First-time SFMTA Apprenticeship Program to Build Talent Pipeline

SFMTA crew cleans overhead wires after a World Series parade. Photo taken Oct. 31, 2014.

A new SFMTA apprenticeship program will help jump-start meaningful careers for local residents while developing the SFMTA’s skilled workforce of the future.

The program is a combination of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction to learn mechanical trade skills, like being a transit power line worker or a maintenance machinist.

Interested high school seniors, graduates, veterans, college students or those looking to change careers can learn more about the first-time SFMTA apprenticeship program at the City and County of San Francisco Winter 2016 Career Fair. The fair will be held Wednesday, Feb. 24 at International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 34 offices next to AT&T Park at 2nd and King streets.

The City and County of San Francisco Winter 2016 Career Fair offers a number of career apprenticeships with various city agencies for skilled labor construction crafts. Along with the apprenticeship programs, job seekers can also explore other job opportunities available with the city family during the career fair. Twenty-two different agencies or outside groups will be represented.

On average, nearly 30 percent of all Muni technical trade workers are near or reaching retirement age — with potential retirement rates higher than 50 percent for some job classifications. To get ahead of the curve, the SFMTA has implemented a long-range strategy to build a talent pipeline through its apprenticeship program for skilled trades.

SFMTA apprenticeships will be between two and five years long. They will be offered in numerous technical fields that include transit power line workers, maintenance machinists, car and auto painters and auto machinists.

“The apprenticeship program is a crucial investment in the future of Muni,” said Tom Nolan, Chairman of the SFMTA Board of Directors. “By starting now to train a new robust, highly-skilled technical workforce, we’re laying the foundation to ensure that our Muni system can be the reliable transportation network our city needs.”

Those accepted into the SFMTA apprenticeship programs, beginning in August, earn while they learn. Apprentices receive pay at specified wages for the on-the-job training portion. School expenses are covered by the union. Apprenticeships can often lead to high paying jobs with great benefits for people entering — or re-entering — the job market. After completing the program, participants earn nationwide journey-level status allowing program graduates the additional benefit to seek journey-level opportunities across the country.

“Investing in apprenticeships will allow us to create opportunities for local residents to start meaningful careers, while also enabling us to keep up with developing technology, learn best practices, and ultimately allow for the sustained growth of the nation’s first publicly-owned transit system,” said Director of Transportation Ed Reiskin.

Join us for the City and County of San Francisco’s Winter 2016 Career Fair on Wednesday, Feb. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 34 Hall, at 815 2nd Street.

For more information on this free event, call 415.557.4800 or email DHR.Apprenticeshipsf@sfgov.org.