GOVERNOR BROWN: SIGN AB 235 TO GIVE WORKERS A PATHWAY TO 21ST CENTURY CAREERS
Sacramento, CA – The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council today applauded the California Senate’s bipartisan support of AB 235 (O’Donnell), legislation that provides pathways to 21st Century careers with apprenticeship opportunities in emerging industries including healthcare, advanced manufacturing and IT. The following statement may be attributed to Jim Araby, Executive Director, UFCW Western States Council:
“21st Century jobs need 21st century thinking around workers – and California has rightly invested $15 million annually over the past three years to promote the creation of new apprenticeship programs in non-traditional industry sectors. The expansion of apprenticeship training is essential for working Californians to gain the skills needed for the demands of a changing economy.
“Apprenticeship is increasingly recognized as a way to promote access and level the playing field for women and people of color in new growing sectors of California’s economy. By combining both classroom study and on-the-job training, apprenticeship programs train high-quality professionals in a variety of different fields and professions in an efficient and cost-effective way.
“AB 235 will help more of California’s workers in non-traditional industries such as food, healthcare, retail, and cannabis to earn a paycheck by establishing new apprenticeship pathways in California, alongside existing programs in construction trades and firefighting. AB 235 will help California continue on the right path of creating the workforce of tomorrow.”
Joining the United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council in support of AB 235 are the State Building and Construction Trades Council, District Council of Iron Workers of the State of California, Vicinity Jewish Vocational Service of San Francisco, and the Service Employees International Union.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2018
CONTACT: Mike Roth, 916.444.7170