 0) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. WECA Position: Support