The U.S. Department of Labor defines apprenticeship as "training in occupations that require a wide and diverse range of skills and knowledge, as well as maturity and independence of judgment. Experience indicates that apprentices are more motivated, learn their jobs faster, attain craftworker status sooner and are more likely to become supervisors than workers trained in other ways." Apprenticeship is designed to provide workers entering an industry with comprehensive training, exposing them to the practical and theoretical aspects of the work required in a highly skilled occupation. The Brownfields Minority Worker Training Programs (BMWTP) administered by The Center to Protect Workers' Rights (CPWR) are structured to combine construction and environmental worker skills training program with Building and Construction Trades Department affiliated unions' apprenticeship. CPWR has BMWT programs in East Palo Alto, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Portland, OR; St. Paul, MN; and Salt Lake City, UT. Each program offers five components: Life Skills; Construction Skills; Environmental Worker Training; Job Development and Apprenticeship Job Placement; and Job Tracking. For September 1998 to August 1999 CPWR trained 270 people of color, 201 completed and placed 167 in jobs. Approximately 10% of the trainees were initially placed on Brownfields decontamination jobs. The remainder of placements were direct entry into one of the Building and Construction Trades unions' apprenticeship. The success of the first year's BMWT programs, all of which are interwoven with the unions' apprenticeship, demonstrates the value of having the opportunity for program participants to enter apprenticeable trades.
Learning Objectives: 1. At the conclusion of this panel discussion, participants will be able to define major components of a successful environmental jobs training program. 2. Participants will be able to assess the value of interacting with unions' apprenticeship which enhances crucial technical and marketable job skills and experience on the job
Keywords: Environment, Labor
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The Center to Protect Workers' Rights' Brownfields Minority Worker Training Program component
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.