CAN YOU IMAGINE YOURSELF BEING A CONSTRUCTION WORKER?

(Article published in HWW Oct 2007)

Health Care – Construction – Automotive Maintenance – Commercial Driving – Science and Technology – Aviation – Manufacturing

A study by the Center for an Urban Future points to these industries as great opportunities for ambitious job seekers in the near future. Millions of skilled workers in these industries will be retiring. Employees will be needed.

Jobs available to low skilled individuals such as food service and retail will grow as well, But as the study says “with a few exceptions, they don’t offer real career opportunities.” Whereas industries such as health care, construction and so on offer not only job growth and modest entry requirements but also opportunities for career advancement.

In 2005, Mayor Bloomberg set up a Commission on Construction Opportunity assigned to be sure that groups under-represented in the construction workforce – including non whites and women—would have access to all the new jobs that are expected.

Two years later, good training opportunities in this field are still limited and here are two of them.

“NEW” OPENS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN

A big sign over the door of the converted Chelsea firehouse says “We’re looking for a few good women. The average salary in the construction trades in $53,000. Need we say more!”

This is headquarters of NEW, which stands for “non-traditional employment for women.” It’s a program that gives women a chance to break into fields long dominated by men. Blue Collar Prep, a free six-week course, prepares them to work in construction trades as carpenter, electrician, plumber and painter as well as other blue collar jobs in public utilities and transportation. After the six-week course, they are placed in union-sponsored paid apprenticeships. There’s also a part-time evening course for women who are employed.

Nicole “Coley” Favours graduated from the course and moved into an apprenticeship in plumbing as well as servicing burners, boilers and air conditioning units. “New York City is a great city for all these skills,” she says, “but I now know I can get a job anywhere in the world.”

Angela Olszewski ‘s job selling tennis permits for the city Department of Parks and Recreation ended as fall arrived. “I took my layoff and went straight to NEW.” She knew from the start she wanted to b e in a finishing trade like setting tile or painting rather than work that wouldn’t show like plumbing. “When I walk away, the work that I do will show,” she says – as indeed it does at 7 World Trade Center.

Featured on New York 1 as New Yorkers of the Week, NEW staff members were saluted this year by Mayor Michael Bloomberg: “Construction pays well, and people respect construction workers. You can see what they are doing; they can see they are building a city; they are building a future for all of us.”

Students must be at least 18 and have a GED or high school diploma.

If you’re interested, you should attend an Information Session at NEW’s headquarters at 243 West 20th Street in Manhattan. For information or to sign up for a session, call
212 627 6252 or click on www.new-nyc.org

PROJECT H.I.R.E. AT BRONX COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Project H.I.R.E. at Bronx Community College is a 20-week full-time course in building trades and property maintenance. Students build a duplex apartment and, in the process of building it, they learn plumbing, carpentry, electrical wiring, boiler operations, painting, tiling and sheet rock installation plus job search skills. When the next cycle of classes begins, students tear down the apartment (thus learning demolition skills) and start work building a new apartment. Students are given free job placement help when their training is finished.

The course is open to New York City low-income residents, both men and women, between 18 and 60. To qualify, you need to be physically strong enough to do heavy work, and you need to be willing to study for the GED if you don’t have one.

The next series of classes begins in November. Classes meet Monday through Friday from 8 am to 3 pm. For information call (718) 289 5589 or apply in person Monday through Thursday from noon to 3:00 pm at Project H.I.R.E/Bronx Community College, Gould Residence Hall, 181st St. and University Avenue, Room 211.

HOW ABOUT A CAREER IN CABLE INSTALLATION?

Brooklyn Networks is a free, full time, 5-week hands-on training program to help low-income men and women get started in a career in the field of network cable installation. Cable Technicians install the lines that run behind walls and ceilings that are hooked up to computers, telephones, security systems, A/V Equipment and broadcast cable. After the training Brooklyn Networks will place you in a job where the average starting pay is $12 an hour.

Of all the graduates in last year’s classes, 90% - 100% passed their certification exam, and 85% have begun work in the field.

To be eligible, applicants must be 21 or older, live in New York City, have a valid NY State driver’s license, pass a drug test, and be able to lift 70 lbs.

Applicants will be given a reading and math test at the orientation. For more information – or if you would like Brooklyn Networks to come to your organization to speak about the program — call Erica Plasse at 718-237-2017 x 149.