Eric Mussynski is the newest member of Local 393’s staff. He was elected Business Representative at the end of 2018, taking Rudy Carrasco’s place, since Rudy is retiring. Eric is coming on board after 20 years in the field as an HVAC/R service technician.
“I didn’t go to college, but I knew I wanted to get into the trades,” said Eric. “I had the opportunity to go non-union, but I knew that wasn’t the way to go. My uncles were Teamsters, my first job as a grocery store bagger was union, and my wife is a union RN.
“I knew that being union meant I’d be able to provide for my family, retire with dignity, and learn a skilled trade through a proper apprenticeship. In the non-union world, it’s more sink or swim. If you learn, you learn, but they don’t have the formal training that we have.
“With our apprenticeships, you learn the theory of everything and how to think outside the box so that you can troubleshoot. When I got started on the service side 20 years ago, we didn’t have smart phones where you could look at an instruction video – or even just call a buddy for advice. We usually worked alone, and all you had to fall back on was your training.
“I started getting involved in union meetings about seven years ago. Later, I was elected to the Refrigeration Exam Board and was appointed as a pension trustee. And last term, I was part of the finance committee and negotiating committee to secure our current 3-year contract.
“I wanted to run for Business Rep to ensure that the Union will be here for generations to come. I bring a new perspective coming from the service side. Now, every time a service guy has a question, they send them to me, but I’m here for the WHOLE membership.
“I have two simple goals: keep the members busy, and grow our market share. When I have a pile of projects on my desk and 10 phone calls I need to make, I prioritize based on what’s going to help our Union achieve those two goals.
“Being new, I’m always on the lookout for improvements here and there with fresh eyes, and folks have been very responsive.
“The biggest change from being in the field is not being able to build something completely from scratch – from cradle to grave so to speak. But now, I feel like it’s my turn to give back and grow our Union for the next generation.
“I want more folks to have what we have. Without the Union, I never would have been able to pay for my kids’ college. My wife and I would have been in debt, and my kids would have been in debt. And now when I retire, my kids won’t have to take care of me, because our pension and 401K plans are so strong.
“To ensure Local 393 is here for the next 100 years, we have to be politically engaged. I never liked politics, but realized that the developers and contractors are involved, and we need to hold elected leaders accountable to do the right thing. You might not like politics either, but we have to play the game. So I encourage everyone to engage politically through Local 393’s Campaign for a Secure Future. That’s how we achieve those two simple goals: keep the members working and increase our market share. Join us!”
In his free time, Eric is an avid dirt bike rider and can be seen (if you can catch him) in the massive wilderness at Clear Creek. He said, “I love riding: there’s no cell phone reception, no signs, and no rules. When I’m riding, there’s nothing else on my mind but riding – it’s very freeing.”
“I’m not naturally drawn to politics, but I saw something that summed up why I get involved,” said Eric. It said:
You’re “just not that into politics?”
Your boss is. Your landlord is. And your insurance company is.
And every day they use their political power to keep your pay low, raise your rent, and deny you coverage.
It’s time to get into politics!