Union Construction Academy Recruits New Mainers & Others for January Session

PHOTO: Sam Boss with immigrant workers at an educational event about union careers at IAS in Portland.

Recruitment is in full swing for the next session of the Union Construction Academy Pre-Apprenticeship program, scheduled for January 15 - February 16, 2024 in Portland. Maine AFL-CIO Apprenticeship, Workforce & Equity Director Sam Boss recently gave a presentation about Unions and the Union Construction Academy to a group of over fifty New Mainers organized by the immigrant-led organization Information, Advocacy & Support (IAS) in Portland.

"Many of those in attendance already have significant construction experience and are now looking to translate into stable careers in the United States, and they were excited to learn about the benefits of joining a union," said Boss.

Sam is working with community leaders to identify the most qualified and motivated applicants, and will be connecting those applicants who don’t end up in the session to the Peer Workforce Navigators network to help them connect with other good jobs.  
 

On Tuesday, December 6, Sam presented to a virtual meeting of the Maine Prison Reentry Network, a statewide network that includes people who have been involved in the justice system or are in recovery, as well as service providers who work with these populations. The meeting yielded many productive connections, including a variety of resources for individuals who have already come through the program who are experiencing challenges with transportation as they get started with their work in construction.

Applications for the Union Construction Academy will remain open until Dec. 31 – please spread the word within your networks and encourage anyone you know who would benefit from our program to apply. Apply here!