Juan Rodriguez’s Union Journey About Giving Back and Paying it Forward
Juan Rodriguez’s path into union brotherhood and sisterhood easily could have been a straight line. But like most memorable journeys, Rodriguez’s road was a winding one.
When his father-in-law, Lane L. Stewart, a 47-year Local 40 member, advised a young Rodriguez to join the Local, Rodriguez initially hesitated. “I was young; I didn’t listen,” Rodriguez said.
When Rodriguez finally heeded his father in law’s advice in 2004 and joined IBEW 40 as an apprentice, it became a career-defining moment not only for him but also his son, Juan, Jr., who followed in his footsteps and became Local 40 member seven years ago.
Today, Rodriguez serves as IBEW 40 Board President, where he works with Business Manager Stephan Davis and other Board members to advocate for the membership, help maintain relationships with studios, and ensure brothers and sisters have access to the training and skills they need to constantly adapt and evolve.
We sat down with Rodriguez to discuss his union journey, delve into his current role as Board President, and get his take on the Local 40’s future and the role he hopes to play in helping shape it.
Q: When you finally decided to follow your father-in-law’s advice and become a Local 40 apprentice, how did that decision change your career and your life?
JR: Before I joined the Local I was basically living paycheck to paycheck just getting by and not really having a good plan or route for the future – just surviving. Once I became a union member my life changed, because now there was value in what I did. I had a sense of purpose and pride. When people ask me what I do for a living, I tell them I’m a union electrician for IBEW 40. Being proud of what you do every day lets me hold my head up high, and that sense of pride is something I’ve carried with me since I became a first-year apprentice in 2004.
Q: Now you’re Board president of Local 40. What made you want to take on this new role and the responsibilities that come with it?
JR: I’ve always wanted to be involved, help out, and give back ever since I was an apprentice. I got appointed to the Exam Board early in my career, and later there was an opening on the Board as Vice President. I was asked if I wanted to fill that position, and I said yes and served for four terms. I’m a delegate for our Electrical Workers Minority Caucus, I’ve served as recording secretary, and now I’m the current president. I feel so honored. This Local has given so much to me that I want to give everything back that I can.
Q: What’s your vision for the future of Local 40, and as president what role do you see in helping shape that vision?
JR: My vision has been the same since I first started: keep this Local growing and moving forward and do good by our members. I want to see this union keep growing organically and make sure we provide our members with the training and skills to fulfill the needs of the jobs out there. I want our members to say, “We’re proud to be part of IBEW Local 40.” As president my job is to do everything I can to make those things happen.
Q: What are the top priorities?
JR: The biggest thing for our members is, “Where’s the next job?” So, my role and the role of the Local is to work to make sure work is staying in our jurisdiction and we’re going after that work to keep our members employed. That takes months of planning because projects don’t happen overnight, so you have to keep your eyes on situations and projects and always be on the lookout for the next job for our members. Another priority is training. We are constantly offering training to keep our members competitive, so we can present them as the highest-skilled and best-trained electricians to these companies who are building studios and facilities and maintaining them.
Q: The film and television production industry is undergoing a lot of changes, especially here in California. Are you optimistic about the future?
JR: I am. Every institution, every industry, has its ups and downs. This Local was chartered in 1923, and it’s still around and it’ll be around way after I’m gone. I just want to leave it better than when I came into it, and I think we’ve been doing that – pushing things forward for the next generation. My goal is to hand the baton over to the next generation so they can keep pushing it forward and making it better for the generation after them.
Q: Last question: What advice would you give to someone who is considering becoming a Local 40 member but, like you 20 years ago, is not sure if it’s the right career.
JR: I always tell people that working for Local 40 is not a job; it’s a career. To be able to hold your head up high and say, “I’m a union electrician, and I have what I have because of IBEW Local 40” – that’s something I could shout at the top of my lungs every day. At the same time, I always tell new members that you get out of this union what you put into it. That means always staying hungry, always wanting to learn, and always trying to do better. You have to want to do better every day and then take what you learn and adapt it to what works best for you. Put it all together and make it your own. Great things will happen when you put in the effort.
