News release from PSEG:
PSEG Power Connecticut today will host a graduation ceremony of the first class of its PSEG Ready2Work Apprenticeship Readiness Training Program, to be held at its Bridgeport Harbor Station. The apprenticeship readiness training program, announced last November, prepares Bridgeport residents for well-paying careers in the construction industry. Local officials and representatives from the local building trades will join PSEG in recognizing the 10 graduates, who began classes in January.
“Today we are celebrating the partnership between PSEG and the City of Bridgeport with this first pre-apprenticeship graduation,” said Kevin Cellars, PSEG Power vice president-engineering and construction. “We are pleased to see these graduates complete their first step as we continue to work with the building trades and the Connecticut Department of Labor to give our graduates a competitive advantage in their quest to qualify for union apprenticeships.”
Ready2Work helps to build the construction industry’s workforce pipeline by creating opportunities for disadvantaged and low-skilled area residents. “We look forward to our continued work with these graduates, as we assist them in their efforts to gain entry into the Connecticut Building Trades,” said Amy Blackwood, executive director of Building Pathways CT, the program operator.
Ready2Work was designed in accordance to commitments made in a Community Environmental Benefit Agreement with the City of Bridgeport. With comprehensive training offered by Building Pathways CT and administered by Bridgeport’s own workforce development agency, The Workplace, the program prepares its graduates–including minorities, women and veterans of Bridgeport–for potential registered labor apprenticeship programs. It represents a half-million-dollar investment to support residents of the city of Bridgeport.
“The education that Ready2Work program participants are being afforded is invaluable,” said Lori J. Pelletier, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO. “The highest paying jobs available to those without college degrees are found in the building trades, so this program literally will help local residents rebuild their communities.”
Applications are being accepted now for the next Ready2Work Apprenticeship Training Program class, which begins in April. A limited number of candidates will be admitted to each class. For more information, visit www.BridgeportHarborStation.com/Ready2Work.
PSEG Power Connecticut’s Bridgeport Harbor and New Haven Harbor stations are part of PSEG Power LLC’s generating fleet.
PSEG Power LLC is an independent power producer that generates and sells electricity in the wholesale market, with a fleet totaling approximately 10,600 MWs of electric generating capacity, with 1,800 MWs under construction. It is a nationally recognized industry leader on environmental issues. PSEG Fossil LLC is one of four main subsidiaries of PSEG Power, and operates the company’s portfolio of natural gas, coal and oil-fired electric generating units.
PSEG Power is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a diversified energy company with annual revenues of $9.1 billion and 13,000 employees. Headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, PSEG’s principal operating subsidiaries are: Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), PSEG Power, and PSEG Long Island. PSEG is a Fortune 500 company, included in the S&P 500 Index and is a decade-long member of the Dow Jones North American Sustainability Index. (www.pseg.com).
What is the breakdown of the first class of its PSEG Ready2Work Apprenticeship Readiness Training Program by sex, age, the number from Bridgeport and by race?
It’s a Bridgeport resident program. They are all from Bridgeport and i’ll guess just as the police and fire departments do, once they are gainfully employed they will move out of Bridgeport.
Ron it does not matter as none of these people will be getting union jobs. Its a scam to keep the revs quite
Fake PR from PSEG.
Andy, take the boiled egg and dry tuna out of your mouth and say that you were wrong when you said NO one will want this opportunity or take advantage of it. As usual you no nothing about anything and are constantly wrong about what little you do know.
Someone must have squeezed his head, Donald. That’s how Andy shits.
I know what I have said in the past about you has shown to be true. I said they would not be union apprenticeships and they are not. You watch when the plant is done the poor people that took those jobs are gone.BTW they can announce anything they want, how many are working on the construction of this building.
Hey kid put down your drink and come over here and try it asshole.
*** I wonder if after graduation these trainees will be hired by a company or given the old song & dance excuse about not having actual experience on a job long enough to be hired? So in the end, who makes out after the “at a boys” political headlines are gone,the money for this program is finished & the overall rate of its success is just another political con-job with taxpayers footing the bill. *** However, I could be wrong, no ??? ***
Mojo, all good points, we’ll have to wait and see but not forever.
The Ready2Work model is not new. Many young people from urban centers such as Bridgeport lack basic skills an employer needs such as showing up every day. The administrative costs are high and the results debatable. How many ‘graduates’ of the program will get an apprenticeship? Is anyone keeping track? What reporting is required and to who?
That’s why there is a vetting process, sifting out the candidates that do not possess the proper work ethic and required mathmatic skills. Anyone with a working knowledge of electronics will tell you math skills above 2+2=4 is necessary.
Perhaps the City Council might exercise some diligence in merely tracking the phenomenon. Economic Development Committee could attend the ceremony, locate the PSEG responsible parties for the “pre-apprenticeship program” and the candidates who are graduating, and month by month stay in touch with the results. If everyone wants to witness positive results, but does not expect them, here is a way for a CC committee to be relevant to a citizen issue. It is factual. It would call for results plotted along a time line, and be available for public info at any time. Potential? Time will tell.
That’s the best suggestion yet. The City Council must be more proactive in doing the business of the people of the city of Bridgeport.
*** Its more political white-wash for brownie points & a waste of taxpayers money; “pipe dreams LTD”! ***