The California Workforce Development Board has announced a substantial $5 million grant from the USDOL Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Program. The funding is a significant milestone in expanding workforce development programs for transit maintenance workers, preparing them for the future of transportation with Zero Emission Buses (ZEBs). The CWDB partnered with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), California Transit Works, Oregon AFL-CIO, various public transit agencies, and dedicated frontline transit workers, resulting in a grant that plays a pivotal role in aligning with the goals of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, specifically focusing on reducing emissions and addressing the climate crisis. California Transit Works is privileged to be part of this momentous venture, anticipating a positive impact on the state's workforce and the environment, and invites everyone to stay tuned for further updates as we collectively shape a cleaner and more sustainable future for all. #CleanTransportation #workforcedevelopment #ClimateAction

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Teamwork and commitment took center stage as Sacramento Regional Transit District and ATU 256 came together for their Labor Management Partnership meeting with California Transit Works. It was a day filled with innovation, collaboration, and unity, marking a significant step forward in our shared journey.

Please join California Transit Works as we honor the remarkable achievements of the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) and SunLine Transit Agency in public transportation! These two California transit agencies received highest honors from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) on October 10, 2023, acknowledging their unwavering commitment to enhancing public transit.
AC Transit and their frontline workers represented by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 192 have been honored with APTA’s 2023 Outstanding Public Transportation System Award for their exceptional service to communities, serving 15 million or fewer passengers annually. AC Transit and ATU Local 192’s high road training partnership, Partners In Action, is one of the founders of CTW. This award reflects their remarkable collaboration on the frontlines, emphasizing the pivotal role of strong partnerships in advancing the quality and accessibility of public transportation. AC Transit also received APTA’s AdWheel Grand Award for marketing and communication efforts with their workforce development video, ”Recruitment: Live Your Best Life”, highlighting the impact of AC Transit’s good union jobs and career opportunities on entry level frontline workers.

On Tuesday, May 16th, CTW members attended the successful and informative statewide “High Road Community Spring Gathering 2023” in Sacramento, organized by the California Workforce Development Board. 

For the first time since the pandemic, High Road Training Partnerships from various industries such as health, education, public service, manufacturing, service sector, utilities, green transition and agriculture came together to map their progress and development.  Partnerships' development ranged from initial start-ups to those like CTW, now expanding their work to Central and Southern CA.  
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Through roundtable discussions, resource breakouts and networking, with the help from the High Road Initiative Founders and the UC Labor Centers from Los Angeles, Berkeley and Merced, the gathering provided ways to learn from each other, find resources, share strategies, challenges, successes, and opportunities.

Pictured here with the nine happy graduates are members of Golden Gate Transit, Santa Rosa Junior College, California Transit Works!, ATU Local 1575, and mentors from the WIN program. 
They have completed 12 weeks of classroom work and three on-site shadow days at Golden Gate Transit.  On this final day of the program, the pre-apprentices completed their final shadow day which included learning about obtaining their commercial drivers leaner permit, tips for a successful job interview, and an introduction to the Golden Gate Transit Training Department and staff.
The next steps for this group will be to complete an interview, obtain their commercial drivers learner permits,  and complete their physical examinations and pre-employment drug tests.
Having completed this pre-apprenticeship has helped them take an important step towards securing their future career as a bus operator with Golden Gate Transit.
To learn more about the pre-apprentice program at Golden Gate Transit, or about California Transit Works!, visit our website at www.catransitworks.org

Pictured L-R: Jamaine Gibson, Brent Parton, Rob Gamble

This week’s spotlight is on the High Road Training Partnership (HRTP) between the San Joaquin Rapid Transit District (SJRTD) and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) local 256. ​

This partnership is relatively new, however it has started off strong.  ​The partnership recently completed its first all day mentor meeting and mentor training meeting.  All eight of the mentors and the Transportation Superintendent attended the meeting which was a special day of learning and collaboration. In 2023, they will continue to push forward with the progress that they started last year, and work towards the goals set for this year.

​Additionally, in late 2022, CTW conducted a one-day basic electrical troubleshooting workshop at SJRTD for the maintenance technicians. The objective of the workshop was to share innovative basic electrical concepts and troubleshooting procedures, including hands-on practice. By the end of the workshop each student had to troubleshoot and diagnose 25 different electrical defects!  This type of training is necessary to prepare technicians for a future in bus maintenance as California moves closer to the implementation of its innovative clean transit initiative, which mandates zero emission bus transportation by year 2040.

​Union is industry-leader in developing innovative transit apprenticeship programs across North America
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Silver Spring, MD – As the transit industry leader in workforce development programs, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) has announced a partnership with California Transit Works (CTW) to administer nearly $10 million in grants for groundbreaking apprenticeship and peer mentorship programs across California.
A U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship Ambassador, the ATU (www.atu.org) is the largest transit union in North America, representing over 200,000 members. The CTW (www.catransitworks.org) is a statewide consortium of transit agencies, labor unions, and community colleges that promotes high road training partnerships that draw on the knowledge and skills of frontline workers to address critical issues in public transit.
"The work that the ATU and CTW are doing right now is so important in California," said ATU International President John Costa, a member of the CTW Advisory Board. "The work that is happening, the partnerships that are being built, the apprenticeship programs, and the career pathways we're creating have led to an innovative model that we're starting to spread across the country to get these programs to more of our members. These programs are critical to preparing our members for the changing technology in the transition to zero-emission vehicles. They have changed the lives of our members by advancing their careers. Becoming the fiscal agent for these impactful grants is a natural progression to our long and productive partnership with CTW. We look forward to continuing this incredible work in this new capacity."
CTW is a High Road Training Partnerships (HRTP) grant recipient, funded by the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB), to further the mission of addressing income inequality, economic competitiveness, and climate change through regional skills strategies designed to support resilient communities across California. The $9,989,385 in grants will support current and future ATU labor-management High Road Training Partnerships and programs at 13 transit agencies in California, promoting good-paying jobs with benefits and career opportunities. 
"ATU International has a long history of supporting CTW in building labor-management partnerships in California," said Deb Moy, a nationally recognized organizational change expert and CTW Co-Founder and Organizational Strategist. "The ATU will bring its national experience with developing workforce development programs to its new role of fiscal agent for CTW grants from the CWDB to advance high road training partnerships in California, changing workers' lives. This partnership is exciting because of our commitment to frontline workers and the ripple effect it will have across the country." 
CTW grant activities include technical assistance and funding to the 13 HRTPs for operations and maintenance apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and peer mentoring programs for frontline workers. CTW also convenes statewide workgroups to address transit industry needs, focusing on frontline workers, including the conversion to zero-emission buses, the need for frontline worker safety and technical training, and the need for outreach, recruitment, and retention of new frontline workers, with special emphasis on underserved and priority population communities.
-ATU International Press Release

2022 was a very busy year for the Workforce Investment Network (WIN). WIN is a High Roads Training Partnership (HRTP) between Golden Gate Transit and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1575. In 2022 they teamed up with Santa Rosa Junior College/Adult Education and California Transit Works to create a Bus Operator Pre-Apprenticeship Program to help find and train future bus operators.
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Together, with the College of Marin, they have created a Bus Operator Apprenticeship Program where the apprentices earn college credit for participating in the apprenticeship. WIN has participated in many presentations to educate others on what they have learned during their process in creating these programs. WIN also has a fully functioning bus operator peer mentoring program that is highly engaged and were very involved in the creation of the curriculum for the Pre-Apprenticeship practicum classes.

WIN is looking forward to 2023.