Union Apprenticeship, Job Corps Programs Donate Labor for United Way Remodeling Project

Download the August 2008 issue in PDF format

Tim Galloway, Director Dept. of Labor Participation, United Way of San Diego County

Talk about a “win-win” situation . . . When I learned that United Way was planning some long overdue improvements to its headquarters on Murphy Canyon Road, I knew that organized labor could save them thousands of dollars by having their union apprenticeship and San Diego Job Corps programs provide free labor for the remodeling.

At the same time, I knew the project would provide some valuable hands-on, real-world experience for these young folks and increase skills they will be able to use eventually to become productive members of the workforce. I’m pleased to say that’s exactly how it turned out.

First our friends over at the Southern California Carpenters JATC provided some outstanding young workers from their apprenticeship program to frame some new walls and hang drywall at United Way.

Then Ralph Kitchell, painting instructor for the Job Corps program sponsored by the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, sent over a group of eager young people to cover United Way’s walls with some fresh paint. If that wasn’t enough, Joe Binion, floor covering instructor for the same union, supervised a separate group of Job Corps kids in laying down some new flooring at the building.

From United Way’s standpoint, the free labor from the unions is a major plus because it actually translates into more money being available to help San Diegans in need. Randy Rhew, United Way’s manager of Administrative Services, said:

“We can’t thank the Carpenters and Painters’ Unions enough for the tremendous help they gave us. I’d especially like to thank Dan Benter, the Painters Union instructor who opened the door to us getting help from his union’s Job Corps program. Some of our building’s paint and floors hadn’t been changed for more than 20 years.

“To date, the free union labor has saved United Way more than $8,000, and that’s money that can now go instead for important community services provided by our non-profit social service agency partners.

“I also want to thank our Department of Labor Participation for coming up with the idea to begin with.”

Kitchell sees tremendous benefit from the young people’s perspective. “We know United Way does a lot of good work in our community, so we were happy to help,” Kitchell said. “But it’s also such a great project for our Job Corps kids. These are disadvantaged youth adults ages 16 to 24 who face a lot of challenges in their lives. Many of them have been told they can’t do anything. A project like this is a real boost for their self-esteem because they not only learn some valuable skills, they get to see how what they learn leads to actual results they can step back and look at and be proud of.”

I just want to add my thanks to both of the unions for the help they’ve provided. It’s just another example of how organized labor helps United Way whenever it can.

I’d like to mention just one more benefit for United Way from this project. By equipping these young people with skills, it will help them obtain jobs in the workforce to support themselves— and become United Way donors!