Commentary: Carpenters Union’s apprenticeship diversity push can lead to success and job fulfilment in the construction industry

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By Treyvon Ratcliff Hayes

ABOVE PHOTO: Treyvon Ratcliff Hayes, a Philadelphia public high school graduate, just completed his four-year apprenticeship program at the Eastern Atlantic States (EAS) Carpenters Technology College and is now a full journeyman with the EAS Carpenter’s Union.

I was born and raised in southwest Philadelphia with a very strong sense of family and community. My parents prized education and expected their children to work hard, excel, and achieve good grades. They believed that practicality is one of the wisest virtues, and expected us to make wise, practical decisions about our education and our futures.

One of the wisest decisions I ever made was to enroll in Swenson Arts & Technology High School, a Philadelphia public school, where with the help and support of a dedicated group of great public school teachers — especially Mr. Patrick Durkin — I received a great academic education, coupled with an excellent foundation in math and building and construction skills.

Thanks to the Carpenters Union’s outreach to underserved local high school students of color like me, I enrolled in the no-cost Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technology College (https://www.eascarpenterstech.edu/), where my life was transformed.

At the Carpenters Technology College, I went through a rigorous and comprehensive four-year apprenticeship training program, where I received a mix of sophisticated skill-specific classroom instruction while also working and getting paid. Some of my training included drone technology, mapping, welding, blueprint reading, hydrogen plant construction, machining, framing, finishing, cabinetry, heavy construction, and pile driving.

I acquired on-the-job experience with a certified construction contractor, while getting paid $18 an hour to start as an apprentice. Eventually, my hourly rate grew to its current city rate of $53 an hour — plus medical benefits and a pension as a Carpenters Union full journeyman.

While I excelled at Swenson in academics and sports, I could have chosen the more traditional path for students with similarly high grades.

Instead, I chose a career in the construction industry where I was well paid as an apprentice, and learned valuable skills, while receiving an associate’s degree. I can now start my career making a very good salary, without being saddled like most college graduates with the burden of an average $50,000 student loan debt.

While I had the advantage of graduating from a great public school high school like Swenson Arts & Technology with a strong foundation in math and other construction industry skills, students and recent graduates from underserved populations lacking these skills can participate in the Carpenters Apprenticeship Ready Program (CARP). CARP provides tutoring in basic math, professional development, and other skills needed in the construction industry.

After graduation from this pre-apprentice training program, candidates can apply for entry into the registered carpenter apprenticeship program that I graduated from last year.

Recently I was recognized by the U. S. Department of Labor for representing my union in their Apprentice Trailblazer Initiative (https://www.apprenticeship.gov/apprentice-trailblazer-initiative/first-cohort-of-apprentice-trailblazers), where I will be promoting the value and importance of apprenticeships, will help create peer apprentice working groups, as well as provide success stories and testimonials. I will be brainstorming and providing feedback on strategies to help modernize, strengthen, diversify, and expand apprenticeship programs and help educate potential apprentices and career seekers on the benefits of apprenticeship.

My union believes skill, safety, productivity, and attitude are key ingredients to success for our members and our contractors. The training I went through at the Carpenters Technology College consistently challenges industry standards to improve, resulting in our union carpenters being the most highly skilled and efficient workforce available to compete in today’s highly competitive construction market.

The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters represents over 43,000 of the most skilled carpenters who live and work in Delaware, The District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. EAS Carpenters are trained in many different trades, including commercial/residential carpentry; heavy highway; pile-driving; floor-layering; mill cabinet work; and trade-show construction.

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