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New Jersey Local Puts Youth on Fast Track
Only one in 20 workers ages 16-24 is a union member, according the U.S. Department of Labor. One CWA local in New Jersey, however, is working to counter that statistic by offering high school students counseling and training to qualify for CWA apprenticeships, which will, in turn, lead to CWA jobs in information technology. The Local 1031 program is called CWA Transition to Apprenticeship, or CWATAP.
In January 1998, local Secretary Denice Hunt responded to a letter from Mike Merrill, head of the state AFL-CIO, asking local unions to contact him if they were interested in applying for a TAP grant from the New Jersey Department of Education. Realizing the potential to help young people, generate new CWA members and provide an opportunity for current members to upgrade their skills, Hunt ran the idea past Local 1031 President Abby Demel-Brown.
The program would target kids who were most likely not college bound, who needed help and guidance to get a foothold in the job market. They would receive counseling in school, mentoring in math, English and computer skills and an introduction to CWA while still in the 11th and 12th grades. They would qualify for CWA apprenticeships to become a computer applications or computer support specialist.
Demel-Brown saw the possibilities, Hunt explained: "What it does for the future is great. What it does for communities — they will be seeing labor do positive things."
Hunt attended a meeting with representatives of about 20 unions also applying for grants. Many, like the Carpenters, Iron Workers and Culinary Workers, already had apprenticeships in place that transition programs could feed into. The CWA local, to qualify, would have to develop not only a transition program, but an IT apprenticeship to accept graduates.
"It was very hard in the beginning," Hunt said. "If we had not had the support of our Public Worker Vice President Brooks Sunkett, and District 1 Vice President Larry Mancino, we would have had to bail out a long time ago."
With research, guidance and staff support from District 1 and the national union, Local 1031 wrote a proposal and qualified for the first year of state funding that Hunt said will total about $1.5 million over five years.
With Hunt as program director, the local hired a full-time coordinator, Mary Ann Schierholt, and set up a CWATAP office and phone line at local headquarters in Monmouth Junction. They formed a consortium of employers, high schools and training providers, with committees in North and South Jersey, to develop pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship curricula.
They’ve talked to eight public colleges in the state and public libraries where the local represents administrative, clerical and professional employees. Hunt said all have been encouraging, particularly the College of New Jersey in Mercer County, William Paterson University in Passaic County and Montclair University in Essex County.
"These schools have already agreed to help us provide training and to employ some of the graduates from the program," Hunt said.
With more than 80 students signed up, the program is gearing up for participation in a state AFL-CIO job fair this spring.
"The kids are really jumping at this opportunity," said Schierholt, who has made presentations in high schools. "I’m seeing kids who are really concerned about their futures."
Schierholt, who will soon drop back to a consulting role, said CWATAP has hired two new full-time staff. Pamela Sapienza, as director, will be working with employers to develop apprenticeships and job opportunities, and Don Shelton will become the program’s high school liaison.
With assistance from Paul Anderson, CWA director of apprenticeship, benefits and employment, and Steve Hill, CWA employment center and apprenticeship administrator, CWATAP is in the process of acquiring approval for its computer support specialist and computer applications specialist certifications, Schierholt said, and is seeking renewal of its funding for a second year.
The program "has great potential, and it is impressive that a local would take on such a large project," said Yvette Herrera, assistant to Executive Vice President Larry Cohen, whose office has responsibility for CWA’s education and training programs.
Anderson said CWATAP apprenticeships may eventually dovetail with apprenticeship programs CWA is in the process of developing with CISCO Systems, the nation’s largest provider of computer networking hardware and training for the people who install and maintain it.
In January 1998, local Secretary Denice Hunt responded to a letter from Mike Merrill, head of the state AFL-CIO, asking local unions to contact him if they were interested in applying for a TAP grant from the New Jersey Department of Education. Realizing the potential to help young people, generate new CWA members and provide an opportunity for current members to upgrade their skills, Hunt ran the idea past Local 1031 President Abby Demel-Brown.
The program would target kids who were most likely not college bound, who needed help and guidance to get a foothold in the job market. They would receive counseling in school, mentoring in math, English and computer skills and an introduction to CWA while still in the 11th and 12th grades. They would qualify for CWA apprenticeships to become a computer applications or computer support specialist.
Demel-Brown saw the possibilities, Hunt explained: "What it does for the future is great. What it does for communities — they will be seeing labor do positive things."
Hunt attended a meeting with representatives of about 20 unions also applying for grants. Many, like the Carpenters, Iron Workers and Culinary Workers, already had apprenticeships in place that transition programs could feed into. The CWA local, to qualify, would have to develop not only a transition program, but an IT apprenticeship to accept graduates.
"It was very hard in the beginning," Hunt said. "If we had not had the support of our Public Worker Vice President Brooks Sunkett, and District 1 Vice President Larry Mancino, we would have had to bail out a long time ago."
With research, guidance and staff support from District 1 and the national union, Local 1031 wrote a proposal and qualified for the first year of state funding that Hunt said will total about $1.5 million over five years.
With Hunt as program director, the local hired a full-time coordinator, Mary Ann Schierholt, and set up a CWATAP office and phone line at local headquarters in Monmouth Junction. They formed a consortium of employers, high schools and training providers, with committees in North and South Jersey, to develop pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship curricula.
They’ve talked to eight public colleges in the state and public libraries where the local represents administrative, clerical and professional employees. Hunt said all have been encouraging, particularly the College of New Jersey in Mercer County, William Paterson University in Passaic County and Montclair University in Essex County.
"These schools have already agreed to help us provide training and to employ some of the graduates from the program," Hunt said.
With more than 80 students signed up, the program is gearing up for participation in a state AFL-CIO job fair this spring.
"The kids are really jumping at this opportunity," said Schierholt, who has made presentations in high schools. "I’m seeing kids who are really concerned about their futures."
Schierholt, who will soon drop back to a consulting role, said CWATAP has hired two new full-time staff. Pamela Sapienza, as director, will be working with employers to develop apprenticeships and job opportunities, and Don Shelton will become the program’s high school liaison.
With assistance from Paul Anderson, CWA director of apprenticeship, benefits and employment, and Steve Hill, CWA employment center and apprenticeship administrator, CWATAP is in the process of acquiring approval for its computer support specialist and computer applications specialist certifications, Schierholt said, and is seeking renewal of its funding for a second year.
The program "has great potential, and it is impressive that a local would take on such a large project," said Yvette Herrera, assistant to Executive Vice President Larry Cohen, whose office has responsibility for CWA’s education and training programs.
Anderson said CWATAP apprenticeships may eventually dovetail with apprenticeship programs CWA is in the process of developing with CISCO Systems, the nation’s largest provider of computer networking hardware and training for the people who install and maintain it.