Page 12 - Work Force March 2023

Building skills builds our union ‘I wanted to better my job, better myself’
NIAGARA FALLS — Tyler Shields has worked at the Niagara State Park Commission since he was just 16 years old.
Over the years,
Shields has gotten
the chance to
come into his
own as a CSEA
member and is now vice president of our union’s Niagara Frontier Parks & Recreation Local.
Already familiar with our union’s
many member resources, Shields recently completed the NYS & CSEA Partnership for Education and Training’s Applied Skills Trades Program’s electrician training along with four of his co-workers at the Niagara State Park Commission.
“There’s not many places where you go to work and they actually pay you to go to class,” said Shields.
Currently in his position as Park Worker 3, Shields does a little bit
of everything, including overseeing the maintenance crew and staffing the toll booths at the park entrance during the busy months.
While he’s always felt confident
in his ability to perform his assigned duties, completing the program has given him a greater sense of security.
“I want[ed] to do it to better my job, better myself,” said Shields. “I know how to do stuff now that I did not think I’d ever know how to do.”
Shields said he’s exceedingly
glad that that he completed the electrician program because it made him much more comfortable with something previously foreign to him.
“Electrical work scared me because you can hurt yourself doing it, but now I feel more than
ability to fix electrical or plumbing problems at home.
“Any time you can take time off to improve yourself, that’s a good thing,” said Israel.
The program also provided him with an opportunity to meet fellow union members who work for a variety of state agencies.
“It was great meeting people from different state agencies,” said Israel. “You get to learn what’s going on in
comfortable doing a broad amount of things with electrical work,” said Shields.
Shields praised the program because he not only furthered his existing skills, but developed a new skillset that he can take with him through life.
“I went in there raw; I knew nothing,” said Shields. “I came out with a lot more than I thought I was going to leave with.”
— Madison Ruffo
different job sites and you learn a lot from them, too.”
Now approaching the end of
his career, Israel said he hopes others would apply and take these invaluable courses as well.
“I am trying to encourage co-workers to take these courses,” said Israel. “It’s a great opportunity for the staff to improve themselves and improve their abilities.”
— David Galarza
to be quite useful there.
As the Mid-Hudson Forensic
Psychiatric Center Local 1st Vice President and supervisor of workers newer to state service, Rivers said her experience with Partnership training has the potential to empower her co-workers. “It also shows one of the many benefits that comes from being part of our union,” said Rivers.
“It’s not just this particular program,” said Rivers. “I’ve told some of the workers in the kitchen about the Skills for Success programs offered through the Partnership and they’ve signed up. Take advantage of what’s available through our union.”
— Jessica Ladlee
Shields
‘I always like to learn new things’
BRONX — Jedidiah Israel has
spent nearly 30 years providing workers under his supervision
with an enriched experience as a developmental aide at Metropolitan DDSO.
He decided that it was about time that he enriched himself by participating in the NYS & CSEA Partnership for Education and Training’s Applied Skills Trades Program.
Leaving his day program once
a week for a couple of years has allowed him to complete and earn certificates in not just one, but two programs: plumber and steamfitter, as well as electrician.
“I always like to learn new things,” said Israel. “The materials helped me improve my skills.”
While he’s not planning to transfer his new skills to a new job or apply for a promotion, Israel enjoys the
Partnership classes offers career growth for women
NEW HAMPTON
— Lauanna Rivers
sees the NYS &
CSEA Partnership
for Education
and Training’s
Applied Skills
Trade Program as
a path for female
CSEA members
to expand their
career horizons
into traditionally male-dominated fields.
As a supervisor in the kitchen at Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center, Rivers has been encouraging her newer colleagues to learn skilled trades and eventually move into higher-paying state jobs. Having recently graduated from
the Partnership’s plumber and steamfitter program, Rivers saw firsthand the opportunities for career growth.
“I’ve said to my co-workers, the trades are not just for males, they’re for females, too,” said Rivers, a food service worker 2 and executive vice president of the Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center Local. “If you’re interested in a different path, go in there and apply for these programs. Not everyone wants to work in an office. Go broaden your horizons.”
Rivers said the two-year plumber and steamfitter course, was most challenging when students had
to pivot to online learning due
to COVID. While remote learning works well for many topics, she said courses such as blueprint reading
are far easier to learn in person. Hands-on training was far more
enjoyable.
“People at work would ask how
the class was going, and I was able
to tell them I was down on the floor taking pipes apart in a bathroom and under the cabins at Bear Mountain learning how to do proper tubing and splicing,” said Rivers.
As an avid DIY-er who has
tackled many renovations in her own home, Rivers said she often turns to YouTube for help. Having professional training has improved her knowledge. It’s also been applicable at work, since issues with pipes and hot water occasionally pop up in the busy kitchen at the psychiatric center. Having a working understanding of plumbing turns out
12 The Work Force
March 2023
Rivers