It is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to a Local 21 giant — John Mukhar. John has served in many capacities at Local 21, most recently as San Jose’s Association of Engineers and Architects President and Local 21 Executive Vice President. To send him off on a high note, Local 21 threw John a farewell party August 6, which was attended by current and retired Local 21 leaders, Local 21 Staff and Executive Committee Members, and South Bay labor leaders and elected officials.
John was an engineer with the City of San Jose for 24 years before taking a job with Palo Alto this month. He joined the Association of Engineers and Architects Board in 2004, and John served as 2nd Vice President, then as president from 2007 through this year. He was on every AEA MOU Bargaining team since AEA affiliated with Local 21, and negotiated with the City of San Jose during some of the most contentious bargaining, including pension reform and Measure B. John served on Local 21’s Executive Committee, two terms as Vice President for Membership and Organizing, two terms as Executive Vice President, and has strongly supported Local 21’s initiatives over the past decade. He’s been a rally attendee, spokesperson, tireless campaign volunteer, energetic membership recruiter, patient mediator, motivating mentor, inspiring professor and dear friend.
John will continue to teach undergraduate and graduate engineering courses at San Jose State University. He resides in San Jose with his wife, two children, the family’s two Fiats and two pet dogs.
John Mukhar catches up with CAMP Board Member Linden Skjeie and former TAEA President Franceen Weisert-Anderson.
