Employees of Pevik Construction in Madera have voted to join the Iron Workers Union. Photo by Jason Richard on unsplash.com.

Iron Workers at Pevik Construction in Madera voted to join a union Wednesday.

A total of 15 employees of the structural steel fabricator were eligible to vote to join Iron Workers Local 155, part of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers.

A total of 13 ballots were returned to the National Labor Relations Board for the tally Wednesday. Eight voted for representation. Five voted against joining the union.

Ironworker Victory!

Ironworkers at Pevik Construction in Madera, California have WON their union election after voting UNION YES.

Ready to organize your workplace? Visit https://t.co/VkGiUM2icM #1u #ironworker #union pic.twitter.com/ZDzB23iqtk

— Ironworkers Organizing ✊ (@IWOrganizing) July 27, 2022

The Iron Workers union represents more than 120,000 members in North America. The local chapter’s territory spans from Ceres to the north, Bakersfield to the south and west to the Central Coast. It has about 800 members.

Pablo Villagrana, president of Iron Workers Union Local 155, said Thursday he has spoken to a few of the workers since the successful election. They look forward to the next step — sitting down with their employer and negotiating a labor contract.

Villagrana said they are looking for health insurance coverage, a pension plan and wage increases.

Pevik Construction Owner and CEO Stefan Mutavdzic declined to comment on the election.

Villagrana said he expects to see more workers filing for union representation in the near future.

“If the right message keeps going out, it’s going to be something that’s going to change people’s lives and our economy in the Central Valley,” Villagrana said.

He said this particular vote to unionize was unique as it is the first time Iron Workers Local 155 has been part of a campaign to represent iron workers in the Fresno/Madera area.

“I’m very happy for those iron workers,” Villagrana said.