Mayor Rahm Emanuel today joined the Department of Water Management and Laborers’ Local 1092 to congratulate the fifth graduating class of the construction laborer apprenticeship program. The rigorous two-year apprenticeship program is built around training a workforce that is capable of working in a safe and efficient manner on City of Chicago projects.

“The City of Chicago is proud of you and what you have done to get to this moment,” said Mayor Emanuel. “The work you will be doing is challenging. It is demanding. But it will make a difference in the lives of our resident. And I thank you for your commitment to this program and the residents of our City.”

The graduating class includes fifteen male and four female apprentices. Seventeen of these graduates will be employed in all aspects of DWM infrastructure improvements, from modernizing the water and sewer distribution system to conversion of the pumping stations from steam to more energy efficient electric power. Two graduates will be employed with CDOT.

“We are committed to providing our apprentices with the best possible training so that they are prepared for their careers,’ said Joe Healy, Business Manager of Laborers Local 1092. “The partnership with Water Management gives them on the job training and a wealth of real world experience.”

The ceremony helped celebrate the end of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), a time when leaders in business, labor, education, and other critical partners express their support for apprenticeship. The week highlights the importance of apprenticeship in preparing a highly-skilled workforce to meet the talent needs of employers across diverse industries.

“This program is a win-win. We need trained professionals to meet the demands of the Mayor’s ambitious capital plan and this partnership is providing them,” said Department of Water Management Commissioner Randy Conner. “These apprentices are graduating as experienced water construction professionals.”

The Chicago construction laborers apprenticeship program was first launched in 2012 by DWM and Laborer’s Local 1092 to support the Mayor’s Building a New Chicago infrastructure plan. The program is prime example of the City of Chicago and the Laborers’ commitment to giving the citizens of the City of Chicago the safest and most efficient work force possible. To date, over 250 have graduated from the program. The department utilized a CPS and veterans’ preference as part of this program.

The Mayor’s 10-year plan infrastructure plan includes replacing 880 miles of water main, rehabilitating almost 700 miles of sewer mains, converting three pumping stations from steam to electric power and installing over 200,000 water meters in residents’ homes.

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