The Ironworkers Local 29, Bricklayers Local 1, and Cement Masons Local 555, partnering with the Union Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training (U-PACT) program, offer a 12-week training to women at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF).
U-PACT Oregon is a pre-apprenticeship program designed to provide basic to intermediate trade skills to adults in custody that will prepare them for a career in one of the three represented trades, reduce recidivism, and positively impact Oregon’s economy.
U-PACT Oregon participants take part in a fast-paced classroom and hands-on pre-apprenticeship program. They earn their OSHA 10 card and receive training in various trade-specific topics and green training, as well as various life skills that will prepare them for a successful career and future outside of prison.
Upon release, the graduates will receive direct or preferred entry into one of the three apprenticeship programs. Graduates will receive their tools, tool belts, and helmets at no cost to them. They will also receive a boot voucher, gas card, and their first month’s dues and initiation fee will be paid for.
Recently, the program participants held an impressive hands-on demonstration. These women confidently showed off their many skills. They described the differences in brick styles, design patterns, and laying techniques. They packed 80-pound rebar, tied a reinforcing mat, tied a rebar cage, used an oxygen-acetylene torch to cut iron, and rigged an iron beam. They also built an impressive form for a concrete slab. They did a great job explaining what they were doing as they were doing it.
The partnership between the Ironworkers Local 29, Bricklayers Local 1, and Cement Masons Local 555 with the U-PACT program illustrates a commitment to empowering women and reducing recidivism through education and skill development. The program not only equips participants with valuable trade skills but instills life skills necessary for a successful reentry into society. By providing direct entry into apprenticeship programs, along with necessary tools and support, these initiatives pave the way for a brighter future for the graduates and contributes to Oregon’s economy.
