Dear Partners,

The future of democracy and the American working class is more uncertain than ever. This National Apprenticeship Week is a timely reminder of just how important it is to invest in the next generation of workers. When the working class and our labor unions are strong, democracy is strong. Now is the time to double down on investing in organized labor, and CTWI, in partnership with our Union Construction Trades Partners, is ready to continue leading in this critical mission.

We are excited to share our most recent highlights in both the Baltimore-DC Metro and San Francisco Bay Area, as we continue our crucial work.

CTWI East

Baltimore-DC Metro Building Trades Council

MC3 Pre-Apprenticeship Program

In partnership with the Baltimore-DC Metro BTC, CTWI is launching our own MC3 Pre-Apprenticeship Program in Baltimore beginning February 3rd, 2025. This MC3 program will prepare local and diverse students with the knowledge and skills they need to start a family-sustaining career in a union apprenticeship program where they will work on major construction projects including Amtrak’s Fredrick Douglass Tunnel and The Key Bridge Project, both of which have local hire requirements.

To kick off outreach and recruitment for this new MC3 program, CTWI and the Baltimore-DC Metro BTC held a Construction Outreach and Recruitment Event earlier this month at the Laborers Training Center Local 710 in Baltimore City. Baltimore City Councilmember John Bullock and Clark Construction delivered inspiring keynote remarks on the transformative infrastructure investments happening in Baltimore and the vital role these projects play in shaping the future of the community. Over 50 Baltimore City residents attended, eager to learn about careers in the trades and upcoming construction projects.

Interested in Joining the Trades?

Attend our virtual information session on December 3rd and December 10th to learn about our MC3 Pre-Apprenticeship Program Raising the Bar.

Baltimore-DC Metro BTCs Business Managers

Strategic Planning Conference

CTWI was honored to present at the Baltimore-DC Metro Building Trades Council’s Business Managers Strategic Planning Conference on two key topics. The first presentation was on how to invest in workforce development to expand union construction careers for the next generation of local and diverse workers. The second presentation was on how to strengthen relationships with small and minority contractors to expand the pool of high road contractors and quality careers for local workers.

CTWI West

Bay Area 2024 Construction Workforce Conference

CTWI, a lead organizer of the second annual Bay Area Construction Workforce Conference, brought together over 150 industry leaders to discuss the future of construction and equitable workforce strategies. Keynotes from California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, Assemblymember Liz Ortega, Division of Apprenticeship Standards Deputy Chief Adele Burnes, and US Department of Housing and Urban Development NorCal Director Eduardo Cabrera highlighted local, state, and federal workforce initiatives. Plenary sessions and workshops addressed building diverse workforce pipelines, empowering small contractors, closing the gender gap, meeting workforce goals, and creating sustainable, high-road jobs for underrepresented communities through decarbonization and infrastructure modernization efforts.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our dedicated sponsors and partners who made this event possible, including Alameda Building & Construction Trades Council, Construction Resource Center, Cypress Mandela Training Center, Oakland Unified School District, Pacific Gas and Electric, Swinerton, and Webcor.

City of Oakland Construction

Workforce Reporting Ordinance

In partnership with the Alameda Building Trades Council in California, CTWI successfully advocated for the Oakland City Council to adopt a Construction Workforce Reporting Ordinance that applies to developments with at least 100 residential units. This ordinance requires the collection of projected employment and realized employment data, laying the foundation for greater transparency on whether the City of Oakland and the contractors they work with are meeting shared goals around local and targeted hiring of underrepresented communities, including African Americans.

Castlemont High School MC3 Program

Ribbon Cutting Event

To celebrate the launch of the new MC3 Pre-Apprenticeship Program in partnership with Castlemont High School in Oakland, CTWI hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially inaugurate the initiative. This program is designed to create pathways for local, diverse youth to access well-paying, sustainable careers in the construction trades. Key partners were in attendance, including the Office of Congressmember Barbara Lee, whose support through Community Project Department of Labor grants helped fund the program; PG&E, which contributed through charitable donations; and the Alameda Building Trades Council (BTC), whose collaboration will connect program graduates to high-road union apprenticeship opportunities.

Apprentice Spotlight

Quinzell Cook, New Apprentice

Quinzell says he was drawn to the construction trades because of the good pay and pension benefits. He enrolled in CTWI’s Test Prep class in Vallejo and attended a CTWI-led Open House at Sheet Metal Workers Local 104. He says it was the course’s emphasis on math and his instructor that helped him master the skills he needed to ace his apprenticeship exams. This past fall, Thomas was accepted as an apprentice at UA343!

CTWI is hiring a Program Manager in the San Francisco Bay and Baltimore DC Metro Area! If interested, please see the job description in the Careers section of the website!

Careers at CTWI

As always, we’d love to hear from you. Feel free to contact me at

beli@ctwi-btca.org.

In Solidarity,

Beli Acharya

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