Labor & Employment Law

IBEW Institute Graduates First ?Green Technicians? Class

By James Parks

To ensure union members are well trained to compete for the new opportunities in solar, wind and other renewable energy projects, the Electrical Workers has woven green training into its apprenticeship program. Last week, the first 14 certified “green technicians” graduated from the Electrical Training Institute electrical apprenticeship program in Indianapolis. The institute is a joint partnership between IBEW Local 481 and the National Electrical Contractors Association of Central Indiana.

 The “green” technicians displayed an array of solar panels and a wind turbine they recently installed at the institute as examples of how they will put their new skills to work in advancing the development of a clean energy economy.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler said:

It’s important that American workers stay at the cutting edge of green technology so they can access the high-quality jobs that are being created in the global clean energy economy. The race is on to build a 21st century clean energy infrastructure and the AFL-CIO continues to push for it to be nurtured here in the U.S. and built by American workers.

Local 481 and the Apollo Alliance co-sponsored the graduation ceremony.

Each graduate of the green technician program will be an industry certified technician, ready to work on anything from windmills to retrofits of existing buildings that need to become more energy efficient, said Jim Patterson, director of the institute.

Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.) told the graduates clean energy is the key to renewed prosperity.

The type of training and work being celebrated here today is exactly what we had in mind when we passed clean energy legislation in the House. If the Senate will join that effort, we can put clean energy on the fast track and rebuild America’s middle class on a foundation of new, well-paying green jobs.

The green technician training program is an apprenticeship program that includes classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Apprentices are paid during the course of their training.

To learn more about what unions are doing to prepare for a green future, click here, here, here, here, here and here.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on March 15, 2010 (boomark / email).