After 30 years of service in the field and as an elected officer of Local 393, Rudy Carrasco Jr. will retire. He will take with him incredible memories.
“Being in the trades and working outside with the tools can be hard, dirty work,” said Rudy. “But by learning your craft and developing a reputation for your a solid work ethic, no one can take that away from you.
“My favorite thing was working underground or on the roof. Underground is nice and cool, and on the rooftops, you’re out in the sun, get a good workout, and have a great view of the Valley.
“Back when I started, 393 played a big role in the high tech revolution because we were the only ones who knew the piping. 393 led the country in stainless steel tubing, orbital welding, PDF piping, and the acid wastelines all for the semi-conductor chips.
“In 393, there’s a deep belief that education has been the key to our success. That’s why I taught in the apprenticeship program for 22 years.”
Rudy teaching at the 393 Training Center 
Rudy with Laramie Lingenfelter 
Rudy teaching at the 393 Training Center 
Rudy at the retiree luncheon
Nancy Ferguson, 393’s Member Advocate, remembers those days. “Rudy and I came up as apprentices together, we worked at Therma together, and then I was his assistant at the Training Center,” said Nancy. “He was a patient teacher and broke things down in steps to really help the apprentices learn.
“Rudy is also quite the rascal, and though he comes off as serious, he also has a great sense of humor. I don’t want to blow his cover though, so I won’t tell you any stories,” winked Nancy.
Laramie Lingenfelter also knows Rudy’s playful side. “Twenty-one years ago, Therma sent us to the Philippinnes. We worked six days a week, 10 hours per day,” said Laramie. “But at the end of the day, all the guys would go back to Rudy’s room because he always had 10 cases of beer.”
“But on a serious note,” said Laramie. “Rudy is a very dependable person. He does the right thing to the letter and is always there for the members.”
Nancy concurred. “Rudy has a great big heart,” she said. “And whenever a 393 family is having a hard time, he’s there for them.”
That generosity of spirit is what drove Rudy to become a Business Representative. He said, “It was hard to leave working outside with the guys, having our daily lunch picnic, telling stories, and seeing your work at the end of the day. But I loved learning the office side, securing work for the members, and giving back.”
“When I first got involved with the union, folks had minor disagreements like they do today,” said Rudy. “I remember a resolution if you drove a foreign car, you couldn’t bring it onto union property. But we always agreed on the important things: expanding our market share, increasing our wages, and helping the community. The membership has always stood up to give back.
“In my 30 years, our Union has grown to over 2,600 members. This Local gave me a lifetime of financial stability for me and my family. I was a late starter and got married in 2007. My wife and I have a 10-year old daughter. In retirement, I plan on teaching her how to work with tools so she knows how to do plumbing and cars, so she can be independent and strong.
“I’m also looking forward to getting up late at 6am, working on my 1950 Chevy truck that my dad gave me, and volunteering.
“I want to continue giving back and staying active in the Union. You’ll be seeing me at all the meetings as one of the retirees telling stories – that’ll be my version of the picnic from my days out in the field.
“I’ll pass on some words that someone gave me: You don’t have to be the fastest or the smartest. All you have to do is show up on time every single day – get there a little early so the foreman sees you. Be open to learning. And most importantly, show them your work ethic and always put in a good day’s work. If you do that, you’ll have work for your entire career.”