U.S. Department of Labor Awards UWUA $5 Million for Training Programs
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Recovery Act Partnership Grant to Open Career Pathways in Green Industries U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis announced today that the Utility Workers Union of America will receive $4,993,922 as part of the Energy Training Partnership program of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. "Our outstanding award recipients were selected because their proposed projects will connect workers to career pathways in green industries and occupations through diverse partnerships," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This grant is an affirmation of our commitment to ensure that the next generation of utility workers includes everyone and that green jobs are good union jobs," said UWUA President Michael Langford. "We're rolling up our sleeves and getting down to work to put people back to work." The $5 million grant will cover New Jersey Counties: Warren, Union, Sussex, Morris, Middlesex, and Bergen; Massachusetts Counties: Suffolk, Norfolk, and Plymouth; California Counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside. The UWUA will be partnering with employers, public sector agencies, and community organizations to implement the Green Skills = Green Jobs project to provide safety, technical and green skills training to displaced workers, older youth, under-employed and disadvantaged adults with an emphasis on the recruitment of women and minorities, and incumbent workers, including those at risk of losing their jobs. This training, combined with support, placement and retention services will enable these workers to obtain or retain employment as gas, water or electrical utility workers and will enable these industries to remain competitive as they strive to meet new energy efficiency and conservation requirements. Each of the utility companies partnering on this project has conducted internal analyses to determine where they anticipate openings for workers in jobs related to energy efficiency, conservation or the increasing role of renewable sources of energy over the next two years. Some have also identified incumbent workers who need new "green" knowledge and skills. UWUA and its project partners will employ recruitment, assessment, support, training, placement and retention strategies proven to address the varied needs of the different project employers and participants. After completion, new entrants will continue into a specific occupational training program. Each of these programs, including the two technician programs to be developed and registered as apprenticeships in Massachusetts, will employ or build upon existing curriculum and provide participants with recognized certifications, licenses and/or other credentials. Training programs for most of the incumbent workers are designed to upgrade the knowledge and skills of these workers, introduce them to new practices to improve their employability within the industry and to meet employers' needs for workers to understand conservation, energy efficiency and safety within a changing work environment. As one of the grant partners - the UWUA's Power for America Training Trust will work closely with employers to oversee and ensure all incumbent worker training meets and exceeds industry standards. The UWUA represents 50,000 workers in the utility and related industries across the U.S. The UWUA established the Power for America Training Trust in 2009 to connect workers with the highest quality training available to meet the needs of both industry, and the new global marketplace. |
