You might remember Daryl Peterson from your own time at the training center. Daryl has been training and teaching welders or students since February of 1969, and he’s trained thousands of apprentices in the skills they needed over the years. He started his apprenticeship in June of 1962, and has been making UA Local 393 proud ever since.

“A lot of instructors are very good teachers, and he is, but when you care about the apprentices they know. They feel it, and they respond to that. And they love that guy, because they know he cares about them.” Carl Cimino, Director of Training, is happy to share that what makes Daryl special as an instructor is his connection with the students. “He’s not doing it for the money, he does it because he cares about people. His participation in the apprenticeship isn’t just as an instructor, it’s as a mentor. I think he really looks out for people.”

It isn’t just the union training center—Daryl also went to the Elmwood Correctional Facility as an instructor. There he used his skills to train the men in the skill of welding.

For now, Daryl will spend his time with his wife of 63 years, Bess. Their four kids, 6 grandkids, and 3 great grandkids keep them busy.

All things considered, Daryl thinks of himself as lucky to be in the trades. “I think that the building trades is a great field for people to work in. I’m particularly glad I became a steam fitter. It’s a unique trade and line of work.” We consider ourselves lucky to have him as a member, an instructor, and a leader at our local. Daryl really is a 393 treasure.

Q and A with Daryl Peterson

How long have you been a union member?

I started my apprenticeship in June of 1962, and I was initiated February of 1963.

What does your role as a trainer entail?

I’ve been an instructor there since February of 1969. My role is explaining welding to the apprentices. I just remember when I was an apprentice and I just like to teach them some of the skills that I’ve learned over the years. I was teaching some classroom, but I haven’t done that for a long time. It’s constant change in the welding industry because we keep getting newer and better stuff. I like welding because it’s kind of a skill that you have to work for, you know like with gas welding. I love gas welding. It’s something that’s not easy to do, but it’s easy to learn.

What do you like about UA Local 393?

It’s always been good for me. I’ve been through several different business managers and I like the fact that the ladies that work down there do a fantastic job taking care of the administration part of it. Every time I have a question I get an answer. The officers negotiate the wages and the wage package, it allowed me to raise my family comfortably.

Where would you like to see UA Local 393 go in the future?

I’d like to see more active involvement in standing up for union labor. Recently we have been going to council meetings and doing some picketing. And at times before we tried public advertising, which we just started doing again. It seemed like years earlier we’d make a stand for a short while, and it would just go away and we’d forget about it. I’d like to see us maintain a strong standing that union labor is what gives you a skill level that you won’t get anywhere else.

I think that the building trades is a great field for people to work in. I’m particularly glad I became a steam fitter. It’s a unique trade and line of work, because you go in to do a job and if you’re lucky enough to be a foreman, which I was most of the time, you run the job from start to finish. That gives you a better perspective than going in and working a couple of months and getting laid off. I went up to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska through the winter of September ‘83 and March ‘84, which I thought was unique because I got the chance to work with people from other locals.

How involved are you in the union?

I have been very involved over the years. I attend most of the union meetings, and I’m on the Steam Fitters Examining Board. I was on the Building Trades Central Labor Council a few years ago. I enjoy it because it’s kind of a camaraderie; you see people that you don’t see every day.

Do you have any hobbies?

I like to work. I’m not much for gardening or things like that. After I retired, I went to work at the training center until they ran out of funds. Then I went to Elmwood Correctional Facility for ten years as an instructor. I tried to introduce my students there to the building trades apprenticeship programs, and to look into working in the building trades. I think I got a few guys started.

One guy that had a DUI worked for the sheet metal shop, HVAC service. He went in and took the test and passed, and got on the list to apply for a job. But he couldn’t drive, so I told him go back to the JATC and explain the circumstance. He did and became a plumber. A couple of guys went in and applied for work at an ironworker place where they fabricate steel. Which always made me feel good to have somebody get some kind of success and bring himself out of that.

With the building trades they’re not going to circular file your application just because you got in trouble. They’re more concerned with you having the skill level to perform the work.

We are proud to call Daryl Peterson a member of UA Local 393 and gratified to know that many men and women on the job today are using the skills he taught them.