With one of the oldest demographics in any industry, power generation and electrical transmission workers are finally turning the corner to bring in younger workers to become the next generation of power plant operators and transmission and distribution lines technicians.
The Utility Workers Union of America established Power 4 America as an educational trust to train new employees to take their place among one of this country’s most professional and well trained groups of workers in the United States.
Consumers Energy has just reached a historic agreement with the UWUA to take over the training on all their employees. It’s a case of people who already work in the industry taking the responsibility of passing on their knowledge and experience to keep America’s electrical infrastructure safe and reliable.
P4A doesn’t only focus on existing technologies, but is also training those power industry students about evolving and future “Green” technologies, responding to the trends that affect the America’s energy mix.
Another route utility companies are using to augment their dwindling workforces is cooperative partnerships they have formed with local colleges, like the PSI Program (or Power Plant Technology) available at Fairmont State College’s Pierpont Technical Institute (click for a full description, course outline, and cost).
According to a recent article in The State Journal, PSI graduates are finding work in the industry (click link to read). UWUA Local 304 can attest to this by the graduates that have joined us at Harrison Power Station. These new employees an important and welcomed addition to our plant, and our union.
It’s incumbent of every 304 member to help these employees in any way possible as they learn the equipment and the job of running a power plant. It’s equally important that we pass on the legacy of labor and explain their part in the struggle to keep wages, benefits, and working conditions that respects and acknowledges the talent all Utility Workers bring too the industry.
UWUA Local 304 welcomes our newest employees to Harrison! Now, let’s get to work!