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Delivering High-Tech Training for American Workers
CWA’s training center in Washington, D.C. on March 2 graduated its first class of 15 technicians referred by the Prince Georges’ Workforce Services Corp., the union’s suburban Maryland community partner.
Upon completion of the full-time course, which includes basic cabling and A+ computer training, graduates took aptitude tests for associate computer technician jobs with Lucent Technologies. Later in the week they tested with Bell Atlantic for a variety of positions ranging from telecommunications technician to customer service representative.
“Congratulations to our graduates who have worked hard for eight weeks in this training and, as a result, will have greater opportunities to move into good union jobs in one of the fastest growing industries,” said Executive Vice President Larry Cohen, whose office oversees CWA apprenticeship and training initiatives.
The program has attracted a variety of participants seeking to establish a foothold or take a step up in the Washington area’s booming high-technology job market.
Chandra Williams, 41, a former customer relations analyst, is making a transition after 18 years with an insurance firm.
“I thought this would be a good chance to change careers,” Williams said. “Hopefully, I’ll get a job in the information technology field with one of the major companies.”
Kevin Lewis, 25, worked in customer service records maintenance at Andrews Air Force Base. Currently serving in the Air Force Reserve, Lewis hopes to land a job as a telecommunications technician, then continue his training with benefits he has earned under the G.I. bill. He plans to study for a Cisco Network Associate certification, to be offered by CWA in conjunction with Stanly Community College.
“I want to advance to LAN administrator, because my reserve has an opening,” Lewis said.
All students in the program are the beneficiaries of a $1.5 million grant given to CWA and its community partner by the Department of Labor to deliver training to ease the shortage of qualified American workers in the high-technology field. The grant is funded by fees American companies pay when they hire foreign workers who have been granted H1-B visas to come to the United States.
About half of the grant will be spent in the San Francisco Bay area, at CWA’s Fremont, Calif. center. A second class will begin at the Washington center in April.
Upon completion of the full-time course, which includes basic cabling and A+ computer training, graduates took aptitude tests for associate computer technician jobs with Lucent Technologies. Later in the week they tested with Bell Atlantic for a variety of positions ranging from telecommunications technician to customer service representative.
“Congratulations to our graduates who have worked hard for eight weeks in this training and, as a result, will have greater opportunities to move into good union jobs in one of the fastest growing industries,” said Executive Vice President Larry Cohen, whose office oversees CWA apprenticeship and training initiatives.
The program has attracted a variety of participants seeking to establish a foothold or take a step up in the Washington area’s booming high-technology job market.
Chandra Williams, 41, a former customer relations analyst, is making a transition after 18 years with an insurance firm.
“I thought this would be a good chance to change careers,” Williams said. “Hopefully, I’ll get a job in the information technology field with one of the major companies.”
Kevin Lewis, 25, worked in customer service records maintenance at Andrews Air Force Base. Currently serving in the Air Force Reserve, Lewis hopes to land a job as a telecommunications technician, then continue his training with benefits he has earned under the G.I. bill. He plans to study for a Cisco Network Associate certification, to be offered by CWA in conjunction with Stanly Community College.
“I want to advance to LAN administrator, because my reserve has an opening,” Lewis said.
All students in the program are the beneficiaries of a $1.5 million grant given to CWA and its community partner by the Department of Labor to deliver training to ease the shortage of qualified American workers in the high-technology field. The grant is funded by fees American companies pay when they hire foreign workers who have been granted H1-B visas to come to the United States.
About half of the grant will be spent in the San Francisco Bay area, at CWA’s Fremont, Calif. center. A second class will begin at the Washington center in April.