Training the Next Generation

Local 49 once again takes ‘Best in West’ roofing title

By Don McIntosh
DRAWN TO THE UNION BY A WILL TO REACH THE TOP IN SKILL: No health coverage. No pension. Substandard wages. But even more than that, no real training or opportunity to develop skills. That’s what Ruben Blancas says he experienced working at a non-union roofing company, where he and his coworkers were largely self-taught. But Blancas heard about Roofers Local 49 from fellow roofers he bumped into over the years. In 2024 Blancas and his coworkers asked their boss for a raise to come closer to the union scale. When he refused, they left the company together and went down to the union hall. “We were just kind of feeling like, ‘Let’s go somewhere where we can do the same kind of work and make a much better wage with more room to grow.’”  The union assessed them for their experience level and admitted them to its apprenticeship program. Now Blancas is showing what he’s capable of: first place in the advanced category in the Western region apprenticeship competition. Blancas says he prepared for the competition for weeks, practicing in areas he felt the weakest in. But it’s Local 49’s training program that he credits for the win: “All the teachers have been incredible,” Blancas said. “Leaning into what the teachers have to say was what gave me the edge.” Blancas expects to finish the apprenticeship program in October, at which point he’ll be a journeyman, part of the skilled fellowship at the top of his trade. “The definition of a roofer in union terms is somebody they can drop on any type of roofing system and have them be successful,” Blancas said. | Photos courtesy Roofers Local 49

Share

Nominated by their local union training programs, 12 apprentice roofers took up propane torches and trowels Aug. 8 to determine who’s the best in the West. Portland-based Roofers Local 49 was the host of this year’s Western Regional Roofers Apprenticeship Competition, and for the third time in four years, a Local 49 apprentice took first place.

Besides Local 49, the event drew contestants from Roofers locals 36, 81, 95, and 220 in California. Locals in Washington and Hawaii normally compete but didn’t send contestants this year. 

Over the course of the day, contenders faced numerous challenges. Those included a written safety, math, and tool identification test; using propane torches to apply modified bitumen sheet roofing; placing and hand nailing asphalt shingles while detailing around a skylight; and a “hot walking” obstacle course — carrying buckets of water without spilling as a stand-in for real-life buckets of 550-degree asphalt. Every 45 minutes an air horn blew and contestants moved on to the next station. Participants were graded on speed and accuracy. Contractors came by to watch, and so did Jody Robbins, director of the Apprenticeship and Training Division of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI).

LOCKING IT DOWN A Local 49 apprentice took second place too: Mario Rodriguez Picaso.

This year’s regional honors went to the top three apprentices in two categories — “advanced” for those who had completed more than 80% of their required 4,000 apprenticeship hours, and “intermediate” for those under 80%.

Top honor this year went to Local 49 member Ruben Blancas, who took first place in the advanced category. Fellow Local 49 apprentice Mario Rodriguez Picazo took second place.

The competition is made possible in part by roofing and waterproofing manufacturers including Malarkey, Polyglass USA, GenFlex, W.R. Meadows, and Elevate, and from toolmaker DeWalt, boot shop BootCo NW, and coffee purveyor Backbone Coffee. Not only do sponsors donate supplies and prizes, but manufacturer reps serve as competition judges.

First place winners took home $600 Visa gift cards compliments of the Local 49 training program, up to $300 toward union-made Thorogood boots from BootCo, $300 in donated coffee from Backbone Coffee, and a two-drill combo battery and charger compliments of PolyGlass USA. And all six top finishers received a DeWalt tool belt with hammer, knife, chalkline, and tape they’ll use in the trade.

As first place winner, Blancas will also get to attend the International Roofing Expo in Las Vegas in February. And he’ll go on to represent Local 49 at the national competition in Boston in May. 

KEEPING BUSY   Unlike some other building trades unions that are suffering from a slump in construction, Local 49 is at close to full employment right now — partly because summer is high season but also because so much of roofing work is maintenance, not just new construction. 

Fire and its steady application are the key ingredient in the “torchdown” segment of the roofers apprenticeship competition. 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Read more

Subscribe in print

Subscribe via email

Support our work