Page 6 - HIWT Winter 2015 World of Welding

Women Welders Get Start in Iron Workers Innovative Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Article courtesy of De Anna Rich with IMPACT www.impact-net.org

Women seeking membership as apprentice ironworkers had a new opportunity to complete a pre-apprenticeship
class with the University of Iron, the apprenticeship program of the Iron Workers District Council of the State of
California and Vicinity. Women from across the U.S. were recruited to participate in this state of the art training
program; 17 women graduated from the course on October 3, 2015.

regional training center for the Iron
Workers National Training Fund,
where Iron Worker instructors come
from throughout the country for
safety and skills training.

All of these women showed
exceptional dedication to the job,
said California Iron Workers District
Council Apprenticeship Director
Dick Zampa. Every one of them
showed up enthusiastic, prepared
and eager to learn.

The women were assigned
classroom work to complete at
home before and during the hands-
on training program and all of the
coursework was tracked in the
apprenticeship tracking system
maintained by the Iron Workers.

These modern day Rosie the Riveters are going into the construction industry motivated and well Carrie Steele, one of the Iron
prepared. Worker instructors stated These
modern day Rosie the Riveters are
BENICIA, CA (PRWEB) OCTOBER 08, 2015 going into the construction industry motivated and well prepared.

Women seeking membership as apprentice ironworkers had a This national pilot class was the frst of its kind and was generously
new opportunity to complete a pre-apprenticeship class with the supported by the Iron Workers National Fund Trustees and the
University of Iron, the apprenticeship program of the Iron Workers Iron Workers Executive Training Director, Lee Worley. The travel
District Council of the State of California and Vicinity. Women from expenses were paid for by the District Councils and the hotel,
across the U.S. were recruited to participate in this state of the art books, tools, meals and training was provided by the National
training program; 17 women graduated from the course on October Training Fund and Ironworker Management Progressive Action
3, 2015. Cooperative Trust (IMPACT).

The women attended classes six days a week for three weeks, This program is designed to serve as a model for other pre-
working nine hours a day to complete a total of 162 hours of apprenticeship programs, said IMPACT Western Regional Director
classroom and hands on training to prepare them to become Iron James McGuire. What were doing here is designed to attract
Worker Apprentices. Classes included Orientation, Fire Watch, more women to the profession to take the intimidation factor out
Traffc Flagger, OSHA 10, First Aid / CPR, Welding and Rigging. of the equation.
All classes included extensive hands on training to learn knots,
measurement, oxy-fuel cutting, shielded metal arc welding and The University of Iron represents 3,000 apprentice and 19,500
material handling. All of the training will be recognized as the shop journeymen ironworkers throughout California, Nevada and
women move into the apprenticeship. The women traveled in from Arizona who are members of Iron Workers Local 229 (San Diego),
six states, including 12 women from all over California. Local 118 (Sacramento, Calif.), Locals 416 and 433 (Los Angeles and
Las Vegas), Local 509 (Los Angeles), Local 75 (Phoenix), Local 155
The Benicia Training Center is the hub for the bay area Iron Workers (Fresno, Calif.), Locals 790 and 377 (San Francisco) and Local 378
apprenticeship and journeyman training. The site also serves as a (Oakland, Calif.).

WINTER ISSUE - 6 - www.welding.org www.welding.org - 7 - WINTER ISSUE