PCC/Restoration Contests a First for Two Locals

Journal: April - May - June 2005

Many years from now, the fall of 2004 will be remembered by Local 52 Illinois and Local 3 Massachusetts as the time when each Local held its first ever apprentice contest for PCC and restoration apprentices.

Local 52 Illinois

Local 52 IL, located in Chicago , has a proud tradition of representing pointers, cleaners and caulkers. Its inaugural apprentice contest took the better part of two Saturdays in October, and covered lintel removal and replacement, flashing replacement, tuckpointing (flat tooled and bead jointing sections of a stonewall), caulking, concrete patching, and rigging mockups. For the rigging portion, contestants were required to tie eight knots, reeve a set of rope falls, rig a well wheel, and place fist grips on a wire rope with a shackle. The caulking section called for packing and shooting bulk caulk for 30 lineal feet and glazing.

According to Local 52 President Bill Meyers, the contest “required careful thought and planning, but it was well worth it – the first of many successful competitions to come.” Each of the following winners received a cash prize:

First Place:		Maurice Jordan
Second Place:		Jose Gonzales
Third Place:		Ceasar Contreras
Fourth Place:		Manuel Toledo
Fifth Place:		Andre Smith Gregory Graham Ernesto Quirarte Mike Dust

Apprentices and judges alike welcomed the challenge of Local 52 IL’s first PCC apprentice contest. Front row, kneeling, from left, are winning apprentices Ceasar Contreras, Andre Smith, Greg Graham, Jose Gonzales, and Manuel Toledo. Back row, standing, with certificates, from left, are winning apprentices Ernesto Quirarte, Mike Dust, and Maurice Jordan. Back row, standing, from left, are the contest judges and members of the Local’s Executive Board Jeff Bloom, Bob Halteman, Dave Laninga, Bill Meyers, Ed Tiedt, Gary Wittenberg, Mark Adams, and Michael Hunt.

Local 52 IL’s Maurice Jordan won First Place.	Second Place winner Jose Gonzales.

Local 3 Massachusetts

Local 3 MA First Place winner Bruno Iraola.

Local 3 MA conducted its Masonry Restoration/Waterproofing Contest on November 20 th at the Local 3 Training Center in Dorchester. Not only was it the first of its kind in the area, but the competition was also unique because of the number of skills it incorporated, such as stone patching, caulking, installing flashing and air barriers, laying brick, and pointing existing brickwork.

Local 3 President Chuck Raso said “the apprentices exceeded our expectations,” and plans are already underway to conduct the PCC contest next year in conjunction with the Local’s brick and tile contests. A total of 16 apprentices competed. The following winners received cash awards and trophies:

First Place:		Bruno Iraola
Second Place:		Sean Riley
Third Place:		Richard Giordano

Competitors and judges at the conclusion of Local 3 MA’s historic PCC Apprentice Contest in Dorchester. Front row, seated, from left, Third Place winner Richard Giordano, First Place winner Bruno Iraola, and Second Place winner Sean Riley. Back row, standing, from left, Local 3 Vice President George Medeiros, Apprentice Assistant Administrator Bob Mottolo, Instructors Dave Coughlin and Tom Murphy, President Chuck Raso, Executive Vice President Richard Forcione, Field Representative Chris Medeiros, Vice President Bob Rizzi, and Apprenticeship and Training Trustee Charles Velardo.