Stanley E. Warren, Secretary Treasurer of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council passed away on Tuesday, February 1st, 2005 at the age of 44.

Stan had been diagnosed with a life threatening brain tumor in November 2002 and had achieved almost complete recovery by early 2004. Unfortunately, the tumor recurred in late 2004 and eventually ended his life. He fought valiantly until the end and did not go quietly into the night.

Stanley had been elected to lead the Building Trades Council as Secretary Treasurer in July 2000, and re-elected in 2003 for a second term. He provided strong and effective leadership for the construction unions over the last four and a half years. Prior to that, Stan had worked in the roofing industry for 14 years from 1981 to 1994. In April 1994 he was elected Business Manager of Roofers and Waterproofers Local 40 in San Francisco and served for six years. During his tenure as manager he also served as a trustee for the Roofers Health and Welfare Fund, the Pacific Coast Roofers Pension Trust Fund, the Vacation Trust and the Apprenticeship Committee Trust Fund.

Stan worked tirelessly to empower the new Hispanic members in his local. He fought for years to rewrite the curriculum of the Roofers Apprenticeship Council to include a Spanish version. Stan also worked on a pilot program for bi-lingual instruction of apprentices. Through his efforts, courses in English and Spanish were set up for the Spanish-speaking apprentices at the San Francisco Evans Street Campus of City College, the John Adams Community College, and Laney Jr. College in the East Bay.

As Business Manager, Stan pursued an active organizing program to bring non-union roofing companies into Local 40. He followed traditional and non-traditional approaches, using both top-down and bottom-up methods. He worked simultaneously with both workers and management, taking a medium term, 2-5 year view. The program worked and during his 6-year tenure he signed on 8-10 new contractors.

Stan also negotiated two collective bargaining agreements for Local 40, providing for higher wages, shorter hours and improved working conditions.

In his tenure as Secretary Treasurer, Stan worked tirelessly with both the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the Mayor's office to establish the San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement, OLSE. The OLSE currently monitors public works contractors to make sure that they obey labor laws, especially relating to wages and hours.

Stan had understood the importance of political activism to protect the rights of workers and their families. He worked to set up a PAC fund, political action committee, for the San Francisco Building and Constructions Trades Council. He wanted to build a labor- based coalition with the larger community to secure a more powerful voice in civic affairs for union members. To that end he worked as a member of the Employment Committee of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. He also became a member of City Workforce Investment Board and has served for many years as a Director of the Instituto Laboral De La Raza in the Mission district.

More recently, Stan had worked to negotiate agreements with local public agencies and private developers for the employment of union workers. Project Labor Agreements are pending with both the San Francisco Community College, and the San Francisco Unified School District.

Stan was honored by the San Francisco Labor Council in September 2003, for his work on behalf of the labor movement and for his political activism. He had served on the Executive Committee of the Labor Council since 2001, and was recently elected Vice President for Community Activities. Stan was also on the Executive Board of the State Building and Construction Trades Council.

Upon hearing of his death, Mayor Gavin Newsom commented, "On behalf of the City and County of San Francisco, I want to express our deepest sympathy and our most profound sorrow in the passing of Stanley E. Warren. Stan had a distinguished career in San Francisco's civic affairs. As Secretary Treasurer of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, he showed exemplary passion and integrity for his work. San Francisco's labor community has lost a great leader."

Stan was a true believer in the union movement and it's inherent benefits for working people. He had an innate sense of social justice.

When he delivered the commencement address to the graduating students of San Francisco's alternative Independence High School in June 2003, Stan talked about his own experiences growing up in a blue collar family; and, about the merits of becoming a union construction worker. He advised the graduating students, many of whom had truancy problems or absent parents, "to consider working in a craft and joining a union. The pay is good, you'll have a health plan and you can receive on the job and classroom training while you work."

Stan was born in Fresno and had grown up in the San Joaquin Valley in a family of modest means and had worked as a boy picking oranges and cotton to supplement the family income. He later attended Sequoia High School in Redwood City and Canada College. When Stan turned 18 he joined the Roofers Union in San Francisco as an apprentice and rapidly advanced through the program to become a skilled craftsman and Journeyman. He commented recently, that, "One of the wisest decisions I made early in life was to join the Roofers Union in San Francisco."

Stan Warren is survived by his wife Geri and their three sons, Trent, age 16; Spencer, age 12; and Gage age 5. Other surviving family members include his father, Troy Warren, half brothers Tony, Chris, Troy Jr., half sister Dora, and his stepmother Maria Warren.

Larry Mazzola, President of the San Francisco Council and acting-Secretary Treasurer, Stan Smith have announced that a fund has been set up for Stan's family. Send contributions payable to Geri Warren, c/o Lori, United Labor Bank, 100 Hegenberger Rd., Suite 110, Oakland, California, 94621.

Memorial Services were held on Saturday, February 19th at 1 P.M. at the Redwood Chapel at 847 Woodside Road in Redwood City.

Remembering Stan

by Steven Tucker

February 1, 2005: Stanley Warren passed away at the age of 44 years old. Stan became a member in May 1979 working for Adams Roofing In Redwood City Stan also worked at Ace Roofing, Izmirian Roofing, and Blues Roofing. Stan was appointed business Manager in April of 1994 when then business manager Merv Kissinger retired, as Business manager, Stan understood that educating the members was very important and started implementing some changes to the Apprentice Program he started by having all our curriculum translated into Spanish and had the Apprenticeship Committee to agree to teach classes both in English and Spanish . Stan also realized that our Journeymen need to stay current in changes within the Industry and started Journeyman upgrade classes. Stan started a fund for a training facility for Roofers and Waterproofers that we hope will become a reality in the very near future.

Stan had the foresight to know that education is important and made some long lasting improvements that are still being implemented. After a member Russell Imbeck donated some money to the Local Stan had the foresight to start a Scholarship fund for our members children that where graduating and going on to collage. During the six years that Stan was here he also was making his mark on the Labor movement In the Bay Area. Stan was Vice- President of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council and served as an Executive Board Member for the San Mateo Labor Council. Stan left Local 40 on July 2000 to take on the Secretary Treasurers position at the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council.

Stan is survived by his wife Geri, and three sons, Trent, Spencer, and Gage. I am asking that every Member make a donation to the Warren Family. Please make checks out to Geri Warren, and either send them to Local 40 or you can send them to United Labor Bank, 100 Hegenberger Road, Suite 110, Oakland, California 94621. Attention Lori. Only after taking on the Position of Business Manager after Stan left can I truly appreciate what Stan did for Local 40. On behalf of the members of local 40 I would like to convey our deep sorrow to Geri, Trent, Spencer, and Cage for their loss.

Sincerely,
Steven Tucker

El 1 de febrero del 2005: Stanley Warren falleció ha la edad de 44 años. Stan se volvió en un miembro en Mayo de 1979 trabajando para la compañía Adams Roofing en Redwood City; Stan también trabajó en Ace Roofing, Izmirian Roofing, y Blues Roofing. Stan fue nombrado gerente de negocios en Abril de 1994 cuando el entonces gerente de negocios Merv Kissinger se retiró. Como gerente de negocios, Stan comprendió qué educar a los miembros era muy importante y comenzó a implementar algunos cambios en el Programa de Aprendizaje, el comenzó haciendo que todo nuestro plan de estudios fuera traducido al español e hizo que el Comité de Aprendizaje estuviera de acuerdo a enseñar las clases en inglés y español. Stan también se dio cuenta de que nuestros Jornaleros necesitan estar al día en los cambios dentro de la Industria y comenzó las Clases para Jornaleros. Stan comenzó un fondo para un edificio de entrenamiento para los Roofers y Waterproofers que esperamos se vuelva una realidad en un futuro muy cercano.

Stan tenía la visión de que la educación es importante, e implemento algunas mejoras de larga duración que aun se están implementando. Después de que un miembro Russell Imbeck, donara algo de dinero al Local, Stan tenía la previsión de comenzar un fondo para una Beca Escolar para los hijos de nuestros miembros que se gradúan y siguen al colegio. Durante los seis años que Stan estuvo aquí también hizo su marca en él movimiento Laboral en el Area de la Bahía. Stan fue Vice-Presidente del Concilio Laboral de Edificación y Construcción de San Francisco. y sirvió también en el Concilio Laboral de San Mateo como un miembro de la mesa ejecutiva. Stan salió del Local 40 en Julio del 2000 para asumir el puesto de Secretario Tesorero del Concilio Laboral de Edificación y Construcción de San Francisco.

A Stan le sobreviven su esposa Geri y sus tres hijos Trent, Spencer y Gage. Estoy pidiendo que cada miembro haga una donación ha la Familia Warren. Por favor hagan los cheques a nombre de Geri Warren.y envíenlos al Local 40 o pueden mandarlos a United Labor Bank,100 Hegenberger Road Suite 110, Oakland, California 94621. Attention Lori. Sólo después de asumir esta posición de Gerente de Negocios después de que Stan salió, yo pude en verdad apreciar lo que Stan hizo por el Local 40. En nombre de los miembros del Local 40 me gustaría comunicarles nuestro mas profundo pésame ha Geri, Trent, Spencer, y Gage por su pérdida.

Sinceramente,
Steven Tucker

More Tributes to Stan Warren at the S.F. Building Trades