The Opportunity to Begin Again

Michael Romero wasn’t looking for charity. He was looking for a chance.

After serving 10 years in the military – including in the Navy, Air Force Reserve, and Coast Guard – and later building his own consulting business, Romero thought he had built a stable life. Then the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. As customers stopped paying their bills, the residual income his business depended on disappeared almost overnight. To cover his expenses, he used his savings and sold his belongings. Eventually, Romero found himself homeless and living in a veterans’ transition home on Skid Row in Los Angeles.

At the same time, Romero had another reason to keep moving forward: his newborn son.

“That was the drive that made me figure out I need to figure something out because I got someone else depending on me,” says Romero.

Romero was searching for a way to rebuild his life. While staying at the veterans’ transition home, he saw information about LA Metro’s Room-to-Work program. A counselor encouraged him to apply. A part-time custodial position became the first step toward a career with LA Metro and a future in the TCU/IAM.

“I looked at it like it was just a stepping stone,” says Romero. “Just get in there with my experience, and I should be able to go somewhere else within Metro eventually – and it’s a union job.”

When Romero learned he had been accepted, he began to see possibilities again.

“It was just very exciting, and I was really happy,” says Romero. “It’s like a new adventure, new possibilities, and it really gave me a lot of hope again, because I was defeated.”

Today, Romero is a General Clerk III and a member of TCU/IAM Local 1315, having earned multiple promotions since joining Metro. Along the way, he regained financial stability and found something many workers spend a lifetime looking for: dignity, security, and a voice on the job through a union.

Launched in 2022, the Room-to-Work program was created to provide unhoused individuals, veterans, single parents, and others overcoming significant hardships with an opportunity to begin careers at LA Metro. Participants start in part-time positions represented by TCU/IAM Local 1315 before becoming eligible to move into full-time careers across nearly 90 different job classifications.

From Room-to-Work to a growing career: Romero has earned multiple promotions since beginning his journey at LA Metro.

Romero began in custodial work, but the opportunity he saw when he first applied quickly became a reality. He moved up through Metro and today works as a General Clerk III, handling payroll, timesheets, and other administrative responsibilities for TCU/IAM-represented employees.

The program has since grown from an initial class of 10 workers to nearly 90 participants, many of whom have moved into permanent jobs while earning family-supporting wages, comprehensive healthcare, retirement security, and the protection of a union contract.

According to TCU/IAM Local 1315 President and Legislative Representative Josh Ott, the program has exceeded expectations by focusing on opportunity rather than charity. Workers who may once have been overlooked have become some of Metro’s most dedicated employees, with retention rates significantly higher than those of traditional hires.

“From the beginning, the Local has worked alongside Metro to ensure participants receive the support they need – not only during hiring, but throughout their careers,” says Ott. “Union representatives assist new employees with orientation, benefits enrollment, safety equipment, and continue serving as mentors and advocates long after their first day on the job.”

For TCU/IAM Local 1315 Chairman Michael Winston, the program demonstrates that a union’s role extends far beyond negotiating contracts. It means helping workers build lasting careers and ensuring they never have to face challenges alone.

“Our job doesn’t end when someone gets hired. We make sure our members know their rights, have someone to turn to, and have every opportunity to succeed. Seeing these workers grow into proud union members has been one of the most rewarding parts of this program,” says Winston.

The Room-to-Work program was the vision of LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins, who challenged the agency to create more than employment opportunities. She envisioned a program capable of changing lives while strengthening the communities Metro serves.

The partnership has demonstrated that public transit can do more than move passengers – it can also create economic mobility.

“Transit has always been about connecting people. This program shows it can also connect people to opportunity. When someone earns a good union job, they’re able to support their family, build a future, and give back to their community – that’s a win for everyone,” says Josh Hartford, IAM Special Assistant to the International President for the Rail Division.

Participants who once relied on temporary jobs or public assistance now earn wages sufficient to support a family. Full-time employees receive medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement benefits, and a pension – benefits that have become increasingly rare in today’s workplaces.

Romero had never worked a union job before coming to Metro. During orientation, he began learning about the benefits and protections under the union contract.

“I heard about unions my whole life, but I never understood anything about them until working here at Metro,” says Romero. “It is the greatest thing in the world.”

For a father rebuilding from nothing, the healthcare coverage was especially meaningful. Romero says knowing that he and his son could go to the doctor or dentist without worrying about the cost removed a major source of stress.

But perhaps the most visible sign of how much his life has changed is where he and his son live today. Romero went from homelessness to a small studio apartment and, as his wages increased and he earned promotions, eventually moved into a home he says is roughly two-and-a-half times larger.

Union support every step of the way: TCU/IAM Local 1315 President and Legislative Representative Josh Ott, member Michael Romero, and Local 1315 Chairman Michael Winston

“Now he’s got room to play and run around,” says Romero. “The promotions and the pay structure are amazing, and I was getting raises I didn’t realize. Then I started looking at the union contract, and I was like, ‘Wow, that’s how this works – that’s amazing!’”

Working with TCU/IAM contracts and administrative matters in his current position has also given Romero a perspective on union representation he never had before.

“I know how it all works with having representation,” says Romero. “And it’s still kind of unbelievable. I’ve never been on this side before.”

For Romero, those benefits and protections meant stability and hope, and, most importantly, a future. He is now close to completing an associate’s degree and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a focus on ongoing professional growth and development.

Room-to-Work has shown that workforce development and community investment don’t have to be separate efforts. By bringing together Metro, the TCU/IAM, and local partners, the program has created opportunities for workers while helping build a stronger transit workforce.

Romero is already trying to extend that opportunity to others. When he encounters people experiencing homelessness or veterans struggling to get back on their feet, he tells them about the organizations and programs that helped him, including Room-to-Work.

“A lot of people don’t know that these things are available or where to even begin. That’s the hardest part,” says Romero. “So I always try to give them a starting point. If someone has questions or needs help figuring out where to start, I’m always willing to help however I can.”

“This is what the labor movement looks like at its best. A good union job can change the direction of someone’s life, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing through Room-to-Work. These workers aren’t just earning a paycheck – they’re gaining dignity, security, and a voice on the job,” says TCU/IAM National President Matt Hollis. “It’s a model that proves what’s possible when unions and employers work together to invest in working people and create stronger communities.”

Asked what he hopes other IAM and TCU/IAM members take away from his experience, Romero doesn’t hesitate.

“The union is a blessing more than they know,” says Romero. “Really, it really, really is. It is a blessing – truly.”

What began as an opportunity became a profession. What started as a job became a future. And what could have been another difficult chapter became proof that when working people are given an opportunity – and a union standing beside them – lives can change.