By: Brendan Spiegel

When Rodrigo Garcia graduated from high school, he knew exactly what he wanted to do. He wanted to work in construction—and, eventually, join the union. But like many young workers trying to break into the trades, Garcia wasn't sure how to get there.

"I kept hearing, 'It's hard to get into the union. It's hard to get into the union,'" he recalled.

So instead, the Staten Island native spent nearly eight years working non-union construction jobs, taking whatever work he could find to support his growing family.

At first, he says, he didn't realize how different the experience could be.

Starting out as a general laborer making about $18 an hour, Garcia accepted assignments without questioning whether he had the proper training or certifications.

"I wasn't educated on my rights," he said. "They would take advantage of these kinds of things."

On one project, Garcia says he was told to help erect scaffolding nearly 10 stories in the air—even though he lacked the required training and wasn't provided with a safety harness.

"I knew what we were doing wasn't right," he said. "I'm over here like, 'Where's my harness? Where's the PPE I'm required to have?'"

Calling in sick could also put his job at risk.

"If you call out again, we're going to have to write you up or find somebody else," Garcia remembers being told.

At the time, he had little choice. Making roughly $650 a week, Garcia was trying to support a young daughter while paying rent in one of the country's most expensive cities. Some weeks there wasn't enough work because of weather or slow business, leaving him scrambling to cover basic expenses.

"There were times where I couldn't even buy diapers or formula," he said.

Despite the challenges, Garcia never gave up on his original goal of joining the union.

A friend encouraged him to enroll in BuildingWorks, a pre-apprenticeship program that helps prepare New Yorkers for careers in the union trades. Garcia initially turned down the opportunity because he couldn't afford to take four weeks away from work.

Two years later, with the support of his wife, he decided to make the leap.

"I knew I had to make the sacrifice in order to provide a better life," he said.

After completing BuildingWorks, Garcia entered the New York City District Council of Carpenters apprenticeship program. Almost immediately, he noticed the difference. Instead of being expected to perform unfamiliar work without training, supervisors first wanted to know whether he had the proper certifications. If he didn't, the union helped him earn them.

Safety professionals were present on the jobsites. Workers were expected to follow established procedures. For the first time, Garcia says, he felt appreciated.

"I know I'm treated well," he said. "I'm respected."

Four years later, Garcia graduated from the apprenticeship program as a member of High-Rise Concrete Carpenters Local 212 and received a Golden Hammer Award at graduation.

Today, he and his wife are raising four children on Staten Island. Instead of worrying about making rent or paying for medical care, Garcia says they now have the stability to think about the future. The union's wages and health insurance have allowed his family to see high-quality doctors, and he hopes to buy a home in the coming years.

"Knowing that I'm able to provide comfortably for my family, knowing that I don't have to stress about my finances anymore... it makes me feel good," he said.

Garcia hopes to spend many more years as a union carpenter. But he also wants to help others find the same path he did.

Whenever he sees young people working non-union jobs, he tells them about the apprenticeship programs and encourages them to apply.

"What are you waiting for?" he asks them. "I'm living proof," Garcia said. "The union actually does wonders."