Building a Career

Pre-apprenticship program gives students a leg up in the construction industry

by Anne Stokes

Nidia Chicas has done a lot in her life: She’s worked as an assistant cook and secretary for the school district, harvested tomatoes, been in retail management, fast food service and more. But the mother of seven wanted more for herself and her family.

“I was tired of going from job, to job, to job,” she says. “I wanted something more stable and more secure for me and my family in the long run.”

To that end, Chicas went to Workforce Connection to find out what her options were. They connected her with ValleyBuild, a pre-apprenticeship program for those looking to get into the construction trades. She found the program’s relatively short training period, flexible schedule and job security — particularly preparation to apply for union membership — appealing.

“I was tired of going from job, to job, to job. … I wanted something more stable and more secure for me and my family in the long run.”

Nidia Chicas
Taper apprentice, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Local Union 294, District 16

“I used to worry about bills and worry about how I’m going to pay. Now I don’t worry because I always have a consistent job,” she says. “I get to be home with my kids on the weekends, I get to see them do sports. Before, I would work so many jobs that weren’t flexible with my hours, I had to miss a lot of things with my kids. Financially, physically and, although I didn’t realize it, emotionally, a lot has changed with me joining the union.”

Today, Chicas is a taper apprentice with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Local Union 294, District 16, a position ValleyBuild connected her with. As an apprentice, training is paid including medical benefits and pension contributions. It’s a stark contrast to many other career options.

“With the trades you’re not in debt going into a field of work,” she says. “If you go to a college … you’re in there for a long time, and then you come out with debt. Here, you’re actually getting hands-on skills [and] it’s a short period of time.”

According to California’s Employment Development Department, the short- and long-term demand for construction jobs is growing throughout the state, including the Central Valley. ValleyBuild familiarizes students with multiple building trades and provides foundational construction knowledge applicable to any number of positions.

“People can join apprenticeship programs without going through the ValleyBuild program, but personally I would rather have people who went through the ValleyBuild program because it will establish in their minds what they’re getting into,” says Jeffery Roberts, Regional Director of District Council 16, Local Union 294 International Union of Painters and Allied Trades and vice president of the Fresno, Madera, Tulare, and Kings Building Trades. “These aren’t jobs, these are careers once they transfer into an apprenticeship program. They’re immediately getting money put into their health care, they’re immediately getting money put into a pension, and if they don’t stick around, they won’t see that pension.”

While the promise of financial and job security are important factors in any career, Chicas says it’s important for her to set a good example for her children too. She wants them to know that a fulfilling career and happy life aren’t always dependent on college, especially for her eldest son who expresses interest in going into the construction trades, just like his mom.

“I like that my kids see they’re not forced to be in a system that’s ‘traditional.’ You get out of high school and you ‘have’ to go to college,” she says. “There are so many options out there where you can succeed and have a good, decent career and not have to go to college. Some people are just so stuck on the system, but there’s way more out there.”

For more information about ValleyBuild’s programs, visit them online at valleybuild.net or call 855-805-7245.