DOL Secretary Commends Local Apprenticeship Programs

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the National Apprenticeship Act – which kicked off programs providing education, hands on skills training, and a path to good jobs for millions of American workers – Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis recognized local leaders in apprenticeship programs. Secretary Solis recognized nearly 75 “Trailblazers and Innovators of Apprenticeship” including two in the metro DC area: IBEW Local 26 and the Prince George’s County Fire Department. "We're reinventing and re-imagining apprenticeship in ways never imagined before and there's still so much room to grow," said Secretary Solis. "We're supporting a new generation of workers who earn while they learn." To help grow these programs, the DOL plans to launch a new program that will allow apprentices to earn college credits moving forward. "The Community Services Agency’s Building Futures pre-apprenticeship program is grateful for the local construction apprenticeship programs, which provide the instruction, space, and time necessary for Building Futures to continue," says CSA Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy. "Thanks to these local apprenticeship programs, graduates of Building Futures are well-prepared to enter the job market and provide for themselves and their families." - report by Sylvia Casaro Dietert (CSA); photo courtesy of DOL