Local 40 Celebrates 2025 In Style
Over 100 Local 40 members and their guests came together at the annual “That’s a Wrap Celebration” atop the Universal Sheraton to commemorate a year of achievements and to honor their own.
Among the 2025 highlights Local 40 Business Manager Stephan Davis hailed were passage of a tax credit for film production work as well as keeping membership near 100-percent employment.
2025 was a busy year, mostly on the facilities and on the construction side,” said Davis. “We also made a big investment in fiber this year, and we’re starting to see more opportunity there. We want to make sure we’re ahead of the curve and that people get the tools they need to get the job done.”
In 2026 Davis expects more production work and continued growth of data centers.
Recognition, in addition to reflection, was a core Celebration theme, with Local 40 members who reached key milestones earning service pins for their union work and dedication.
Among them was Jerry Green, who received his 45-year service pin. Green recounted starting at Universal Studios in 1979 as an electrician and, “How much has changed and, then again, how much has stayed the same.”
Green said one of the most important lessons he constantly imparted to Brothers and Sisters following in his union footsteps was, “Save your money.”
“I would take them to the credit union, and make them sign up,” Green said. “And if they said they couldn’t afford it, I’d say you can afford $10 a week.”
Mike Centonze, a fellow 45-year service pin recipient, recalled how, “When I grew up, electronics were still tubes.”
Over his career, Centonze, who has worked at Disney and Netflix, said he always found joy in the continuous on-the-job education that the Local offers. Another benefit of his Local 40 career: “The retirement has been very nice,” he says.
While others reflected, others like Rose Derderian, a fifth-year apprentice who currently works at the Universal production shop and just passed her test, looked ahead.
“I’ve always heard about unions, but once I joined, I was relaxed,” Derderian said. Derderian said benefits like health insurance and being able to count on the Local to help her find new work when she needed it were the greatest value of union membership so far in her young career.
“It’s nice that you have a whole stress load off of you,” Derderian said.
After service pins were awarded and members paused in honor for an In Memoriam ceremony, it was time for the raffle.
Ticket sales went to support COPE, an IBEW political action fund. Prizes included a Dyson vacuum, a Nespresso coffee maker, tickets to a Dodgers game, and even a signed photo of Dodger Mookie Betts.
Among the big winners were Calvin Lumas, who won five prizes for his seven tickets. As Lumas won his third, fourth, and then fifth prize, the roar from the audience (laughing, cheering, and mock-jeering) filled the room.
Lumas joked that he got good at winning by playing poker.
“I have family in HVAC and electrical in other branches of IBEW—other states—and it’s just a dream come true,” Lumas said after the event.
He added that the loss of his parents recently made 2025 a difficult emotional year. “But I got a lot of support from the hall and from my co-workers and basically worked the entire year and learned a lot. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.”
That’s a shared message Local 40 carries into 2026: no matter the ups and downs, the union family is here to help lift you up.amount lot for year after year, and now under new ownership, the future looks even brighter.
For more photos, click here:
https://flickr.com/photos/197150006@N04/albums/72177720330923700/
