Works Initiative News | Worker Wellness & Career Opportunities

Wellness & Well-being Highlights September 30

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of September 30, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at the complexities of PDMPs (prescription drug monitoring programs)—to how one of the best basketball players of all time is on a mission to ensure children can read at grade-level—to advice on retiring abroad vs in a domestic rural setting. This week I would like to take this opportunity to take a closer look at how Narcan is at last becoming a staple in more and more workplaces.

If you have followed this blog—off and on—for the past few years, it should be no surprise that I became excited to see a big player like Amazon make the commitment to stock its warehouses with Narcan. In the interest of remaining positive, their action will hopefully move other mega-companies to do the right thing. Why? Because the CDC reported in 2022, that nearly 2/3s of the workforce (over 18 yo) experienced a SUD (substance use disorder). Hence, I go back to the old saw that “employees are a firm’s most important asset.” If this is so…then why is it taking so long to ensure the safety of our workers, customers, etc. in this country?

The article linked below goes on to say that much of the resistance is related to stigma. I could not agree more! Back around 2017, when a colleague of mine and I approached various players in the construction industry, we were typically told one of two things: a) our industry does not have an opioids “problem” or b) our legal department recommends that we not conform to our ask in the so-called interest of liability. Meanwhile, construction workers across this nation were dying from drug overdoses in restrooms on job sites.

Most of you have already heard my SWA story from nearly 2 years ago. I, for one, was blessed to be in the right place, at the right time, with the right set of skills and save a stranger…someone’s son and possibly a brother, husband, and/or father. Honestly, it takes less than 15 minutes to learn how to administer Narcan. For those of you on the more cautious side, I recommend scouring the ANSW (Alliance for Naloxone Safety in the Workplace) website linked below for more info on training, Good Sam laws, corporate policy, etc. As I mentioned to a group of construction leaders a few nights ago, this truly is a matter of We vs Me. I, alone, cannot put a dent in this DEADLY epidemic…but WE can!!! In closing, the longer WE allow vital public health issues like this to remain in silence, the more WE promote the stigma surrounding these tough topics plaguing our society. Please join me in saving lives by getting trained and helping our neighbors in need!

Sources: https://www.wsj.com/business/amazon-to-stock-opioid-overdose-reversal-drug-narcan-at-its-warehouses-2ea8d831?st=TFYyxA&reflink=article_gmail_share

www.ANSW.org

Trans-teens / Anti-trans States / Suicide Attempts

Amazon & Narcan

Methadone: New Rules

Do PDMPs work?

Wellness & Well-being Highlights September 23

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of September 23, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at the importance of teens and parents developing a “suicide safety plan”, when appropriate—to what lawmakers can do to improve the lives of Vets with PTSD via service dogs—to how chemicals used in food packaging may be negatively impacting your health. This week I would like to take this opportunity to take a closer look at the recent news regarding a decrease in overdose (OD) deaths in the USA. Stats reveal that OD deaths declined 11% nationwide and up to 30% in some regions.¹

While this news appears promising, some experts suggest that it is too early to identify which intervention factor(s) can be attributed to this decline. Was it the end of COVID or the arrest of high-profile Mexican Drug Cartel leaders? This “not knowing why” impedes our ability to leverage what is working! Nevertheless, a few advocates point to the use of Narcan as part of a larger “harm reduction” strategy to reduce OD deaths. (Having related firsthand experience, I can tell you saving a life was life-changing!) Meanwhile, as this nation enters the 4^th wave of the opioid epidemic (known as polysubstances), the fentanyl “cocktails” involving Xylazine and Meth are more poisonous than ever.²

With OD deaths still hovering around the 100k mark per year, now is not the time to take our foot off the pedal. To be sure, some groups of people/communities are impacted more than others, (i.e., Native Americans, inner-city). Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to continue offering an array of pathways to recovery. These can include MOUD (medications for opioid use disorder) programs, out-patient and in-patient treatment centers, group therapy, safe injection sites, etc. So, until we have evidence on what “really” works, let’s continue to offer hope by being prepared to expand opportunities to connect and make a difference. In the meantime, please consider getting trained on how and when to use Narcan.^{3, 4, 5}Take it from me, you CAN make a difference!!!

Sources: [1] https://www.npr.org/2024/09/18/nx-s1-5111443/experts-want-to-capitalize-on-declining-fatal-overdose-rates

[2] https://www.npr.org/2024/09/18/nx-s1-5107417/overdose-fatal-fentanyl-death-opioid

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmrPgantvn8

[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7klB8Vza9ac&t=12s

[5] www.ANSW.org

Teens & Parents / Suicide / Safety Plan

US OD deaths plummet

Why have ODs decreased?

More dangerous Fentanyl?

Medicaid & Addiction Recovery

Cancer & Survival

How peds over-reacted on peanuts

PTSD / Service Dogs / Lawmakers

Loneliness / Isolation / Social Disconnection

Wellness & Well-being Highlights September 16

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of September 16, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog explores a variety of efforts addressing Suicide Prevention in the Construction Industry—to how a recent study’s findings indicate the rapid aging of teen girls’ brains due to COVID—to a time-sensitive plea to Congress as an unusual amount of 9/11 First Responders are beginning to show signs of dementia related to neurotoxic dust exposure which is NOT currently covered by the World Trade Center Health Program. This week I would like to take this opportunity to take a closer look at the importance of how WE look beyond monthly campaigns to raise awareness in our communities (i.e., May: Mental Health Awareness and September: Suicide Prevention Awareness). It is no secret that both of these topics, for the most part until this past decade, have been considered taboo or “off limit” topics whether at home, workplace, or community. Thankfully, more recently, an increasing amount of venues are discussing these “once-tough” matters on a regular basis by creating safe spaces and not merely relegating them to nationally-designated months. As I have mentioned previously in this blog, I believe the COVID pandemic accelerated this process…for the good of society.

I would be remiss in suggesting that the above-mentioned change came about because of 1 factor. As such, most issues in life are determined based on an array of inputs. Another input worth mentioning here is the wave of new, younger workers entering the workforce…who are not afraid of speaking their minds (FYI: Mental Health ranks high on their priority list). To this end, if we adhere to these 2 often-spoken tenets of business leadership:

(a) workers are a firm’s most important asset; and

(b) today’s youth are the foundation of tomorrow’s society

it is imperative that WE integrate lessons learned from these efforts from this past May and September. In essence, let’s move beyond the “check the box” philosophy.

This brings to mind the sea-change of the OSHA-10 movement ~2 decades ago. Major construction consumers in the STL region drew a line in the sand and said, “Six months from now, no workers will be allowed on our property’s construction projects w/o an OSHA-10 credential.” More than a handful of contractors and trade unions immediately pushed back. Before long, a lion’s share of this work was assigned to the various joint labor-management training schools. Eventually, the goal was met! More importantly, most of those training programs went above and beyond the call by integrating “safety” into ALL aspects of their curricula…thus, my point about moving beyond merely checking the box.

In closing, there is NO doubt that our industry is faced with another watershed moment. Make no mistake, once again this will require involvement of ALL stakeholders to make the difference. As per a Chinese proverb: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. YOU can help transform our industry by participating in one or more of the activities listed below sooner rather than later. Please share as you see fit. Thank you!

Sources: SUD in the Construction Industry (9/17)

From Awareness to Action: Construction & MH

Suicide Prevention in the Construction Industry

Vets & Safer Homes (11/18)

UM-Ext Resilience Training

One Man’s MH Journey

UA & MH Awareness

Contractors shed light on Suicide Prevention

Peer Supporters MH: Caring for the Caretakers

Suicide: Changing the Narrative

Employers: Why hire a Social Worker?

Cannabis & Workplace Intervention?

MH: Which “therapy” for me?

Update: Mental Health Parity Law

Partner Spotlight: Sonja Gholston-Byrd

“United Way is a global organization that works to build stronger, more equitable communities by connecting donors, volunteers, unions, community leaders, and partners to address complex challenges,” says Sonja. “The breadth and depth of the help provided to so many of our neighbors is incredible. Across two states and 16 counties, we invest more than $1 million per week to ensure that people can live into their possibilities each and every day.”

Overseeing the organization’s largest labor liaison department in the country, Sonja and her team are tasked with connecting union members and workers facing financial hardship with 211 agency resources and direct assistance. “We encourage unions, labor leaders, and union members to contribute to and support United Way’s annual campaign,” says Sonja. “By participating on workforce development boards and community social services organizations, they engage with leaders of apprenticeship programs throughout the region and help create pathways to livable wage jobs and union apprentice programs.”

Social services support is provided to Missouri Works Initiative program participants by United Way of Greater Saint Louis Labor in partnership with MWI, including assistance with transportation. “We provide resources for long-term, permanent vehicle ownership in addition to short-term ride-sharing services through Lyft. Our mentorship program aims to assist graduates in overcoming obstacles to entry and successful retention in the construction trades while UWGSL Labor provides direct assistance to students who are struggling financially with basic needs,” shares Sonja. “Additionally, we host the Labor and Learn event, which gives students a chance to get in touch with AFL-CIO-recognized consistency groups and other union diversity-focused organizations.”

In addition to providing participants with the connections they need financially, the United Way of Greater St. Louis sponsors the Mentoring Program, which is intended to assist graduates in overcoming obstacles in obtaining employment and retention in the construction trades. “We connect men and women with trade expertise with recent graduates of the program,” says Sonja. The mentoring program addresses topics connected with work and job performance and staff of United Way Labor select and screen mentors, who are at least level 5 apprentices or retirees. “For several months following graduation, we continue to coordinate and monitor the mentoring pairing connection to ensure it remains strong and effective,” shares Sonja. These valuable mentoring relationships help participants navigate the workplace culture and expectations while inspiring the hope and confidence that are necessary for success.

September 11, 2024/by Missouri Works Initiative

Missouri Apprentice Ready Program, News, Success Stories

Ronald’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative

As a justice-involved felon, Ronald found it difficult to find life-sustaining employment after his incarceration. However, after hearing about the Apprentice Ready Program from his pastor at Brookline Church of Christ, he felt like it was something he needed to learn more about. “I ended up talking to Austin Fox (Missouri Apprentice Ready Program Instructor) about the program,” says Ronald. “I knew I needed a career, and this sounded like a golden opportunity.”

For Ronald, the Missouri Works Initiative Apprentice Ready program was everything he needed to build a foundation for future success. The 5-week program provided him with education on the unions, a weekly stipend, tools, and a hands-on introduction to all the trade options before him. “I liked everything,” says Ronald. “I really liked that we got to do hands-on and learn about the unions as a whole.”

After graduating from cohort 9, Ronald is now with IUPAT 2015, which represents glaziers and finishers in Southwest Missouri, Northwest Arkansas, and Northeast Oklahoma. Additionally, he was recently awarded credit towards his apprenticeship and is already a 3rd year apprentice after only four months on the job. “Now I have a career as a glazier with the IUPAT, and it’s helped me to grow into being a better husband, father, and productive member of society,” shares Ronald.

If you, a friend, or a loved one has been justice-involved and are seeking new career opportunities that will last a lifetime, The Missouri Works Initiative Apprentice Ready program provides everything you need to build a new beginning. Take it from Ronald, “Well, like I do say all the time at the union hall when I get to talk to the new classes, joining a trade for the union is a game changer!”

Start your journey here.

September 11, 2024/by Missouri Works Initiative

Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights September 9

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of September 9, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog reveals the promotion of Suicide Prevention Awareness Week & the Sept 9^th Construction Stand-Down—to trials and tribulations of establishing the “988” Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the inauguration of the “988 Day” on Sept 8—to how Apple worked behind the scenes to kill a bill protecting our children’s mental health. This week I would like to take this opportunity to take a closer look at the issue of immigration. With fewer babies being born in the USA and over 10k people turning 65 yo each day this year, we need to think strategically about not only what our future workforce looks like but who will do the work.

It is no secret that the construction industry for the past +2 decades has been dealing with a worker shortage. Accordingly, the US-DOL’s Office of Apprenticeship has made strides to ensure our apprenticeship standards are more inclusive. Thus, the rise of pre-apprenticeship programs like MWI’s BUD and LU 562’s Champions.¹ However, efforts like these have fallen short in the greater scheme of meeting tomorrow’s anticipated needs.

According to the WSJ, ~9m people have migrated to the US since 2020.² As noted, nearly all of these people are seeking personal safety and economic opportunity. A major point of controversy is that ~70% of these people did not enter via legal pathways. That aside, a positive note is that these recent migrants are younger and of working age (78%: 16-64 yo vs 60%: 16-64 yo US-born). While I do not condone illegal activity, we must consider how to fill job openings across all sectors throughout this country. Hopefully, our leaders can step back from this so-called “problem” and redefine this moment as an “opportunity” for growth. To remain as a world leader requires us to solve tough problems. Truth be told, we are not the only industrialized nation facing this dilemma. Looking beyond our borders for answers seems like a good place to start.

Sources: [1] https://www.constructiondive.com/trendline/recruiting-retention-and-training/337/?utm_source=CD&utm_medium=Inline2Sept3&utm_campaign=NationalBusinessFurniture&utm_content=ad-INLINE_SPOT_2&utm_term=66865

[2] https://www.wsj.com/economy/how-immigration-remade-the-u-s-labor-force-716c18ee?st=2okv5pi6o6e3gor&reflink=article_gmail_share

IMPORTANT: Construction Suicide STAND-DOWN 2024

Construction’s Suicide Rate

988 & Holding On

Suicide Prevention / Employers / Protocol

Tips for dealing w/ a suicide loss

MH & Joy

SUD Treatment / Patients / Evidence-based

MO & Reducing drug’s impact

Vancouver’s Safe Use Sites?

Drugs & Workplace

Rethinking Addiction

Ketamine Queen

China / Fentanyl / USA

Handling Grief @ Work

Facing life’s challenges

Redefining MH

Women / Work / Well-being

Pre-eclampsia on the rise

Run or Walk?

Retirement: Cost of care-giving

On Age Waves

Quiz: Healthy Brain Habits

Parkinson’s & Your Gut

On losing a spouse

Warning: Testosterone Clinics

New ways to address Sleep Apnea

Meds & Magnesium

Shingles under 50?

Care for new tattoo

Apple nixes Child Safety Bill

Goalball & Paralympics

Reflection: Sports…22 going on 70

Hotel Strike

EEOC settles 3 construction Harassment cases

OSHA / Heat Standard / Comments

Economists compare Past v Present

Immigration’s impact on US Workforce

The impact of fewer babies

Gen Z & Workplace Differences

Do College Grades Matter?

Construction: Recruiting/Retaining/Training

Career Break or Mini-retirement?

Quitting Agencies

China & More Robots

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

From Awareness to Action: Construction MH (9/12)

SUD in the Construction Industry (9/17)

Navigating Opioids in the Workplace

College Students & Mental Well-being

US-DOL Recovery Ready Workplaces Tool Kit (9/30)

First “988 Day”

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact johngaal@moaflcio.org with related questions or comments.

September 9, 2024/by Dr. John Gaal

Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights September 2

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of September 2, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog reveals the kick-off of the many efforts to promote Suicide Prevention Awareness Month—to how the US Surgeon General issued yet another warning…this time as it relates to “parents and stress”—to an array of stories covering the head injury-related deaths of middle- and high school football players over the past 2 weeks. This week I would like to take this opportunity to take a closer look how workers are being impacted in today’s economy. I think the WSJ put it best: “Never before have so many Americans redrawn their relationships with work as a result of one public-health crisis.”¹ Four years later, millions of adults (workers) are still trying to navigate the effects of long COVID. Meanwhile, another report indicated that as the hiring market cools down, bosses are resetting wages…in other words offering $80k per year for a position 1 year ago they posted at $120k. This trend touches both white- and blue-collar talent.²And then, there is the story focusing on the “American Dream” or the lack thereof. Sadly, a recent poll suggests: “While around 90% of children born in 1940 were ultimately better off than their parents…only around half of those born in the 1980s were able to say the same.”³ Much of this decline can be linked to economic immobility, job insecurity, and the weakening of unions via labor laws.

So, with respect to Labor Day, and more importantly ALL workers, it seems fitting to reflect on a couple vital points in last week’s press:

1) Fortune reported, “Many American workers don’t make a living wage, and it’s even worse for women and people of color.”⁴

2) The WSJ stated, “…the share of people holding more than one job ticked up to 5.3% in July from 5.2% in June…[which] is a significant increase from a pandemic low of 4% in April 2020….”⁵

As such, here are my respective thoughts: A very strong positive of a unionized workforce is that ALL workers are treated equally when it comes to pay and benefits. And, most unions still negotiate for benefit packages that often include health & welfare (frequently for the entire family vs individual), defined pensions (vs defined contributions: Think: 401k), and training programs. In essence, the collective bargaining agreement serves as an effective tool for DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). It is no secret that “labor” tends to make up a large portion of a firm’s budget. So, when cuts are considered, labor is typically the first targeted area for belt-tightening. To this end, many businesses for the past couple of decades have shifted from offering defined pension plans to defined contribution (DC) plans. Some experts suggest that DCs were NOT originally designed to serve as the common workers’ retirement plan. Decades ago, the 401k was created for CEOs looking to defer taxes regarding their hefty pay packages. Expecting a blue-collar worker to come home after a hard day’s work (Think: construction trades) and then manage his/her money for a retirement 30 years in the future is absurd! If you don’t agree with me…Then, why are there college degree programs that address this area of financial planning? Furthermore, unfortunately, workers who leave one firm’s DC are left to then figure out tax implications let alone how to start over in the new company’s plan. For this alone, I am GRATEFUL to BOTH labor and management leaders who had the foresight in the 1960s to develop multi-employer benefit funds…one, in which, my benefits traveled with me between signatory contractors. Thus, avoiding a lap or gap in service. If this nation seeks to continue as a world leader, it MUST take care of its workers by providing stability in their lives!

Sources: [1] https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/long-covid-knocked-a-million-americans-off-their-career-paths-48926445?st=bodvvl95o1orbu2&reflink=article_gmail_share

[2] https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/salary-workers-pay-cuts-2024-54101d66?st=i68xzf16aud0vet&reflink=article_gmail_share

[3] https://www.wsj.com/economy/consumers/american-dream-poll-us-economy-e5ddf640?st=l5p1k71yj5swvg1&reflink=article_gmail_share

[4] https://fortune.com/2024/08/26/many-us-workers-dont-make-living-wage-women-people-of-color/

[5] https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/workers-multiple-jobs-lifestyle-economy-344c8f10?st=2ol57riy7ey00b4&reflink=article_gmail_share

Suicide Prevention: Talk Away the Dark

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: Promos

MCCA: MH & Suicide Prevention

OUD & Recovery in STL

Opioid Treatment Access Line

Fentanyl Facts

Construction deaths / State laws / Narcan access

Newest Opioids Settlement

Stigma / Addiction / Language

US Surgeon General’s warning: Parents are Stressed

Are Parents Stressed Out?

Boomers & Remarrying?

In-office therapy

Sex therapy: Dos & Don’ts

Listeria outbreak & Lunch meat

Tennis / Doping / Unequal treatment

Head trauma & Youth football Deaths (1)

Head trauma & Youth Football Deaths (2)

Head trauma & Youth Football Deaths (3)

Head trauma & Youth Football Deaths (4)

Why Unions?: There is Power

East Coast Port Strike?

Canadian Govt steps into rail shutdown

Do mega-mergers hurt workers?

Vegas Casino harasses workers

Higher Ed & Unionizing

On Teacher Burnout

The out-of-reach “American Dream”

More workers need 2 jobs to stay afloat

>40% of FT workers do NOT make “living wage”

Bosses finding ways to cut pay

COVID’s impact on career paths

Contractors guarding against “wage theft”

Australia’s attempt to ensure workers are NOT always ON

STEM: Dominance & Discrimination

Higher Ed & AI

WANTED: 3 million Apprentices

Newest “Out of Office” messaging?

Cows & Climate (1)

Cows & Climate (2)

AR-15 / Rights / Supreme Court

Non-competes / FTC / Courts

Europe & Organized (Drug) Gangs

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Gun Storage Safety Week (Sept 1-7)

Student Suicide Prevention & Postvention

US Congress Briefing: Maternal Suicide (9/10)

Toolkit to Prevent Firearm Suicide (9/11)

Suicide Prevention: From Edge to Empowerment (9/11)

Vets MH Conference (9/11)

SUD in the Construction Industry (9/17)

Finding Mental Health Resources

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact johngaal@moaflcio.org with related questions or comments.

September 3, 2024/by Dr. John Gaal

Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights August 26

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of August 26, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog reveals how Missouri had over 100% increase in 988 calls—to how technology is being used to help workers stay cool in hot environments—to how the new contract for professional women soccer players nixed the draft. This week I would like to take this opportunity to take a closer look how state and local governments are spending opioid settlement funds. With over $50b being made available to address the opioids crisis that has negatively impacted the US for more than 20 years, it is necessary to see that these funds are funneled towards programs that are evidenced-based vs pet projects. Far too often, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. While there are still those who think “harm reduction” efforts are means of enabling so-called addicts, I ask that you step back and scan your environment…personally and professionally.

Would you treat a fellow worker with cancer or a family member with diabetes like a criminal? This crisis did not happen overnight and nor will it be resolved overnight. Some areas have bought more police equipment or raised salaries with these funds.¹ Truth be told, solely sinking more money into policing will not put a dent in helping those who have OUD (opioids use disorder). Why? This is a time-worn “downstream” strategy that has failed in nearly every community. Let’s face it, nearly 70% of the people who began to use heroin in the period of ~2003-2016 started their journey via a legal prescription for opioids (i.e., painkillers). Treating people who have a brain disease like criminals furthers the stigma surrounding this issue.

Accordingly, we need to start thinking about upstream approaches! Prevention and intervention tactics must be employed to help stem the growth of this crisis. Prevention can take the form of education programs for K-12 and other targeted communities, including but not limited to the safe storage and disposal of drugs, etc.² Intervention programs that are already saving lives include stocking Narcan in your company’s First Aid kit and training staff on how to administer it. In addition, let’s address where to obtain free Narcan. Herein, I must give a shout out to St. Louis County Public Libraries. For more than a year now, their leadership has found ways to become part of this solution in their communities…by distributing Narcan and resource literature to the public…NO questions asked!³ In closing, we are currently in the 4^th Wave of the opioids crisis (polysubstances). This national crisis is NOT a static problem. In other words, now Narcan is not enough!⁴ Remaining flexible vs traditional is key to helping those with OUD.

Sources: [1] https://www.npr.org/2024/08/21/nx-s1-5084246/opioid-settlement-money-and-a-call-to-action\

[2] https://prevented.org/take-action/

[3] https://www.slcl.org/news/free-narcan-kits

[4] https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/about/what-you-should-know-about-xylazine.html

MO & 988

Canada calls for more MH support

GG Bridge & Anti-suicide Netting

Where are the opioid settlement funds going?

Are “magic mushrooms” making people sick?

When to get your flu shot?

Surge in Parvovirus

“Ice vests” for workers?

PFAS & Firefighters

Shipping / Poverty / Asthma

Protecting more than drivers

Students / School rules / Cell phones

Schools / Students / Unprepared

Quiz: Kids’ screen time

Postpartum Coverage?

Is COVID rewiring our brains?

Under 50 knee & hip surgeries?

Stipends for the Homeless?

“Building Union Diversity Serves as a Gateway to the Trades” from the St. Louis American

Note: The following article originally appeared in the St. Louis American’s Annual “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” Edition. Click here to view the St. Louis American website and other content. Click here to view the full “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” Edition.

Sammy Morning was facing a math problem of the worst kind. Following his felony conviction and incarceration, he was struggling to find gainful and sustainable work. He had five children to support. He had two jobs. And the money wasn’t adding up.

Morning’s pastor suggested a program called Building Union Diversity (BUD), which served as a gateway to the building trades – and to a better life.

“They took a chance on me and allowed me to change my life,” said Morning, who today is six years into a rewarding career with Bommarito Construction as a member of Laborers International Union Local 110.

Sammy Morning, right, mentors young participants in the BUD program.

BUD is one of several innovative partnerships between labor and employers that are opening doors to life-changing employment for minorities, women, people who have experienced incarceration and other underrepresented populations.

Now in its 10th year and its 34th cohort, the BUD program is a six week union construction pre-apprenticeship program, offered at no charge to selected individuals who meet the admission requirements. The program, which is sponsored by the Missouri AFL-CIO’s Missouri Works Initiative, is offered statewide, though the BUD name is used only in the St. Louis area; in other parts of Missouri, it is known as the Apprentice Ready Program (ARP).

More than 250 BUD graduates have been placed in every building trades union in the St. Louis region.

Recognized as a comprehensive apprenticeship readiness program (ARP) by North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), BUD offers enrollees a comprehensive introduction to construction employment by using NABTU’s nationally recognized Multi- Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) providing relevant national skills certification training, with a particular focus on job safety.

The three-part training model includes classroom coursework that covers both technical skills and life skills such as financial literacy; hands-on training; and trade placement advising to help participants find a place in one of more than 15 trades in the construction industry.

Participants also receive a weekly stipend and a bus pass, in addition to other support such as free work gear and a tool allotment. “The door this program has opened for me has helped me not only financially, but mentally as well,” said Kaylah Doss, a BUD graduate and member of the International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 3.

The BUD program coordinates with individualized training programs in the trade unions that are similarly designed to bring underrepresented populations into the trades. In this way, many BUD graduates receive additional specialized training in their chosen trade before starting work.

One example is the CHAMPIONS Initiative, a partnership between Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562, the Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA) and the Plumbing Industry Council (PIC). The program offers six weeks of hands-on technical training and professional development specific to the pipe trades, concluding with placement as a pre-apprentice with an MCA or PIC member contractor. More than 40 CHAMPIONS graduates are currently employed as union plumbers or pipefitters.

In addition, CHAMPIONS – whose name is an acronym for Creating Hometown Advantages through Minority Participation in Our Neighborhoods – provides peer groups and intentional mentorship to walk alongside participants as they progress into apprenticeship and beyond.

“I am eager to begin this challenging yet rewarding journey,” said Jessica Percell, a BUD graduate and former bartender who is in this year’s CHAMPIONS cohort. “The thought of achieving my goals fills me with an overwhelming sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.”

Employers are joining the BUD movement as well. The Metropolitan Sewer District partnered with BUD to establish the Workforce Development Grant Program. Other employers participate in hosted hiring events and graduation ceremonies that expose BUD participants to more career opportunities and industry contacts.

“This program affords participants invaluable skills and resources and provides a solid foundation of support,” said Larry Woods, diversity construction supervisor with MSD, who regularly speaks to incoming BUD cohorts. Woods added that the diverse makeup of BUD participants – men, women, minorities, veterans, new Americans, formerly incarcerated people and more – is a game-changer for the economic landscape.

“By opening up opportunities to individuals who are often overlooked or underserved, the program is cultivating a new generation of construction industry workers,” Woods said. “This fresh intake of talent and innovation broadens the scope of inclusion within the industry”

“In doing so, those who may have previously encountered barriers to entry are being given a platform to succeed,” he added.

Morning, the BUD graduate turned laborer, concedes. “It can be better,” Morning said. “If you’ve got someone willing to provide you with the opportunity to be successful, you should take it! The BUD program did that for me.” For more information on BUD, visit moworksinitiative.org. For more information on the CHAMPIONS Initiative, visit mca-emo.org.

August 22, 2024/by Missouri Works Initiative

Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights August 19

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of August 19, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how the FDA recently approved a new device/method to stop serious bleeding from gun shot wounds, etc.—to how a brain surgeon prepares for and performs his work (this may connect with many of our constructions workers’ rituals)—to how Ketamine (the drug that killed Matthew Perry) is now being sold online…in its injectable form! This week I would like to take this opportunity to take a closer look at 2 new online courses now being offered by the US-DOL’s Office of Apprenticeship (OA) via their Registered Apprenticeship Academy (RAA). I was contacted by the OA and the RAA’s course designers last fall and asked to consult on the design of 2 new units on Mental Health for apprentices and their sponsors (i.e., contractors, unions, JATCs, etc.). Knowing that the current standards of apprenticeship (29CFR29) did not have any requirements for covering MH and/or materials in their catalog, I jumped at the chance. These 2 units are purposely designed to meet the demands of today’s learners: short (~15 minutes), to the point (providing an array of various additional resources), interactive, and provide a certificate upon successful completion. One unit is for apprentices and their well-being (focusing on the individual) and the other unit is for sponsors and the need for wellness (focusing on the organization).

This process did not happen overnight. There were many meetings and emails to discuss content, wording, etc. Once our team was in agreement, these products had to be reviewed by other related agencies under US-DOL’s umbrella for approval. The feedback from these agencies was taken into consideration and tweaks were made in a manner so as not to compromise the intended messages.

One might say what can possibly be learned in a 15-minute lesson on Mental Health? My response is that a journey consists of many steps…this is just another FIRST in a long journey. It was nearly 12 years ago I had an opportunity to integrate MH into the STL construction industry by bringing an international speaker to town to lead a roundtable discussion on MH. I recall, my friend, Tom Finan writing a story about the event soon afterwards. His insightful quote remains with me: “What do you call a meeting where an entire industry is asked to participate and only 12 people show up? A start!”

Sources: US-DOL OA’s Pre-Apprentices & Apprentices

Prioritizing Your Mental Health and Well-being

US-DOL OA’s Sponsors (Contractors, Unions, JATCs, etc.)

Promoting Worker Mental Health and Wellness

Mpox spreading in Africa

Slapped Cheek Disease

On moral decline

Are employers overlooking serious MH issues?

Traumagel & Gun Shot Wounds

In-home Ketamine injections via mail?

On performing brain surgery