Finishing Trades Institute to be Dedicated at South Seattle Community College
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SEATTLE, March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- While today's uncertain economy continues to make news, there are still some jobs that employers are scrambling to fill: skilled trades.
On Friday, March 21, District Council 5 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) will address that need with the dedication of its $9 million state-of-the-art training facility on the campus of the South Seattle Community College.
The 54,000 square foot Finishing Trades Institute of Western Washington will train Apprentice Painters, Glaziers, Drywall Finishers, and Floor Covering Installers and offer skills upgrade training and certification classes. Also calling the Institute "home" will be offices for Union trade groups.
According to Michael D. Ball, Business Manager of IUPAT's District Council 5, the new Institute will serve an important educational function in the community. "With nearly 500 Apprentices currently enrolled in the combined programs as well as 2,500 Journeymen eligible to partake in advanced skills enhancement, we view the Institute as an important place for people to earn while they learn. We offer family-wage jobs, benefits, and a real sense of pride in our work," Ball said.
Two full time instructors and approximately 12 part time instructors will round out the Institute's faculty.
Don Olson, District Council 5 Apprenticeship Training Director, acknowledged the vision and leadership from labor, management, the education community, and government in turning a shared vision into reality. "From a training perspective, we know the Institute will contribute to people's lives today and in the future," he said. "Not only will Apprentices gain the skills they need to get good family-wage jobs, but employers will also benefit by having access to skilled, highly-trained workers whose focus in quality, workplace safety, and on-the-job professionalism," Olson said.
Long Painting President Mike Cassidy emphasized the importance to the business community in having skilled and trained workers on the job. "Our company and our clients -- including restaurants, hotels, public sector projects, and private homeowners -- look to us and companies like ours to complete their jobs on time and on budget," Cassidy said. "People often do not realize how important skilled workers are to accomplishing that goal. We applaud the leadership of IUPAT, our elected officials, and the business community for coming together to make this facility a reality."
Joining in the dedication ceremony are local labor, management, and government officials, including the State's "First Gentleman," who will represent Governor Chris Gregoire in receiving the first-ever Ty Long-Joe Gudmundson Award for Commitment to Apprenticeship Programs. This award will honor an individual in the community who supports apprenticeship and trade education programs -- which Long and Gudmundson made a priority in their respective businesses.
The Union's General President, James A. (Jimmy) Williams, who oversees the labor group in Washington, D.C., will also be on hand to acknowledge the people who led the effort to get the Institute built.
The dedication ceremony starts at 11:00 a.m., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and lunch following a brief presentation to honor those who worked together to accomplish the vision of having a place for all the allied trades under one roof.
SOURCE Finishing Trades Institute of Western Washington
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