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Achieving Equal Opportunity in Apprenticeship: IDEAS THA IDEAS THA IDEAS THA IDEAS THA IDEAS THAT WORK T WORK T WORK T WORK T WORK George E. Pataki, Governor Linda Angello, Commissioner Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. P536 (8/04) ---PAGE BREAK--- Achieving Equal Opportunity in Apprenticeship: IDEAS THAT WORK This booklet is designed to provide technical assistance to registered apprenticeship sponsors. These activities are not all- inclusive, but provide a wide range of suggested solutions that have been found to work successfully for others. For further information, contact the Apprenticeship Office or Division of Equal Opportunity Development location listed at the end of this booklet, for the office nearest you. ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR JOB CORPS CENTERS CASSADAGA JOB CORPS CENTER 8115 Glasgow Road Cassadaga, NY 14718-9619 (716) 595-8760 Fax (716) 595-3963 ONEONTA JOB CORPS CENTER Box 51 A 21 Homer Folks Avenue Oneonta, NY 13820-9325 (607) 433-2111 Fax (607) 433-1629 DELAWARE VALLEY JOB CORPS CENTER PO Box 846 9368 State Route 97 Callicoon, NY 12723-0846 (845) 887-5400 Fax (845) 887-4762 SOUTH BRONX JOB CORPS CENTER 1771 Andrews Avenue Bronx, New York 10453-6808 (718) 731-7700 Fax (718) 731-3543 GLENMONT JOB CORPS CENTER PO Box 993 822 River Road Glenmont, NY 12077-0993 (518) 767-7000 Fax (518) 767-2106 IROQUOISJOB CORPS/ IROQUOIS CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CENTER 11780 Tibbets Road Medina, NY 14103 (716) 798-7000 Fax (716) 798-7046 BROOKLYN JOB COPRS CENTER 585 Dekalb Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11205 (718) 623-4000 Fax (718) 623-9626 9 ---PAGE BREAK--- NYS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR DIVISION OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY DEVELOPMENT (DEOD) OFFICES ALBANY Division of Equal Opportunity Development State Office Campus Building 12, Room 540 Albany, New York 12240 (518) 457-1984 NEW YORK Division of Equal Opportunity Development 345 Hudson St., Rm. 8309 New York, New York 10014 (212) 354-6599 BUFFALO Division of Equal Opportunity Development 290 Main Street, Room 240 Buffalo, New York 14202 (716) 851-2768 OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT Establishing personal contacts with Community- Based Organizations and local Workforce Investment Boards Many Community-Based Organizations (CBO's) receive apprenticeship opportunity announcements but may not respond because past efforts have been fruitless or they perceive the effort to be "pro forma." Using personal contacts sends a message that your program is serious about its requests. Form an advisory group consisting of local CB0’s and/or advocacy group representatives, includ- ing local ministerial groups. They can share ideas on how to jointly reach under- represented groups. Smaller program sponsors can collabo- rate in forming such groups. For example, consider forming or joining a Gender Equity Advisory group to meet the special needs of women working in non-traditional occupations. Establish a relationship with Job Corps programs in the area. Job Corps graduates comprise a screened pool of female and minority apprentice candidates with proven basic skills and aptitudes. 1 8 ---PAGE BREAK--- Their basic skills mastery prepares them for successful entry into apprenticeships for over 100 of the registered apprenticeable occupations in New York State. Their place- ment coordinators are the best people to contact to establish working relationships. A list of their phone numbers and locations are included in the appendix. Involve willing minority and female journey-workers. Ask their help in disseminating information through their networks and for suggestions on contacts and places to spread the word. In addition to using contacts, some sponsors have found it helpful to bring along apprentices who are of the same race and/or gender as their audience. This reinforces positive role models. Check the location of your recruitment sites. If your program is located in a remote area or is not accessible by public transportation, this may create a barrier to under-represented groups. Consider offering your applica- tions at multiple locations or through a DOL One-Stop Career Center. Use the community as a resource and work with CBO's to identify an accessible place to distribute information and interview applicants. 2 7 NYS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR APPRENTICESHIP OFFICES ALBANY NYS Department of Labor Office Building Campus Building 12, Rm. 440 Albany, New York 12240 (518) 457-1996 BINGHAMTON NYS Department of Labor 2001 Perimeter Road East Endicott, NewYork 13760 (607) 741-4577 BUFFALO NYS Department of Labor 290 Main Street, Rm. 224 Buffalo, New York 14202 (716) 851-2726 HICKSVILLE NYS Department of Labor 303 West Old Country Rd. Hicksville, New York 11801 (516) 934-8526 NEW YORK CITY NYS Department of Labor 247 West 54th Street 5th Floor New York, New York 10019 (212) 621-0844 ROCHESTER NYS Department of Labor 130 West Main Street Rm. 202 Rochester, New York 14614 (716) 258-8885 SYRACUSE NYS Department of Labor 450 South Salina Street Syracuse, NewYork 13202 (315) 479-3228 UTICA NYS Department of Labor 207 Genesee Street, Rm. 603 Utica, NY 13501 (315) 793-2296 MID-HUDSON NYS Department of Labor 120 Bloomingdale Road White Plains, New York 10605 (914) 997-9534 ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 Develop a relationship with voc-ed schools, Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and voc-ed/occupational education teachers in local high schools. They can identify students whose interests match your needs. Remember, journey-workers can assist with this. Participate in High School and Post-Secondary Career Day or Job Fair Activities or send litera- ture, brochures or videos that explain your trade and the opportunities available. Use pre-apprenticeship programs. These include activities that introduce the potential apprentice to the workplace, provide workplace hands-on experiences to aid career selection and incorporate the development of workplace competencies. Job Corps Centers give disadvantaged youth pre-apprenticeship training in many different skills. Displaced Homemaker Programs can be a source of referral for women interested in non-tradi- tional work. They can be contacted through your local One-Stop Career Center. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 Consider advertising in non-traditional areas. These are places you would normally not post flyers, such as: supermarkets, restaurants, music shops, laundromats, barber and beauty shops, local library (career sections), etc. Also send announcements to radio stations and newspapers targeted to minorities and women. Serve as a guest on radio shows talking about your need for greater participation from women and minorities. If available in your area, contact programs that prepare women and minorities for work in the building trades. These programs typically provide tutoring and job- readiness training and would complement your registered apprenticeship program's recruiting efforts. Make sure your recruiting announcements ex- plain that apprenticeship "training" is a job, not merely a long-term "training" program. Be clear about minimum qualifications. The use of continuous recruiting can minimize the effects of a remote or inaccessible location. Contact your apprenticeship field representative to learn more about this option. Request waivers from DOL to allow qualified women and minorities on your list to be reached. Consider the use of school-to-work apprenticeship. This would be an excellent opportunity for you to influence interested women and minorities to consider your trade as a career. Contact the Apprentice Training Central Office at (518) 457-4391 for details. Communicate your EEO policy in a way that dem- onstrates your commitment to all your employ- ees, members, officers, etc., and actively partici- pate in helping achieve the EEO goals. Examples of this may be to post your affirmative action policy on bulletin boards in the workplace; attach copies of it to paychecks; announce the policy in company newsletters or trade publications; circulate it among staff and have them sign a statement that they have read and understood the policy. Grant advanced standing or previous credit for related training or educational experience equally to all apprentices. 5