About Us
Persevered since 1903
Local 5 is a union focused on fair pay, pension management, benefits, contractor negotiations,
and political action, especially in the context of insulation and thermography.
and political action, especially in the context of insulation and thermography.
Elected Officers and Staff
Since 1903, our union has stood for dignity on the job and strength through collective action. Local 5 protects what members earn—fair pay, benefits, and retirement security—while negotiating with contractors and advocating for policies that support our trades and our families.
Gene Clark
President
Tel: 626-815-9794
Felix Garcia
Vice President
Tel: 909.390.3401
awlocal5@gmail.com
Michael Patterson
Business Manager
Tel: 909.390.3401
mpatterson@gmail.com
Alfonso Ruiz
Business Agent
Tel: 909.390.3401
alfonsolocal5@icloud.com
Fredi Flores
Business Agent
Tel: 909.390.3401
Daniel Ruiz
Executive Board Member
Tel: 909.390.3401
Lupe Moreno
Trustees
Tel: 909.390.3401
Steve Carcano
Trustee
Tel: 626-815-9794
Our History Timeline
Founding & First Convention
Local No. 1 (now Pipe Coverers Union No. 1) in St. Louis invited other locals to affiliate through the newly formed National Building Trades Council of America.
The first convention was held July 7, 1903; the constitution was drafted and approved, by-laws adopted, A.J. Kennedy (Chicago) elected first president, and a $1.00 per-member assessment was set to cover convention expenses.
Formal Name Adopted & AFL Charter Issued
The organization formally adopted the name: National Association of Heat, Frost and General Insulators and Asbestos Workers of America.
September 22, 1904: the American Federation of Labor (AFL) issued an official charter designating the Asbestos Workers as a national union.
International Affiliation Recognized
October 31, 1910: AFL President Samuel Gompers signed the charter of affiliation for the international union, reflecting association with several Canadian locals.
Longest–Era Leadership
Joseph A. Mullaney, the second president, served 42 years from 1912 to 1954.
Joined AFL Building Trades Department
July 22, 1938: the union became affiliated with the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL.
World Wars Drive Demand for Skilled Insulators
Both World Wars created a construction boom and urgent demand for Insulator and Asbestos Worker craftsmanship.
During WWI, Asbestos Workers helped reconstruct U.S. naval forces, including all but one of the major vessels sunk at Pearl Harbor (1941).
Membership Peak & Expansion
After WWII, membership reached just over 23,000 as locals expanded apprenticeship programs, opened membership, and new locals were chartered—positioning the union for major infrastructure growth in the decades ahead.
Asbestos Exposure Medical Link Accepted; Stronger Protections
New evidence confirmed severe health outcomes from asbestos exposure. After years of dispute and denial—supported by union-backed research—the medical community gained worldwide acceptance of the asbestos–disease link.
Under the leadership of late General President Andrew Haas, union recommendations helped drive recognition and the establishment/enforcement of regulations to minimize exposure to carcinogens—protections that continue to influence safety practices today.
More Than a Century of Strength
With endurance through war, economic change, and shifting political climates, the union not only survived—it flourished; remaining one International Association strengthened by member dedication to excellence and trade union traditions.