Juan Gutierrez is the new organizer at UA 393 after two decades with our Local as a member, volunteer, and activist.

Juan is a plumber by trade. He started as a labor shop boy back in 1989. He worked non-union for years before becoming a UA Local 393 member in 1997. He noticed how difficult it was to get into an apprenticeship program which motivated him to get involved to make it easier to become a union plumber.

Juan was born and raised in California by immigrant parents from Aguililla Michoacan, Mexico. He is one of seven children, and Juan and his wife have five kids. Family values drive Juan. He says, “By being union I have been able to provide for my family in ways that I would not have been able to if I were non-union.”

Juan has worked with numerous Signatory Companies like Metro Plumbing, F.W. Spencer and Sons, and Critchfield Mechanical. His career highlight was working on the stadium for the San Francisco 49ers, his favorite NFL team. His son was incredibly proud, and Juan was able to put their names on the Golden Beam.

His admiration for his fellow plumbers and pipefitters runs deep. “We are all unique. Each and every plumber can have the same amount of time and material to do a job, but every plumber will still do it a different way.”

Juan was appointed to the Examining Board before running for the 393 Executive Board. In 2013, he was named Volunteer of the Year for all his work doing precinct walks, phone banking, flyering, and member engagement. He started getting more members involved and active and made good friends along the way. All of this experience paved the way for being hired as the new 393 Organizer. Juan has relationships with members, he knows the Local inside and out, and he is persistent and passionate about building the labor movement.

In his staff role, Juan is responsible for internal and external organizing. He visits job sites and talks with non-union contractors. He chats with workers about whether they are getting paid area standard wage; are happy with the contractor; and being treated well.

Juan holds non-union contractors accountable who are not in wage compliance. He organizes non-union workers into 393. And he works with our residential contractors to get more folks initiated into the union.

Fueled by his immigrant parents who struggled to get ahead, Juan sees many working people continuing to struggle. He says the fight for good pay, job security, and quality health care is very much alive. As long as economic inequities exist, he is committed to continue the fight.

Juan’s mission is to support Local 393’s efforts to ensure a thriving San Jose working class. “It’s the middle class and working class who drive our entire economy,” said Juan. “Participation is key. The first step is to come to union meetings and find out how to get involved. If more members participate, we can accomplish a lot more together than divided.”

To get involved, check out the union meeting schedule at www.ualocal393.org/calendar