On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Casey Van Den Heuvel, business representative for Sheet Metal Workers Local 104, shared insights into the ongoing challenges faced by union workers in California’s Monterey and Santa Cruz regions. The discussion centered on the fight to maintain Project Labor Agreements (PLA) in Watsonville, the importance of union activism and member engagement, as well as broader challenges related to fair contracting and construction industry standards. Local 104 has over 9,000 members and spans 49 counties in California, from the Oregon border to Ventura County.
A significant focus for Van Den Heuvel is the struggle to protect Watsonville’s longstanding PLA. Despite years of successful union partnerships that delivered quality, timely public sector projects and cultivated local talent, new city leadership began pushing back against the existing agreement. City staff cited complications with bidding and project management, but Van Den Heuvel said these are smokescreens that undermine fair labor practices. Unions responded by mobilizing members to attend council meetings, demonstrating their collective power and negotiating with city officials under public scrutiny to secure fair terms, he said.
The importance of mobilizing union membership and effective advocacy will be key to their efforts, Van Den Heuvel said. He credited union action networks and in-person activism as crucial tools in protecting workers’ interests. By sending coordinated letters to the city council and rallying hundreds of union members to fill council chambers, Local 104 has made its voice heard. Van Den Heuvel said the grassroots action had a visible influence on policymakers, highlighting how union strength stems not just from representatives fighting for concessions, but also from workers themselves showing up and demanding recognition.
Finally, Van Den Heuvel discussed some of the broader issues within the construction industry, such as non-union contractors receiving public funds while evading responsible workforce standards. He noted that prevailing wage rules and apprenticeship opportunities are sometimes circumvented by nonprofit developers, resulting in wage theft and loss of community benefits. Van Den Heuvel advocated for tighter oversight, responsible contracting legislation and increased investment in union training programs, stressing that unions already provide robust education and career pathways for local workers while safeguarding fair pay and job security.
For more from Van Den Heuvel, please listen to the full episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast above.
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