Presented by Mike Langford, National President

Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO

The Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) is an “innovative and solutions focused union” supporting good jobs and green jobs within the utility sector along with families and communities.

UWUA provides the skilled workforce for operations, maintenance, construction and related services within Electrical, Gas, Nuclear, Water, Professional and Technical, Call Center, Wind, Solar, Bio-Fuel, Weatherization and Geo-Thermal in both the Public and Private Utility/Renewable - Green Energy Sectors.

UWUA prides itself on having “The Safest, Most Productive, Highest Skilled Workers in the World!”

Mission Statement

To provide our members with the highest quality training in an ethical, respectful and

responsive way that meets the needs of industry and the new global marketplace.

UWUA’s Power for America Training Trust (P4A) is the conduit for training excellence for participating employers who have collective bargaining relationships with UWUA and its’ Local Affiliates throughout the Country.

Participating P4A Trust Employers are: G-Force Power Entergy National Grid Utility Lines Construction Services Other employers are being added nationally

Over the last six years UWUA, P4A and its’ Employers and Educational Partners have worked collaboratively to develop industry relevant curriculum and continue to provide a broad-based education for their workers.

Educational Partnerships are a critical component to P4A’s success and include the following:

♦ Alpena Community College ♦ Delta College

♦ Monroe Community College ♦ Grand Rapids Community College

♦ Henry Ford Community College ♦ Macomb Community College

♦ Bismarck State College ♦ Mid Michigan Community College

♦ Northwestern Community College Additionally, we partner with Community Colleges, Universities, Regional

Occupational Centers; Regional Training and Technical Schools, Adult Schools, Unified School Districts and other Educational Institutions nationally.

P4A Apprenticeship training consists of on-the-job mentoring, field experience, classroom and lab training in collaboration with Community Colleges.

The goal of the jointly developed college apprentice programs is to provide apprentices with curriculum and coursework that is industry relevant while providing them with an accredited associates degree in their respective trades.

Annual skills competency and Journey-level worker enhancement training is provided to ensure workers remain competitive in the new global workplace.

Provides nationally recognized and industry certified training and certifications for apprenticeship training programs

Emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)

Opportunities to participate in Advanced Education including Bachelor and/or Master’s Degree

Scholarship Programs

Women Only Classes Intended to provide women with a supportive learning atmosphere Helpful and rewarding to network with other women who are interested in and/or

working in Utility and Renewable sectors

Journey-level Mentoring Programs Additional mentoring programs for women by women

Power for America Training Trust provides apprentices and journey-level workers with a broad-based education that also includes:

P4A Safety Training Academy Provides Safety Training Provides Nationally Industry Recognized Safety Certifications Promotes Safety in the Workplace

P4A Leadership Academy Provides Leadership Development Team Building Skills Conflict Resolution Stress Management

P4A Call Center/Customer Service Training Academy Provides Customer Service Certification Training Effective Interaction and Communication Skills Nationally Recognized Customer Service Certification

Promotes Life-long Learning through Career Ladder Approach

New ways for delivery of P4A training will utilize new training technologies and delivery methods as they become available and evolve which include, but are not limited to: Distance Learning; Combination of Classroom, Web-based Learning and On-the-Job; Mobile Classroom and Virtual Reality based platforms

An example of a new method of training delivery is P4A’s educational partnership with the Midwest Energy Association. MEA developed computerized simulations for Electric and Gas Workers that

actually provide various maintenance and operations situations. The delivery is web-based and is a multi-media learning platform Currently used by apprentices and journey-level workers

P4A Occupational Sectors Electric Professional & Technical Natural Gas Water Nuclear Call Center Public Utilities Wind Solar Weatherization Bio-Fuel Geo-Thermal

Throughout Michigan UWUA Apprentices and Journey-level workers provide services to residents and businesses.

UWUA and Gforce Power have partnered to create many good living wage job opportunities statewide within all of the Public Utility Industries with an emphasis on the Renewable Energy Sectors – Wind, Weatherization, Solar, Geo-Thermal, Bio-Fuels

To assist in the creation of a pipeline of new workers - we partner and coordinate our efforts with the Workforce Investment Systems; Educational Providers; Community and Faith-based Organizations; Community Action Agencies and others to avoid duplication of services.

Utilizing existing infra-structure for the outreach and recruitment of dislocated workers, minorities, youth and other underserved populations with a special emphasis on the recruitment of women into non-traditional jobs.

UWUA believes a critical component of successful partnerships is the leveraging of existing resources from our collaborative partners.

Leveraging allows for each partner (i.e., Workforce Development System; Community Based Organizations, Educational Institutions) to bring additional resources to qualified participants during the training and re-employment process.

Our goals are to assist participants re-energize their careers and become re-employed and/or employed in the Utility Industry and the growing Renewable/Green Energy Sector of the economy.

The need for a well trained and qualified workforce is critical in order to meet the needs of our employer partner G Force Power!

National Examples of UWUA Partnerships Boston, Massachusetts – “High Road Energy

Project” UWUA, P4A, UWUA Local 369; N-Star; ElecCom, Maverick, URS,

National Grid; Bunker Hill Community College; CCS Environmental Non-profit; State AFL-CIO; and the State Workforce Investment System

Occupational skills training for 250 new entrants in Electric Power Utility and entry level Utility Worker positions

2 year Electric Power Technology Training provided by Bunker Hill Life Skill and Mentoring Provided by CCS Environmental and UWUA

Local 369 Provides access to good paying jobs within the utility and renewable

sectors.

Long Beach, California – “Introduction to the Utility Industry” UWUA, P4A, ACCORD Non-profit; CA Water Service Company,

SOCAL Gas Company; Golden West Water; SOCAL Edison; Long Beach Workforce Investment Area; Long Beach City College; El Camino Community College; Cites of Torrance and Lomita

Occupational and life skills training for 100 older youth ages 18 to 21 Prepares them with Industry recognized certifications including Water

Distribution II; CPR/First Aid; OSHA 10; confined space; HAZWOPER; and provides mentoring with various UWUA Locals

Provides good paying job opportunities within the Utility and Renewable Sectors

For more information contact:

Rich Mata

National Training Director

Power for America Training Trust

Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO

888-552-0580

Or email: richmata@uwua.net