IN an attempt to create a more accountable and ethical government, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa appointed FilAm Joseph Aredas in 2005 as one of the six candidates to the City’s Board of Airport Commissioners.
The seven-member Board of Airport Commissioners governs Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA).
LAWA is responsible for the formulation of airport policy and regulations.
"In selecting my team, I looked for people who brought with them a passion for public service, the highest ethical standards, a commitment to aviation security and safety and a shared view that we must expand our regional aviation system rather than relying on LAX alone," said Mayor Villaraigosa. "I am pleased that the best and the brightest have agreed to serve our city and captain one of our region’s most important economic engines."
The 67-year-old is a long time champion for labor rights.
Aredas began his career in 1967 at the MGM machine shop as a member of the former Cinetechnicians Union Local No. 789 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States and Canada (IATSE)
He quickly moved up the ranks of the union. In 1980, he was appointed as the Assistant Business Representative of IATSE Local No. 695.
He held the position for seven years before moving on to become the Vice President of Labor Relations at the Consolidated Film Industries (CFI), a Hollywood motion picture film-processing laboratory.
By 1997, he left to become the Chief Administrative Officer at CFI’s Contract Services Administration Trust Fund.
His hard work continued to pay off.
IATSE President Thomas C. Short recognized his work and appointed Aredas to serve as the International Representative-in-Charge of the union’s West Coast Office in Los Angeles.
Aredas served as Vice President of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, as well as a member of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union (HERE); International Association of Machinists (IAM); United Aerospace Workers (UAW); and since 1967 the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes (IATSE).
He also serves on a number of boards including the Board of Directors of the Entertainment Industry Development Corporation (EIDC); Motion Picture and Television Fund; Entertainment Industry Foundation; and the California Film Commission.
Upon his retirement from IATSE, International President Thomas C. Short said
"Joe Aredas is a man trusted, respected and admired by everyone in the entertainment industry," said Short. "He has been a friend to me for 30 years and has helped grow the Hollywood Locals to the 30,000 members we have today. His influence on this union will be felt for generations to come."
Aredas is in the third year of his five-year-term at LAWA.
(www.asianjournal.com)
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