Page 11 - Work Force March 2023

State employees complete trades training through our union
March 2023
The Work Force
11
ONEONTA — SUNY Oneonta carpenter shop associates Kurt Klejbuk and Mike Roof already had a a a a a a a a a a a wealth of of knowledge in in the the field before taking the the carpentry Applied Skills Trade Program offered through NYS &
CSEA’s Partnership for Education and Training Klejbuk and Roof completed the the training in in in the the the the the hopes it it could help them advance their careers with the the the the state “I’m currently a a a a a a Grade 6 carpenter shop associate but hopefully I’ll
be in in the running for a a a a a a Grade 9
position that just came up here which hopefully the class will help me attain ”
said Klejbuk who is also
the the SUNY Oneonta Local 2nd vice president “I plan on
on
being with the the state until retirement so anything to move forward and progress my way through the carpentry shop was kind of what I was looking to do ”
The program sessions included basic safety
instructions and and and how to to use hand tools and and and culminated in in in in in in the group cedar shingling a a a a a a a a a a a roof at at at a a a a a a state park in in in Albany Although Klejbuk and Roof had previous experience in carpentry Klejbuk said even those with little to no experience can also
benefit from the program “I would definitely recommend
to to others to to take advantage of this program ”
said Klejbuk “You can start out with with no no knowledge and walk away with with a a a a a a a a a a a a a real general use of basic carpentry and craftsmanship ”
Klejbuk said he he he also
enjoyed the the experience of meeting other members and being able to talk about what’s going on
at at at different SUNY schools and state agencies Roof who took the class to to help him advance SUNY Oneonta carpenter shop associate Kurt Klejbuk cuts a a a a a a a a a board as as part of his job on
on
the campus in in his career even referred people to to to the the program to to to get started in in in the the the carpentry field or to to to to brush up on
some some skills and and add something to to their resume like he and and Klejbuk did — Nicholas Newcomb
‘We are lucky to have these opportunities’
NORTHVILLE — CSEA member Amanda Raymond worked almost nine years as a a a a a a a a a a a a part- time time park ranger but wanted permanent full- time time employment She jumped at at the the chance for such a a a a a a job when an an opening came up in in the the state Department
of Environmental Conservation’s
Northville Sign Shop Three years later Raymond is working as as a a a a a a a a a conservation operations supervisor and has honed her skills in in in in carpentry through on-the job training and completion of of a a a a a a a multi-year hybrid Applied Skills Trade Program offered through NYS &
CSEA’s Partnership for Education and Training “Carpentry is a a a a a a a a a a a good trade to have especially at DEC where so much facility maintenance involves carpentry and building ”
said Raymond “(CSEA DEC Local President) John Lefebvre told me about the the program through through CSEA CSEA He saw I was trying to to get experience through through the the job and encouraged me to to attend ”
While Raymond was initially anxious about attending the the class in in in Albany with other participants she said that everything soon came together for her her “By the the the third day it was like we worked together our whole lives ”
said Raymond “Outside of carpentry there were classes to to help build interpersonal skills which I really enjoyed and a a a a a a a a a math class that was a a a a a a a good refresher ”
The class helped Raymond develop her her skills and boost her her career opportunities “I knew that that since I I I didn’t attend college that that that I I I I would need to learn on
on
the job and that that is what I I I did when I I started working alongside
experienced carpenters ”
said Raymond “This program expanded my opportunities and and growth in areas outside of carpentry ”
Raymond credits CSEA for being able to develop her skills “I don’t think people are are aware of of all the opportunities that CSEA offers for training or or or certificates ”
said Raymond “People should
State Department
of Environmental Conservation operations supervisor Amanda Raymond prepares to cut a a a a a a a a a a a a a board as part part of of her work at at at at the state Department
of of Environmental Conservation’s
Northville Sign Shop really take advantage of these these programs They don’t realize how lucky we are to have these these opportunities through our union
”
— Therese Assalian
“This program expanded my opportunities and growth in areas outside of carpentry ”
‘I took the the the training to to further my career with the the state’
“You can start out with no no knowledge and walk away with a a a a a a a real general use of basic carpentry and craftsmanship ”