Fredy Rodriguez Jr. lives in Colorado and is a second-generation union insulator. Fredy is a member of and field representative for the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (AWIU) Local 28. Before his current role, he was an insulator for 12 years.
Why is being a union member important to you?
Being a union member is important to me for a lot of reasons. It’s comforting to be a part of a place where I’m not looked at as a number – I’m looked at as a brother through the membership.
You’re setting up your family for success as well. You have peace of mind, having health insurance and a pension there to back you up. In my experience, I had no training at a non-union company. They just throw you on the job. Here, we have a four-year, tuition-free apprenticeship. That way when they turn out as a journeyworker, they’re fully competent to do the trade.
How did you get involved in your union?
I’m a second-generation pipe cover mechanical insulator. My dad was the one that brought me in. I like to think of it as him organizing me [into the union]. After high school, I started working with my dad. Once he saw that I was thinking about this long-term, he pulled me aside and he said, “Hey, if you’re real about this let’s go to the union hall and get you signed up.” I was 18 at the time, so all the benefit and pension talk would go in through one ear and out through the other. I just wanted to see the money on the check. But that changed over the years. Now I’m married and have a daughter. Health insurance is important. [Working people] are one emergency away from bankruptcy if you don’t have health insurance. Here at the Local we have health, dental and vision, and it covers both my family and me. I’ll always thank the membership for welcoming me with open arms and teaching me the trade. All I have is thanks to my Local.
You and your father are members of the same Local. Are you hoping that your daughter becomes a third-generation union insulator as well?
It’s too soon to tell. But if she does choose this route, I wish her all the success in this trade. Both my wife and I are always going to support her and we would like her to do something that she enjoys. At the end of the day that’s what we all want. We want a job where when you have to wake up early in the morning, you’re not dreading waking up. You get to wake up another day and make a difference. A lot of people view the insulation trade as just a job. But it’s an art. That’s one of the things my dad told me. At the beginning, I didn’t quite understand, but one day it just clicked. Back in school, I used to draw and make music, and I was able to connect that with insulation. One day, we were doing some metal work and after seeing the final product, I was like hey, I built that. It’s beautiful.
Can you tell me about your role with AWIU Local 28 as a field representative?
My role as membership development field representative is to visit job sites and educate the workers on those job sites, specifically insulators or the workers doing work that’s in our jurisdiction. If they have any questions regarding wages, labor laws, or if they feel they’re being exploited, we represent them. We organize the unorganized as well, through education and recruitment. It’s really cool to let people know this is an opportunity to start a career. It’s not just a job, it’s a long-term career. That’s my favorite part.
You participated in Climate Jobs Colorado’s coalition launch in January. During the launch, speakers talked about state legislation passed by the state in 2023 that implemented stronger labor protections for energy projects supported by public dollars. Why is it important for clean energy projects to be built with strong labor standards?
Having a union presence on jobs that are getting funded by federal or state money limits the exploitation by non-union companies. The workers should get higher wages and better benefits. And whoever is contracting them, gets quality-trained employees that get those jobs done right the first time.
What have the effects of the climate crisis looked like for you, your coworkers, your family, and your community?
We’ve witnessed longer, hotter summers and shorter winters. Colorado used to get a lot of snow. Now, you can’t predict when you’re going to get that snow. We used to have snowy Christmases, now we do only if we’re lucky. During the summer, there’s a call for more water on the job sites to keep hydrated. We’ve seen more wildfires as well. It’s definitely been an issue.
How does the work you do help to address the climate crisis?
Insulation is probably the greenest of the green trades. Insulation reduces carbon dioxide emissions and decreases energy costs. It’s better energy efficiency.
Where do you hope to see the clean energy sector in the future?
I hope in the future they’re implementing more clean energy and I hope that union contractors do the work. That way our environment gets cleaner and that way our members have jobs. I hope it benefits everyone.
This interview has been condensed and edited for content and clarity.
