Dario Cardenas and Jasmin Cardenas

00:02 Let me know what is a deal Carolina's weather in Columbia.

00:17 Hey mija, just me and Mister interests and oh.

00:22 Marshall cinco in Chicago

00:31 My name is Jasmine Kevin us. I'm 42 years old. Today is Thursday, March 5th 2020. We are in Chicago, Illinois and I am interviewing my dad daddy look at it us or as they would say on the worksite Dario Cardenas Papi. I wanted to invite you here because your story is important not only to me, but I really think that the world needs to hear your story because you are an important immigrants that arrived at this country so many years ago and help to beautify and create the city of Chicago that we have today. So, could you tell us puppy about

01:15 When you came and where you came from when you emigrated to Chicago or could come as smart as 123 1968 I come from Columbia.

01:30 And I come to Chicago I come to Miami, Chicago.

01:35 She's then I live in Chicago.

01:40 Great, and when you move to Chicago you started working. Can you tell me a little bit about how you started working assembling compressor? And then from there? I moved to a new Factory doing.

02:04 Are punch presses industrial mechanic jobs and then and then I become a foreman.

02:16 And for that I

02:19 I quit that job and I went to teletype we will make until it types and in Skokie.

02:28 And from there, I I apply for the Kia playing in the union for electricians is Carlos from Columbia. I want to be an electrician in Chicago and then

02:40 Finally after many years or years because I say I didn't speak enough English then I I I was able to start to work in the union but sassa.

02:56 They used to give me a temporary temporary member of the Union is witches real difficult and took me 14 years to become a 40 and a member of the Union Heroes.

03:17 And and I'm working many buildings man evil lives in Chicago big buildings in this I specialize in big pipe big wire B cables a big tree scares, and I'm working at O'Hare.

03:37 Where can I

03:40 And that building MP5 the International Airport Building A United Center.

03:53 You're nice and and then working at McCormick Place, you know, NH built it in this building. We spend 2 or 3 years building.

04:04 Build also 911

04:09 OZO build

04:13 And Northwestern Memorial Hospital 3 years.

04:18 In the beginning, I work in a in the construction of Truman Truman College and and then I move to

04:29 I want to see I missed a future that you helped to salvage some of the most beautiful parts of this building up in the Preston Bradley Hall those big gorgeous lighting fixture. Will you tell us about that 73-74 I reading it in the newspaper. They work at are down there at Chicago Public Library Chris to be with now the Chicago Town Center.

05:03 They going to tear this down pick up. The building was in bad shape roof with a begin boiler is not working and then I went to 22 Washington. He got three million dollars to work. Can I build it while I was there? They try to say they're beautiful and they they opposed to tear down the building as well when the mayor went to the Russians and he he got your million dollars. He he he contract passion passion was a big contractor in Chicago in and they suck to work than I used to work with Madame accompaniment Modern Electric and Adam and I come to it. They sent me here after work in the building the cultural center. And what's up?

06:01 What's an adventure because

06:05 Hey, what's the real dirty job, but me to working to get Pipes big pipes for the LG mini to get the pipes up and it was I used to get like it real African American. How did this fall?

06:35 Looking black puppy black real life and I keep telling the guy that this brakes were not good because it was it was everything. I tried to introduce things and they don't work finally.

06:53 They transferred me to do other things then and then I ended up fixing the how you call the dumb the dumb the dumb. Yeah, I rebuilt all electric dump bed rebuild the Dominator available electrical electrical and then and a big room. I reveal all the lies the lamps, you know taken down changed all the fires clean it out. So nice. When you paint and I just really making it like you to tell me that the Forman on that job or the boss that you had told you to take them down and Chuck them to throw them out, but you started cleaning them up and then

07:43 It was that he wasn't listening to you anyway, and then he was he had the Spanish general for my Spanish if you don't have money you want to give me a hard time.

08:07 Yeah, I remember many stories about how hard it was for you to do. I wish I wish I was going to take and cautious about electrical at night and I got out of here a good plumber. I tell if Lumber is I can't go home and like this and I convinced him to give me a shower going to make a shower in the basement and I can take a shower before they get out and it probably was was no hot water showers in Negril cold water to get all this dust out. How are you? All right, you can take a shower before you head to go to your electrical classes so that you could get into the union and I went to school and here and here and downtown who they teach they give courses, you know and different.

09:07 Repeat courses UIUC courses and Dad about motor controls IDP questions about lighting about estimating about many things in this this Foreman was so nice to the school asked me for his name and they send my diplomas to him and I didn't know I you there night. I finish the course today. I went back to the school and it's what you don't give me the why you going to send me the diplomacy? I will send that you send it to your foreman and I asked him. Do you have my diploma is the school said they sent it to you. So now I don't have anything and one day I got so mad I went in he was not in his desk and I went to look at his dad's day. I went with it might be plumber plumbers were there and and they do that because they think that they thought that the companies usually they give a reward to going to take it like a bonus too too stressed electrician.

10:07 Try to better since Alvin and then I'll let you know my know this guy. He hates I do that and I have to steal my own because you don't give it to me about anyway, I managed to supporters. Do you know to to kick, you know not to fight with him and and you will finish this for finish this job and I finished what weather what was difficult and then I moved to a different jobs with Madame. I want to ask you about this because I might the my oldest recollection after I was born in 1978 was it you would talked about working on the the Sears Tower or you and I work and show how

11:01 Icev any I was a new guy they sent it to work with a guy and old man who was up to the group guy and everybody was just scare him by I don't know he was real nice to me. And you know George deloney. I was in Italian guy and he was really nice to me and I just talked to the word for him and then he told me one day went well.

11:26 I got a job for you. And I I managed to get another friend of mine with him with me and this job and he said you guys going to start to do this and you got to send me a big Saloon and then 28th floor and just you have to put this. I don't know what this Doc's word for anyone big dog's butt on the floor, but somebody slapped a person already and I said to take my measurements to to to to continue the job and I found these things were born not right but it's not straight. I did like air ducts puppy dogs for parole the cables who used to be because most of the computers. Okay. I didn't know there was going to be a computer that baby is going to be a computer room here. And what happened? I told him that night like your next day. It came and told him we can continue that because that's based diet they started

12:26 It could nice is a straight crooked and they said it was waiting for you to say that and I know that interest rate. Well, we put all this ducks and and then they have to become to stuff to put the floor and what's what's wrong guys who put that looks like a four or six big huge panels for and Rams for just for the computer room. Big pan has four hundred amp CH no 6 6 panels and then he says you going to drink this out. It was a big cables. I didn't I didn't I never spent that he going to give me that job and I I did it was you don't finish trimming all this cables and then we have the wrong.

13:23 Pipes and cables through each machine. Machines were so heavy it from the computer room was composed of different kind of machines different machines. Every machine was made from different companies and they were heavy I can you don't believe was real heavy and it was huge and a minute to compare to the computers. Yes, they will see what she would like to have a refrigerator. You know, what big for just a little part of the computer. It was like a 20 seconds. Like that who compose a computer in these machine weights.

14:06 Thousand pounds to thousand pounds real heavy to move around we have to make sure because that's the Flores SF and legs got to make sure all the floor was put in before the movie these things because they fell I can kill you. If so heavy and eventually some people were killed with the with us Merchants moving those machines around anyway,

14:31 Bed bed and then every machine is composed the power for the Cat every machine was usually

14:40 Hundred hundred 25 amp 150 amps 208 amps with a lot of power for 140 machine today. You're not in and the whole computer room just a computer room. What's half of the building have headphone Jacks was about to invent invented and then there was a bunch of woman at with the keypunch machines. They they they they they are the cars because this computer was work with some cars in color.

15:21 Are they call it the color? I remember so the women are pushing. I heard that this computer was good enough just to take their payroll of the sheriff's the other ships company. They did they were thinking that they need.

15:46 To do a computer to do all day by a merchandising stock. You're not funny 30 years later home. Anyway. Yeah, we we work and also that come from that computer room that computer use different electricity. They would have to download it working for Forsyth 400 Cycles. We have to install a huge rectifier rectifier the electricity for 60 Cycles to four hundred Cycles. So heavy

16:42 Anyway, I've a.m.

16:45 After we finish the computer room I got

16:51 How to remember I think I got laid off and I went to a different guy that was that that that construction of the Sears Tower was that three companies with the construction and there's something higher with different three different companies because the job was so big which one you went to after that. Was it from there. I went to Madame Madeline electric also, that's when you would have worked around after work and I work and I want to know the computer room way our West little computer room and then I work an internment College in Front Royal color. They sent me to the ER

17:39 I don't remember but I think you you weren't on the first McCormick center right on the second day for Spencer workout. Many many times in McCormick Place. I will say

18:03 2 years on right at three years on our two years, you know different different times. My name is there. I know I love that your name is Emma call me was a day of the first bill it when I when I stuck to work and there was already at first building. The first building was already have that little black one that's in in and when when when I come to Chicago that building was was was a fire in there and for what's on fire in that building Pecos song boxes and stuff for the from the I don't know if something got it got blown up and and in in the beams don't know the beans bands is Dan since that time all the builders did the Kohl's in the oldest buildings in Chicago.

19:01 Hopthru be all there. Are they still building? It has to be sprayed with son insulation to prevent from bending from The Acacia fire from this beams and columns to vent.

19:20 I love that your name is on that building puppy walk in and I show everyone every time I go to the McCormick Convention Center.

19:27 Puppy's name on the wall with all the union workers to help build. It's a big big big huge huge be grown its position room and in Abyss kind of kind of the basement and we annoying guy at me. We build a wall and Mission washing you've still got bills and we have to get formula to help this because it was too much work, but it was a big accomplishment. You know that you and John Walsh. I loved meeting John Walsh. I thought that was cool that you and John were friends outside of work that room. Room.

20:15 I like it. I don't remember something. You said 11 or 13 feet?

20:20 White, you know the beans for coffee Cocina Caliente in the bathroom. And in in in the beans are like this like a big bruise from when Calumet one side 30 on the other side. I don't remember how many feet butt is huge. Anyway from the guy from my call me I went to I where I work at my call me and let me know I can you know, how many times but that

20:53 I need 113. Skip Big Freedia Roman in Mccormick and electricity coming from, and then from there. We we're apart you're always separate two different polygons to a different part of the building this one the big Power command switches and types of this area the building and and they said and this area is a big 3 scary girl receiving those the electricity and spraying around, you know with smaller pipes. And from there I went to two

21:47 I want time the last time I worked out. I think I went to United Center and United Center. I built.

21:57 Toastery scares in the United Center one. Wait a minute one.

22:02 I remember no, I don't built one big building one bill big gas ResCare in the basement. And then I went to Bill all this was Garrison. All the floors is it was so big. I wish I could call you went off. No window nothing. It was funny because I I used to I used to getting they've been with them. Equipment at a spot and then I would come with me with my tools and everything with my partner. I forgot I was trying to remember the guy.

22:38 What's the guy who used to be a tool and die maker and he he was not he was not a drill chart, but he would do what I tell him to do in and he was, he didn't get mad when I got mad. And what happened is something I was going to I would come and it puts on.

22:59 Chael Sonnen in the ceiling and the floor and I I drop around in area and plastic that way they win don't kill us at lunch time to protect yourself. I put a heater electric heater. You're a little bit because I was dropping the Universe. I remember being in this high-rises and 30 South Florida coming in the morning to do with the Shoal and it's in a broom to you know, that roof to start to report. It was real bad.

23:57 Then I will spend like him. I don't remember the 18 or 20 Winter's outside. Well sometimes

24:07 I was saying that when that but sometimes inside but cold cold Colombian freezing his butt is what happens when you have to use it and everything you have used to use your hat. I learn to do the rest myself. I spend I don't know between 3 and $500 for my ride, We would go to that special store when I would buy you those six packs and Mommy would buy you those overalls. When are the Bulls $150 / / 420 and then when you ended up at a piano that sure was a $20 to $30 and then they wonder where everything was everything. Okay. Are you I go to work was $500 that birthday America. They were too cheap to spend.

25:07 I learn to keep working Acer Compass not to not to go to Fiesta to go to slow that way. You don't sweat because he you sweat when you working outside all goes as bad as your assistant, you know from the seven in the morning to coffee time coffee time to lunch time without going to the shed to warm it up. Most of the guys have to work a little bit and go to the shed to work without the mustache versus Progressive.

26:06 Other for your mouth is it's it's moist.

26:15 Bobby tell me about the United Center in the fact that you guys had a safety at like you've completed the job and you didn't have an exit you guys were going to have a record of how I don't remember how many days on the job without a little accident United Center, you know, the Ironworkers, you know, that's that building is a special that goes from one side to another is like a big bridge to look at 2 to put the roof on it and they connect everything. This guy is the deciding workers were working and top of those being said there weren't crying inside the building on North Grand outside the building and they bring the two beams and put them together and decided workers that work and what kind of type of the top of the BMI be there to put the screws to put the ball to the nuts and well when they finish up

27:15 Proof that there was a party and then they give they were so happy because was no accidents and there was no accident and then after the room was on and then and then lot of electricity were done and then they can the drywallers in the Carpenters and all those people and they they just have to fall off.

27:49 SSS tonic on my walk down the United terminal and I see those squiggly lights. Okay. I don't work in that I work in there. You're not at work and I work in a Nano hair but I work can an H&R building. I work in the end the end and expansion when they went where they where they lived with. No T5 is the International Airport Terminal what's going on? I was working in a t and an additional building was they weren't who Supply their condition that the electricity and all through that to those buildings to other buildings. They went. What's the weather channel building and we make another one and that was a big job. I spend the other maybe I don't know two years.

28:46 And then after we've finished United Center, I went to do all those jobs you and I work at working and it's generator one of these generators the garbage incinerator in Chicago on Clybourn. And and then I then I was working in in O'Hare. I work in O'Hare so, you know what it is to bridge where you going to Expressway. It was only one breach another bridge. I wasn't that brace to wear Bill all that bridge and then I work and in the end.

29:24 And I International Day International you don't believe how many conveyors are there for the for the baggage people don't need any imagine. That's it. That's a big thing is it's a huge automatic. Do you know all this ice who control their backs when they put that little stand they don't think Santa Anna and the bag is from high school read that and send that dislike his big Express 1035 was put in all the big big pipes and big cables. I was but I did I didn't work too much and I'm on a motorcycle work. Morus, Alba.

30:24 Big tables for 3 and 1/2 inch and a half a million cables in a 500,000 recolor.

30:37 And I also working with John Welch. We we did 911. He was a general foreman and I was performing. Yeah, it was a difficult job because the construction with all the times the electrician's the plumbers and pipefitters and we get together and with you know, every week we get together and we can discuss what we have to do and we helped each other, but now lately they they they don't care. They just keep the general keep just pushing and pushing and everyone to come and put the things how they may be like in the way or the other guys it was difficult and what happened with 911 911 the entrance was supposed to be like a knife it and ended up being 7ft because everybody put their pipes run away together.

31:37 The firefighters that the plumbers the electrician don't have no place to put a penny weigh you down down down and then I preserve its computers when they brought I think they bought it in Canada. They don't work for 2 years. Love you the importance of working together is something that's that I learned from you the importance of thinking before you act like you have to look a Mite many times. Did Prince have wronged, you know the prince and you have to discuss it with the paper is going on with different different race, or we got this pipe going to see this. You know, I got 25 going this way. Like I said, I got so many people in this world those big dog go in here and we have to accommodate you. You know, you're going to talk and you don't talk to each other.

32:37 And when did I get in the customer pick us? And there's this guy was the city working separately from Local 134 IBEW.

33:01 134 when did you retired? You? Remember what your papa to 2205 most 40 years. Are you starting 73?

33:20 Wow, 73 that's that's that's incredible. Puppy 8393 as 783 93 2003. So 30 32 years daughter 3036 year.

33:38 I think that the story is I'm done. Thank you for all of The Incredibles today. I took the picture and it never occurred to me to take picture all this all this working with you know, my work they like this for my so they came and took pictures MN son of the magazines. I think they they can't I don't remember it, So they say they put in somebody else's when you would like something you do. You put the effort you put the extra effort and they become good at it. And most of the guys they don't like to know that's pipes of heavy. It says it's rough work in in in the machine's too bad these pipes. Are they not a serious you have to you have to get to another machine and and these vendors are

34:38 You know our real powerful thinks one of your band one of these pipes you can accept you can you can change it? You can't you can you can on bended the most iconic buildings puppy right? Is it when you know what you'll realize, you know you I know that time now is like

35:01 And I say it one building. I work in here around here Riverside Plaza Tower and that building it was so nice the apartments I went to buy one of those apartments and it was $35,000. It would cost me I told I told your mom that I want advice why you going to put the money at their offense, you know, if it wasn't it was a nice building 36 I think was $36,000.

35:52 And I was sitting right in front of

35:56 Is rayon inside the Marriott Hotel?

36:10 Well, I'm happy you were born in the mountains of Columbia. Can you tell if I was born in one Colonia and I love that they still have a little piece of land that there is hard to hold on it, But Cynthia Restrepo Darian shelter Pollo Loco in Kalamazoo Lago Vista Circle in Dallas area.

36:50 Play my Fantastical loc a Mexican style dress if you see a spot at Los Gringos Ikea in Chicago. Can you infect which I had when I was in a domino record what I should get up as a sister African Oak area of a rhombus.

37:45 El hombre Vale por mucho Mas solo que pasa

37:50 Porque es importante is extinguished.