Rarely does a day go by in which the leaders of ABC MA companies don’t strategize about how to find and retain the qualified workers we need to meet the demand for our services. Meeting the challenge will require us to broaden our search for talent.

One place we can look is in areas throughout Massachusetts where young people interested in the trades think joining a union is the only way to break into the construction industry. As part of our effort to inform more young people of the opportunities ABC MA companies offer, we have formed a partnership with the electrical program at Madison Park High School in Roxbury to help place their graduates in externships and jobs. 

The program offers real benefits to graduates of Madison Park’s electrical program, who will bring with them 300 apprentice hours of related technical classroom instruction to any employer that hires them. The hours can be applied to registered apprenticeship and licensing board requirements. The students will also benefit from subject matter expertise, career counseling and job placement help provided by ABC MA member companies. 

Member companies will also benefit from making a new cohort of qualified young tradespeople aware of the many benefits a career in the open shop construction industry offers. Once these students graduate, we’ll be sending their resumes around for our electrical members to consider. 

These young people are the new face of their trade. It’s up to us to make sure they know about the rewarding and lucrative career opportunities the open shop can offer them. For more information on employing one of the Madison Park students, contact Steve Sullivan at steve@abcma.org.

Vera Vadeboncoeur is the 2023 ABC MA chair and is controller at Fernandes Masonry, Inc., New Bedford, MA.