TUOLUMNE, Calif., May 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — The Tuolumne Collaborative, in partnership with the Laborers’ Training Center, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, San Joaquin County of Education, Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools and various other agencies, non-profits and other construction trades came together to conduct an intensive construction training program for twelve woman trainees.

The first training program began on February 22, 2017 with 12 highly motivated and focused female trainees. Designed as an all-female cohort, instructors stressed safety throughout the hands on training and instruction in industry certifications including: OSHA-10, fall protection, traffic control/flagging, confined space, First Aid/ CPR, aerial lift, storm water pollution prevention, scaffold user safety, and pneumatic power tools operation. Laborers’ Local 1130 Business Manager David J. Gorgas said, “I congratulate the twelve female graduates of the first all women construction pre-apprentice program of the Tuolumne County Collaborative. Gorgas continued, “I am grateful to each of the graduates for undertaking this training and acquiring the skills and knowledge to succeed in the construction industry. I am confident that each of these graduates will go on to earn the good wages and benefits, which union construction jobs can provide.”

The Tuolumne Collaborative was formed in August 2016 in order to help address barriers to employment, identify strategies to mitigate these barriers, and support local residents’ access to career pathways and competitive paying jobs. Over the course of several meetings, a pre-apprenticeship training program was designed to prepare individuals to enter the trades for work in the public and private construction industry, including SFPUC Infrastructure projects.

On May 9, 2017, the pre-apprenticeship graduates were recognized in the San Francisco Public Utilities meeting. According to San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Commissioner Vince Courtney, Jr., “We spend lots of time looking for ways to create meaningful linkages to career pathways in our industry to further policy objectives. One of the things that does not go unnoticed is that women in our Industry are some of the best examples we can find of capacity, commitment and strength.” Courtney continues, “I’m proud of the fact that women, just like our current cohort, are the future leaders of our important movement.”

Future pre-apprenticeship programs are planned. For more information on dates and times, please contact Tony Castillo at (925) 828-2513.

With over 35,000 Laborers members and 1,700 signatory employers strong, the Northern California District Council of Laborers is on the forefront of the construction industry – a powerhouse of workers and employers that are proud to build Northern California.