The Terence J. O’Sullivan Laborers Training Center Graduates 191 Journeymen

Laborer Apprentices Earn Journeyperson Status

March 31, 2014

 San Ramon, CA: Northern California’s construction industry has been strengthened, thanks to the Laborer Apprenticeship Program of the Laborers Training and Retraining Trust Fund for Northern California (Terence J. O’Sullivan Training Center).  In 2013, 191 men and women earned their Construction Craft Laborer Journeyperson credentials after completing the same apprenticeship program that has graduated more than 1,000 safe, skilled construction craft laborers over the past ten years.

Northern California District Council of Laborers (NCDCL) Business Manager and LIUNA Vice-President, Oscar de la Torre commended the graduates.  “The men and women who attained journeyman status made many sacrifices and put in a lot of hard work.  Our training center has provided them with skills and experience that will improve their lives and enable them to make significant contributions to this union, our signatory contractors and the entire Northern California construction industry.”

To attain journeyperson status, each apprentice must complete 240 hours of classroom instruction and log at least 3,600 hours of on-the-job training.  Jeff Armstrong, Director of Apprenticeship, noted, “Apprentices are exposed to every segment of the construction industry and receive Cal/OSHA required certifications and equipment endorsements.  Candidates for apprenticeship must attend an orientation, pass a drug test, participate in a hands-on assessment and pass an interview to ensure they are ready for the physical demands of the industry.”

Training does not end with journeyperson status.  “After becoming a journeyman, we encourage the members to come back to the training center to expand their skill sets and obtain as many training certifications as possible,” said Laborers’ Training Center Executive Director Leonard Gonzales.

Kevin Albanese, Vice President of Joseph J. Albanese, Inc., (www.jjalbanese.com) extolled the Laborers’ Training Center and its apprenticeship program.  “The Laborers’ apprenticeship program is incredibly valuable to construction industry in Northern California,” he said.  “The program’s emphasis on safety and being on-time and prepared to work, plus the knowledge the apprentices receive through the program creates an employee that is second to none.”

The Laborers Training and Retraining Trust Fund for Northern California is a partnership between the Laborers’ Union and their signatory contractors.  The Laborers’ Training Center provides more than 125,000 hours of training every year.  The Laborers’ Training Center also offers:

– Mobile training that brings training to any work site or location

– More than 75 courses that meet or exceed industry standards

– Four California-Apprenticeship-Council-approved apprenticeship programs

— Construction Craft Laborer

— Brick Tender

— Plaster Tender

— Parking & Highway Improvement

– Instructors credentialed by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

“The Laborers’ training and apprenticeship program has been producing first-rate journeymen for years” said Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Vice President and Pacific Southwest Regional Manager Rocco Davis.  “The graduates of this apprenticeship program are extremely skilled and are a tremendous benefit to our partners in the construction industry – our signatory employers.”