Local 435 Signs PreCast Florida

By Austin Keating

Despite Florida’s status as a right-to-work state, which can disadvantage organized labor, Local 435 in Jacksonville is proving that workers can still come out on top. Local 435 has successfully organized PreCast Florida, a concrete manufacturing company, under a fabrication contract.

The union victory was announced by Local 435 Business Manager Lance Fout, who emphasized that “all workers should have representation and benefits.”

The campaign to organize PreCast Florida grew out of the local’s existing relationship with Southern State Duct Masters, a union sheet metal contractor owned by Ashley Moore that has thrived since signing with Local 435 in 2022.

Southern State’s success story caught the attention of Moore’s brother and sister-in-law, Branden and Bradi Stanford, who recently purchased a struggling concrete precast business and rebranded it as PreCast Florida. Despite the change in ownership and name, the company continued to grapple with high turnover and recruitment challenges, mainly due to a lack of competitive benefits for employees.

Seeking a solution, Moore suggested that PreCast Florida reach out to Local 435. Union representatives met with both management and workers at the company to explain the advantages of unionization. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with employees expressing shock at the benefits they stood to gain by joining the union.

“We decided to unionize to be able to provide better benefits to our employees,” says Brandi Stanford. “Lance Fouts came out to our business and met with us to discuss everything and worked out a contract with us at the table. He presented all of the information to our employees and answered all of their questions and concerns during the transition process.”

The CBA included key provisions like healthcare, a 401(k) retirement plan, paid vacation and holidays, and a wage increase to offset the cost of union dues. The company signed on with the local on June 1, officially bringing its workers into the union fold.

“The other individuals at Local 435 we’ve dealt with as the employer, especially Patricia, have been a wealth of knowledge and so incredibly helpful,” Stanford says. “They’ve held our hands through reporting and getting everything taken care of that needs to be done.”

PreCast Florida workers are already feeling the union’s impact. “They’re ready to start making doctor’s appointments,” Fout says, referencing the new access to affordable healthcare for workers at the shop.

PreCast Florida’s employees produce a range of concrete products, from light poles and picnic tables to construction castings and ornamental structures. Their work showcases the same level of skill and craftsmanship as their union brothers and sisters in the sheet metal industry.

In fact, PreCast Florida’s unionization is creating a positive ripple effect across both companies. Fout noted that Local 435 members at Southern State Duct Masters are now fabricating some of the metal forms used by PreCast workers to mold their concrete products, resulting in more work hours for union members at both shops.

While the concrete manufacturing industry may be outside the traditional scope of the sheet metal workers’ union, Fout says the campaign demonstrates the flexibility and adaptability of organized labor. “We’ve got a good relationship with the employer, a strong contract, and the employees are happy,” he concluded.

Stanford says she looks forward to continuing the company’s partnership with Local 435.

“The guys already know Lance, and they know he is there to support them should any issues ever arise where they need his help or the support of Local 435,” she says. “As the employer, we have a great relationship already with Local 435, open communication, and look forward to continuing this journey as a part of the union.” ▪

This article was written by Austin Keating and edited with interview notes and revisions by Jessica Kirby. The original version appeared in ACHR News and was reprinted and modified with permission. Visit achrnews.com to read the original story.