Keystone Transit Career Ladder Partnership
A Joint Project of Transit Unions and Transit Systems in Pennsylvania
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Commonwealth,
SEPTA, Transit Unions and AFL-CIO Launch Keystone Transit Career Ladders
Partnership
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (March 28) - Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Johnny J. Butler announced the roll-out of the Keystone Transit Career Ladders Partnership, a statewide initiative created to address the shortage of technological skills in the mass transit industry. Secretary Butler presented a $683,000 grant to Transportation Workers Union Local 234 President Sonny Hall, PA AFL-CIO President Bill George and SEPTA General Manager Faye Moore at SEPTA's Woodland Avenue Maintenance Shop. SEPTA and TWU will use part of the grant to support training opportunities in bus mechanics, rail, underground power and facilities that are already happening in Philadelphia. "We are committed to updating the skills of Pennsylvania's transit workers to keep up with changes in technology and ensure their continued success," Butler said. "This program is a tribute to the cooperation between labor and management that is one of the basic building blocks of the new Pennsylvania where we leverage our assets to improve the health, safety and security of our workers and employers." Keeping with the Commonwealth's workforce development priorities, the Partnership intends to target the mass transit industry's current workforce to address the need for skilled workers by providing training in response to changing job requirements. The Partnership was proposed last year by the Community Transportation Development Center to bring together TWU Local 234, SEPTA, the Amalgamated Transit Union and the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO to create career ladders for key transit occupations. "The Keystone Transit Career Ladders Partnership is an example of the kind of cooperation and partnership between labor, business and government that we want to see continue to grow and expand across Pennsylvania," said PA AFL-CIO President George. "These are the kinds of partnerships in which workers, organizations and communities become even more productive and successful." While the Partnership is beginning its work in Philadelphia with SEPTA and TWU Local 234, the program is a statewide initiative that will reach out to Pittsburgh and other smaller transit properties across the state. "The Keystone Career Ladder Partnership is the type of initiative that will allow SEPTA and TWU Local 234 to open new lines of communication as we work together to develop new training programs," said SEPTA GM Faye Moore. "Providing workers with new skills allows them to master new transit technologies," TWU President Sonny Hall said. "This is critical to everyone because workers with new skills can do their jobs well, move up career ladders and provide quality service to our communities, so they can have the quality transportation services and access to good jobs that strong transportation systems provide." To date in Philadelphia, 40 SEPTA employees from TWU Local 234 have entered into bus mechanics training with additional curriculums scheduled to be underway before July 1. Under the leadership of TWU President Sonny Hall, the Community Transportation Development Center is developing similar career ladder partnerships in Houston, Miami and San Francisco. Also on hand to address the transit training needs across the state were Jimmy Fenton, President of the PA Conference Board of the Amalgamated Transit Union and Harry Lombardo, International Vice President of the Transport Workers Union. "We welcome this unique partnership opportunity with SEPTA," said Lombardo. "Not only will our employees benefit from upgraded skills that can lead to advancement up the career ladder, but the residents of Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania will experience from more effective and efficient public transportation services." Contact: Yanina Carter |
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