… and is one of the main reasons Chris Hollfelder is the Lead Instructor for The Advanced Labor Rising training.
Bio –
Chris began his career in local 68 Dallas, Texas as a Sheet Metal Worker in 1982. While serving his apprenticeship, Chris consistently placed among the top 3 in the local skills competition. In 1987, Chris transferred his membership to Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 73 in Chicago. While at local 73 he performed architectural restoration in the historic district of Chicago. In 1988, he relocated to Rochester, NY where he began working at Spring Sheet Metal as a local tinner and shortly after became shop steward. In 1995, he began his career as a union organizer with which he has gained significant experience in leading and participating in organizing campaigns, union leadership and on-the-job construction work.
Organizer
As an organizer for Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 46, his successes have resulted in the signing of many new union contractors in the Commercial, Industrial and Residential sectors of his local’s jurisdiction. Chris spent 2 ½ years as an organizer for Operating Engineers Local 17 located in Buffalo, NY. While with the Operating Engineers, he was successful in signing Omer Construction and Frontier Asphalt with approximately $30 million and $40 million annually in work, respectively.
At Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 46, where Chris is presently the union organizer, he has developed a long-term plan to protect and defend the Commercial / Industrial markets and invest in new or lost markets.
Chris has won over one million dollars in NLRB back wage awards utilizing bottom up tactics against companies such as: Tom Greenauer Excavating, Custom Top Soil, Mainline Construction and M.J. Mechanical.
Residential
Local 46 performed zero residential hours in the year 2000. Since that time, Chris has organized several new residential contractors resulting in over 60 new members. Local 46 performed over 65,000 residential hours in 2012, resulting in over $2.2 million in wages and benefits. The direct return to the membership is increased market share in the commercial and residential markets. Residential is key to long-term success in this industry.
Union Leadership
During his tenure as President of his Local, he began a savings program to purchase a new building which resulted in a 30,000 square foot office and training center. He is currently a Senior Pension Trustee where the local pension is in the green zone. He is also on the Sheet Metal Workers Local 46 Apprenticeship Examining Committee.
