Brian Courtien, Business Manager and Secretary-Treasurer of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 51, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the value of recruiting students into the trades through pre-apprenticeship programs.
District Council 51 represents about 1,500 members in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.
IUPAT DC 51 forged a partnership with Prince George's County in Maryland to create an infrastructure academy to educate interested middle school and high school students on the opportunities available in the trades, Courtien said. He noted it is critical students are taught how to take advantage of the ample work opportunities that will be created by the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Courtien then spoke about the value of re-entry programs to help formerly incarcerated individuals re-enter the workforce as a valuable member of the building trades.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.