[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 6, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1209]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NICO FERRARO: AN INSPIRATION TO SAN DIEGO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 5, 2007

  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Nico Ferraro, who is 
being honored as the ``Labor Leader of the Year'' by The San Diego-
Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
  Nico was initiated into the union on June 15, 1971, and knew it was 
for him. He went on to serve a five-year steamfitter apprenticeship 
with the United Local 638 in New York City.
  His urge to travel and see the country continually took him to 
several western states until he eventually landed in San Diego. Nico's 
political activism caught the attention of Local 230's officers and he 
was elected to the Executive Board in 1989. In 1992, he was elected as 
the Pipefitter Business Representative and served in that capacity 
until his appointment to Business Manager in 1997.
  As Local 230's Business Manager, Nico represents the various 
divisions of the 1600 member local union in many ways. He is a Trustee 
to the pension and welfare funds, the Secretary to the Joint 
Apprenticeship Committee, President of the Southern California Pipe 
Trades District Council #16, President of the San Diego Building 
Trades, a member of the Board of Directors of the National City Park 
Apartments' 460 unit complex, built and managed by the Building Trades 
since 1968, and an Executive Board member to the Central Labor Council. 
One of Nico's proudest positions was serving on the Board of Directors 
of the Construction Tech Academy from 2002 to 2006. The academy is a 
uniquely designed High School dedicated to Construction, Architecture, 
and Engineering. The San Diego Building Trades honored Nico as the John 
Lyons Labor Leader of the Year in 2000.
  In his role as Business Manager, Nico is focused on organizing, 
training, and political action. He is dedicated to improving the wages, 
pension and working conditions of his membership and demonstrating to 
all of San Diego the benefits of union membership. He has spoken on the 
record before the Industrial Welfare Commission.
  Nico is involved in all aspects of the Labor movement. He has had 
numerous pro-union letters to various editors of San Diego newspapers 
published. To enhance his career as a union officer, Nico enrolled in 
the Labor Studies Program at San Diego City College. He completed the 
program in 1994 and continued his studies, earning a Business and Labor 
Studies Degree and graduating with honors in June 2000.
  California Governor Gray Davis further honored Nico by appointing him 
to the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Board, where he was asked to 
determine the wages, work hours and working conditions for the mining, 
drilling and construction industries.
  Nico Ferraro truly has been an inspiration to all of San Diego.

                          ____________________