Bricklayers Local 1 Joint Apprenticeship Training Program
The Building Union Diversity (BUD) program started in 2014 and has since built a successful track record of connecting St. Louis metropolitan residents with the growing opportunities for living wage employment in construction. BUD is also helping to address the growing need in the construction industry for a skilled and more inclusive workforce.
HIGH GRADUATION RATE
91%
of those that begin the BUD Program complete their training and graduate.
EMPLOYMENT UPON GRADUATION
82%
of graduates are employed in the construction trades upon graduation.
IMPROVING INDUSTRY DIVERSITY
In an industry where only 6% of the workforce is comprised of minorities and women…
24%
of BUD graduates are women.
80%
of BUD graduates are minority.
About BUD
The Building Union Diversity (BUD) program is a five-week union construction pre-apprenticeship program, offered at no charge to selected individuals who meet the admission requirements. BUD offers enrollees a comprehensive introduction to construction employment and provides relevant national skills certification training, with a particular focus on job safety. During the program, several local unions also open their training centers to give participants some hands-on experience and a feel for each of the trades.
At the program’s inception, the St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC) assembled a team of more than eight cooperating joint labor-management construction training programs (known as JATCs) to implement this pre-apprenticeship training program. Once participants have successfully completed training, they are enrolled in the BCTC employer/contractor database. The database serves as a pool of pre-qualified workers at various skills levels and proficiencies and is used by the construction owners and others in supporting the workforce inclusion goals that they are expected to meet and/or exceed, particularly in public-supported construction projects.
Through its collaboration with contractors, Workforce Development Boards (WDBs), soft skills providers and other stakeholders, BUD is able to provide job and personal support services that offer participants and placed graduates the best possible chance for success. BUD also tracks graduate success. This success is exemplified in its 82% placement rate.
The construction training team includes, among others:
Collectively, this group of U.S. Department of Labor (US-DOL) approved apprenticeship training programs, works with area Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) and non-profit job training organizations serving the un- and under-employed as well as constituencies currently underrepresented in the construction industry to identify candidates interested in pursuing careers in the construction. Funding and support also come from The Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD), Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), United Way of Greater St. Louis, and the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development.
Participant Requirements
BUD participants must meet the following requirements:
Program Benefits
In addition to the free pre-apprentice training, BUD also offers supportive services to participants including:
Resources
- Missouri Women in Trades (MOWIT)
www.mowit.org - Coalition of Black Trade Unionists – St. Louis
www.cbtustl.com - United Way 2-1-1
Call 2-1-1 for a 24/7 connection to resources and agencies in Missouri and Illinois
www.211helps.org - United Way Labor Help Line for union members
314-539-4189 - St. Louis Construction Cooperative
stlouisconstructioncooperative.org - St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO
stlouisbuildingconstructiontrades.org - Construction Forum St. Louis
www.constructforstl.org - Construction Careers Development Institute
www.ccdi.org
Construction Programs Offered at Area High Schools:
- St. Louis Public Schools
www.slps.org/Beaumont - North County Tech
northtechnical.org - South County Tech
southtechnical.org - St. Charles County School
stcharlessd.org/lewisandclarkcareercenter - Jefferson County Area Technical School
jeffco.edu/ats
Opportunities for Partners
Social service agencies are encouraged to refer their clients to apply for the BUD program. Currently, organizations such as the Fathers Support Center or the Center for Women in Transition have referred their clients to BUD and assist in ensuring that their clients are successful in completing the program and getting a job.
Recruiting agencies have two ways to refer to the BUD program:
- Agency referral to SLATE (314-657-3513) or St. Louis County Workforce Development (314-679-3300) who will conduct the entire BUD vetting and referral process, or
- Agency is responsible for fully vetting any BUD program candidate in the following areas:
- Determining that the candidate has a strong interest in the construction Trades career
- Confirming that the candidate is at least the age of 18.
- Confirming that the applicant has a High School Degree/GED or post-secondary education
- Determining if the candidate is unemployed or under-employed
- Confirming that the candidate has the ability to pass a Drug Test . Note that the candidate will be tested during the first week of the BUD program.
- Confirming that applicant has achieved a Level 5 on the WorkKeys Applied Math and Workplace Documents assessment.
- Confirming that the candidate completes a BUD application , and
- Confirming that the candidate has a resume and brings it to the interview.
The agency should send a list of referrals to the BUD director at least one week before the beginning of the BUD class.
Agency incentives are available for any Non-WIOA funded entity, as follows:
- $200 for each referral who successfully makes it to week 2 of training.
- $800 for each referral who is indentured into an approved (US-DOL’s OA) construction joint apprenticeship program—within 40 days of completion
For more information, please contact:
Aurora Bihler
Building Union Diversity (BUD) STL Program Coordinator
314-312-3038
Aurora Bihler is a journeyman Ironworker and serves as an officer on the Examining Committee of Local 396. Aurora has been involved in many labor organizations such as St. Louis City Labor Legislative Club, the Missouri Democratic Party Labor Caucus, and Missouri Women in Trades. In her spare time, she enjoys playing pinball, vermiculture, and gardening.
Education –
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Sculpture – Southern Illinois University
Construction Industry Credentials –
Journeyman Ironworker
Welding Certifications: SMAW-A1; A7-n; FCAW-S B1a, B6a, C2
Safety credentials: OSHA Sub-Part R, OSHA 10, 30, & 510; Scaffold Erector/Dismantler, Crane Signaling/Rigging
Pat Dolan
BUD STL Program Facilitator
Credentials: DOL Approved United Association of Pipe Trades Apprenticeship Program and 47-year member of Sprinklerfitters Local 268, having served as an apprenticeship coordinator with the Missouri AFL-CIO and a BUD Facilitator since the program’s inception in 2014
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested participants can apply by filling out the online application below, or by downloading the form and emailing the filled out application to russsignorino@moaflcio.org.
BUD PROGRAM ONLINE APPLICATION:
Building Successful Careers
*Stats as of July 2020
Hear from the Graduates
“The BUD Program changed my life. It has put me in a great position career wise. I highly
recommend this program.”
“When I started it I was struggling to find any work and I was a homeless single mother. Today I have a career and make good money and am able to provide very well for my family. None of that would have happened without BUD.”
“This program changed my life for the better. I reach out to young teens to explore this
program because it is an excellent opportunity to better yourself with a career and an overall
experience with people who care about your future well being.”
