Next BUD program begins Feb. 14

Deadline to apply is Feb. 1

Women, minorities and veterans interested in life-changing careers in the union building trades have the opportunity to apply for next Building Union Diversity (BUD) program, which begins Feb. 14. The application deadline is Feb. 1.

The BUD program, created by the St. Louis Building Trades Council, began in 2014 as a recruitment tool to encourage more minorities and women to get into the union building trades. The free program offers pre-apprentices the opportunity to visit local building trade unions to give them hands-on basic training and a feel for each of the trades.

To apply for the program, you must be 18 years or older, eligible to work in the United States and meet Military Selective Service Requirements, if applicable. Preferred credentials include a score of five on the WorkKeys Applied Math and Workplace Documents tests, passage of a drug test and a high school diploma or equivalent.

91% GRADUATION RATE
The BUD program boasts a 91 percent graduation rate and 82 percent placement rate since it began seven years ago. Of those who have graduated from the program, 80 percent are minorities, 24 percent are women and six percent are veterans.

Last year, the Missouri AFL-CIO’s Missouri Works Initiative took over the work of replicating the BUD STL training and recruiting model statewide, with a goal of continuing to increase construction trade participation among traditionally underrepresented groups, including minorities and women and women.

2022 ST. LOUIS BUD SCHEDULE
The 2022 BUD schedule is as follows:

• Session 1 – Feb. 14 – March 25 (Application deadline is Feb. 1).
• Session 2 – April 25 – June 3 (Application deadline is April 13).
• Session 3 – July 18 – Aug. 26 (Application deadline is July 6).
• Session 4 – Oct. 10 – Nov. 18 (Application deadline is Sept. 28).

TO APPLY
To apply for the program, visit moworksinitiative.org/building-union-diversity-bud-program or contact BUD Program Coordinator Aurora Bihler at 314-312-3038 or aurora.bihler@moaflcio.org.