'That's our people': Local union celebrates program graduates amid demand for building trades

Alaina Mencinger, Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
·3 min read

Mar. 22—When Fermin Gonzales started his pre-apprenticeship with the local union, he said he felt intimidated. But he quickly learned how to handle a torch and solder and eventually fell in love with welding, despite thinking he'd pursue HVAC work.

On Friday, he watched his best friend graduate from the same program he did.

It was the first class graduating out of the UA Plumber and Pipefitters Local 412's new facility, the former REMCO Bolt building on Third and Mountain NW, north of Downtown. The union leases the building from the city of Albuquerque, and works with the state Department of Workforce Solutions and other local builders' unions to administer the pre-apprenticeship program.

"It's cool to see our lives start to change and find a career," Gonzales said. "You have this younger generation coming in and it's awesome to see your fellow peers your age that want to do the same thing."

Now, the students will go on to a full apprenticeship.

"The cool thing is, if you do the 10-week program, it advances you six months into the union, so you not only go in sworn in, but you also go in at a higher payment," Gonzales said.

Joan Baker, director of outreach for UA Local 412, said the union outgrew its space on San Pedro. Baker said the building trades are seeing increased demand for skilled laborers because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. She expects an Intel project in Rio Rancho will require hundreds of construction workers.

"That's our people," Baker said.

This project, a collaboration that included the UA Local 412, LiUNA! Local 16 and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, is a new idea for local labor unions, Baker said. The first class had six students. On Friday, 15 students graduated in the new facility — their largest class yet, with a 100% graduation rate.

As part of the lease with the city of Albuquerque, the program attempts to reach vulnerable and underserved communities, including some people from court diversion and jail re-entry programs. Baker called the program a "pathway out of poverty."

The Department of Workforce Solutions pays participants in the pre-apprenticeship program. Stacy Johnston, a spokesperson for DWS, said the department works with 245 different businesses from around the state and will pay apprentices for up to 400 hours.

"It was created to help establish talent pools and career pathways in marketable occupations," Johnston said.

The group on Friday also included more women. Baker said that statewide, just 9% of people working in skilled trades are women. Twenty percent of the graduating cohort is female, Baker said.

"That is super exciting to see," Baker said. "We are very strategic in our outreach, and what we do to uplift the community."

Melanie Chadwich's son graduated Friday. He recently had another graduation — from a charter school, where he also studied trades. Chadwich said the program took his skills "to the next level."

"For a lot of kids, they're not going to go to college," Chadwich said. "So it's awesome that they have an opportunity to do what they're good at and be recognized for that."