Business Manager of LIUNA Local 190 in Glenmont, N.Y., Anthony Fresina, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the summer of recruitment occurring in the region. Fresina also discussed the shovel-ready projects needing workers now, and the efforts by the training facilities to keep up with current and future worker demands.
LIUNA Local 190 is comprised of 650 active members serving Glenmont and Albany area. Those numbers are increasing as there continues to be more work added to the region. The training centers and apprenticeship program are more active this summer than they’ve been in several years, Fresina said. As the transition to renewable energy continues, LIUNA progresses to organize and recruit new members, and Fresina is seeing younger members seeking out a great union career through Local 190.
There are several “shovel-ready” projects in the Albany area waiting for work to begin. The Wadsworth Lab is one such project funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill that Fresina is staffing. There are also two ports in the region being improved, and those ongoing projects also need more man-hours to complete. Fresina is excited by these projects and their work opportunities, but as more work floods the area, he works double-time to bring in more members.
Through the National Training Funds with LIUNA, the two regional training facilities are working to provide workers for solar and renewable energy projects. They are running 3-day training programs every week this summer to try and staff the projects. The program consists of classroom training as well as hands-on outdoor training. Classes previously ran once a month, but with the projects about to begin, they will run weekly for the next few years to ensure enough members are trained for the jobs, Fresina said.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.
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