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When Houshang M. Taghi, Daniel Cowin, and Tommie Robinson learned their plant operations positions at San Francisco State were being phased out, they automatically assumed they would be sifting through the want ads for another job. However, thanks to a new Apprenticeship Training Program, they were guaranteed new positions in campus Plant Operations and went through an extensive, multi-subject apprentice ship program that transformed them into virtual maintenance Renaissance men.
The program is sponsored by the State Employees' Trades Council (SETC), the California State University system, and participating campuses like SFSU. It consists of learning a wide range of maintenance subjects, such as refrigeration and air conditioning, with the help of a mentor and formal study. Graduates earn the title Building Service Engineer (BSE).
Taghi, who already had worked in several maintenance departments without much formal training, had a solid base for the variety of training demanded by the program. SFSU Maintenance Supervisor Evan Christensen says that because of Taghi's well-rounded experience, he was the ideal candidate and the first person considered for the program. "When the apprenticeship came along," says Christenson, "we were able to send him to a school and get a mentor who provided him on-the-job training and the number of hours required by the union."
Cowin and Robinson were introduced to the apprenticeship program when their positions as boiler operators were phased out. "Instead of having to look for another job," Cowin says, "the program gave us the opportunity to stay here." Davidson adds, "They more or less said that if we stick to the program, they'll make us building service engineers at the end of the program."
The length of the program is determined by the individual's prior experience and knowledge of the various subjects; it is generally expected to take four years. However, for the pioneer participants, the program took close to six years. Cowin admits, "It ended up taking a lot longer because we didn't really have a set program. They had to be pretty creative in finding video tapes and other instructional materials." Jokingly, he adds, "We were like the guinea pigs of the program."
Almost a half year into their new positions, the men could not be more pleased with the outcome of their participation in the program. " It's given us a great opportunity," says Taghi. "You can't move up unless you have a program like this in operation." Robinson adds, "Overall, it's a great program. It benefits everyone by bringing up someone who already has been here because we already know the ins and outs of the campus."
Aside from the promotion and a more well-rounded education, another incentive to join the program was a pay increase, which, the men agree, "makes all the difference in the world."
There are now 12 other plant operations employees in the apprenticeship program at SFSU and participating CSU campuses. Christensen hopes that the union and CSU can continue to increase the number of people they bring into the program. "We have this great apprenticeship program, and if we have an ideal candidate for it, we want to get that person on board." "Other campuses are probably going to have the same type of growing pains that we had," Cowin asserts, "but it's a great idea, and everyone deserves a chance to advance."
--David Farley
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