BUD graduates its 15th class of pre-apprentices ready to start good paying union jobs

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER for the 15th graduating class of the Building Union Diversity (BUD) program. Sixteen started the pre-apprenticeship program and 16 finished – six women and 10 men. During their five-week training, they visited the training programs of Cement Masons Local 527, IBEW Electrical Workers Local 1, Carpenters, Floor Layers Local 1310, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562, and SMART Sheet Metal Workers Local 36. BUD Program Director Russ Signorino said the participants have also expressed interest in several trades they were not able to visit this round. Launched in 2014, in an effort to attract more minorities and women into the building construction trades, the BUD program helps participants discover and land good paying jobs in the building construction trades. Anyone interested in participating in a future BUD class should contact the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) at 314-657-3545. – St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council photo