WHEREAS, This partnership is being heralded as the first ever in the City of Philadelphia between the School District and the Building Trades Union; and
WHEREAS, This agreement will involve more than a dozen trades, including but not limited to, bricklayers, electricians, laborers, sheet metal workers, iron workers, cement masons, carpenters, plumbers and painters; and
WHEREAS, As part of the agreement the number of trade apprenticeships will not be lower then two-hundred and fifty and can go as high as four-hundred and twenty-five; and
WHEREAS, A Joint Vocational Committee will be established to further the objectives of this partnership and will monitor the agreement and the success of the trades apprenticeship programs; and
WHEREAS, This committee will consist of people from the School District, the building trades-council, local unions, area business and others; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia School Reform Commission (SRC) and the Building Trades believes this agreement has the strong potential to be a vehicle for economic growth for the city and a way into the middle class for the mostly minority youth adults who will learn valuable trades during their apprenticeships; and
WHEREAS, Also to be included in this agreement are owners and employees of small construction firms owned by minorities with school contracts; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELHIA, That we hereby recognize and applaud the Philadelphia School Reform Commission (SRC) and the Philadelphia Building Trades Council upon their agreement to create additional opportunities for School District graduates.
End