Local Trades Tour Brings 200 Napa, Solano Students To Benicia

NORTH BAY, CA — More than 200 high school students from Solano and Napa counties took a trades tour last week during which they visited local training centers for trade workers in Napa, Fairfield, Benicia and Vacaville. The tour has taken place for the last several years and is sponsored by Napa-Solano Central Labor Council, Solano County Office of Education (SCOE), North Bay Apprenticeship Coordinators Association, and Napa-Solano Building Trades.

During this year's tour, which took place from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, the high-schoolers received information on the opportunities a union construction career can offer.

Students visited training centers for electrical workers in Napa, carpenters in Fairfield and Napa, sheetmetal workers in Fairfield, heat-and-frost insulators and iron workers in Benicia, and plumbers and steamfitters in Vacaville.

"This valuable partnership is based on our commitment to provide students with an opportunity to explore the excellent career options in the trades for our area," said Solano Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson.

Solano and Napa counties offer training centers in six trades within a half-hour of one another.

The apprenticeship system of training includes both classroom instruction and on-the-job experience. These state-approved apprenticeships are attractive to high school graduates as they provide free training using an "earn-while-you-learn" model as an apprentice starts a career in construction.

Centers visited included: Sheet Metal Workers Local 104, Carpenters Regional Training Center, Ironworkers Local 378, Heat and Frost Insulators Local 16, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 180, and Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 342.

As in previous years, SCOE provided transportation for the event.

"The tour is an exciting experience for students, as they are able to see state of the art equipment used in different trades and ask questions directly to labor leaders and trainers," Estrella-Henderson said.