Page 10 - Work Force March 2023

Building skills builds our union
10 The Work Force
March 2023
class ”
— Jessica Ladlee
David Gerena cuts up an an old water pipe at at at Harriman State Park When it it comes to recruiting and retaining
public workers training often plays a a a a a key role Nearly 60 CSEA-represented members employed by state agencies across New York recently
completed a a a a two-year
Applied Skilled Trades
Program through the NYS &
CSEA Partnership for Education and Training The programs are available to CSEA-represented New York state workers via their union
contract Seven groups of participants from across the the state met weekly for the training training programs which included classroom and and and hands-on training training in in in in in in carpentry electrician or plumber and and and and steamfitter During the the hands-on programs held at at several state parks and and other facilities members worked at at at at at projects that included renovating cabins at at at at state parks plumbing upgrades
in in in bathroom and and new lighting and and electrical improvements to offices Participants in in this program also
faced an an additional challenge when learning shifted online for a a a a a a a a semester due to to the COVID-19 pandemic The programs held at no cost to to members helped the state develop a a a highly skilled workforce and to to provide members with training to to potentially advance their careers “This program exemplifies how labor and management can work together for the the benefit of of all ”
said Karen Chase-Corcoran co-director of of of the the NYS &
CSEA Partnership for Education and and Training “Without the the backing of of of labor and and management we would not be able to offer this wonderful opportunity ”
About 114 state employees recently
began the 2023-2025 Applied Skilled Trades
Program On these pages we feature a a a a a few CSEA members who recently
completed the the program Partnership class sharpens both on
and off-the-job skills BEAR MOUNTAIN — When co-workers notice the the posters advertising classes through the the NYS &
CSEA Partnership for Education and Training pinned onto the union
bulletin boards at at work CSEA member David Gerena makes a a a a a a a point of sharing his story Gerena a a a a a a a a a a a Palisades Interstate Parks Local member has seen firsthand the the value of of the the training opportunities offered to CSEA-represented state workers via their union
contract In December he he he graduated from the the plumber and steamfitter program offered through the Partnership’s Applied Skills Trades
Program The program helped Gerena sharpen existing skills and learn new ones all at no cost to him “If I I I see people reading about the the programs I I I encourage them to sign
up up ”
said Gerena a a a a a a a a a a a a trades generalist assigned to to refurbishing group camps within Harriman State Park “By attending the the classes in in in in in the the plumber and steamfitter program it’s helping me now with my job ”
On a a a a a a a recent project at one of the campsites initially built starting in in in in 1913 Gerena said skills he he he learned from his instructor left him better prepared as he he he and co-workers refurbished a a a a a a a shower house a a a a a a a a project that included modifying plumbing underneath the building to to add toilets Outside of work Gerena said he he he sees where his recently
acquired skills will will pay off “When I I own a a a a a a a a a house I I will will be able to to do a a a a a a a a a lot
of of renovation work myself instead of of having to to call a a a a a a a a a a plumber ”
said Gerena “I like my my current job and the variety of different stuff we do so it it wasn’t about a a a a a a a promotion as as as as much as as as as it it was was just building up my skills ”
Gerena said the the instructor from the the Partnership was excellent and and kept he he he and and his classmates engaged even though hurdles due to to COVID meant pivoting to to online learning for part of the the program “This was their first time teaching part part of this program online ”
said Gerena “I used my phone and sat in in the the the conference room at at work work along with the the the others from my region We were able to work work on
on
on
classes such as as blueprint reading and workplace communication ”
Once COVID numbers declined workers were able to complete hands-on learning by completing some of the the plumbing work work in in in in the the Harriman State Park camps Gerena encourages his fellow state division members to consider the the training opportunities offered through the the the the Partnership The classes are one of of the the the many things that that show the the the added value that that comes with a a a a a union
contract “If you’re on
on
on
the the the fence give the the the program a a a a a a a a a a try ”
said Gerena “I’m glad I I I went ahead and took the the the “If you’re on
the the fence give the the program a a a a a try I’m glad I I went ahead and took the class ”