Operating Engineers Local 3
Organized Labor
Feb 2009
Myron Coleman, Excavator Operator, 30 years I came out of the combat engineers in the Army and started as a journeyman. When I first started in 1979, it was a lot different as far as minorities. I was one of the few. It was hard, but I stuck with it and then got the respect I deserved. I’m good at what I do. I like the satisfaction of feeling I'm accomplishing something. I’ve built everything from dams in Sacramento to light rail in San Francisco to the overpass in Oakland. I’ve done a lot of underground work, too. I love the underground; it is pretty cool. I get a lot of satisfaction out of showing the new kids what to do, the ones who listen and learn, keep busy. The others are left by the wayside. I keep pretty busy.