City and Local 412 Celebrate Lease Agreement and New Partnership
Today, Mayor Keller and City leaders celebrated a new partnership with UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 412. Handing over a ceremonial key, the City and Union sealed the new lease agreement for the old REMCO Bolt property on 3rd St and Mountain Rd downtown. The union will lease three parcels of land from the City to house their 1st year apprenticeship and apprenticeship readiness programs, a group of around 100 people. These are vital programs that will teach the next generation of trades workers and create a strong, union jobs in our community.
"At Local 412 we have a vision to be more than the usual union. Local 412 is a cornerstone of our community, a community partner, and we provide gold standard training to our members, great careers for members, and benefits for their families,” said Local 412 Business Manager Courtenay Eichhorst. “We take the service to our members even further, if their community suffers, they suffer, so we strive to use what we know best, great jobs in the skilled trades, to uplift the communities where we live, work, and build. I would like to thank the Mayor for sharing this vision, using partnerships as an asset, and ensuring city projects uplift our city."
“Creating pathways to good paying, union jobs is a win for our families and a win for our city,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “We are grateful to partner with the Local 412 to breathe new life into Wells Park as they expand apprenticeship opportunities in New Mexico and help connect locals to good jobs.”
The five-year apprenticeship program trains local plumbers, pipefitters, HVAC technicians, and welders for work in Albuquerque and throughout the state. The union had outgrown their current training space and will be moving more elements of the program to the 3rd street property after doing renovations to the old supply shop.
The union’s apprenticeship readiness program, which gets vulnerable populations into the job pipeline, will also operate out of the property. Participants in the apprenticeship readiness program receive six months of credit towards the 5-year apprenticeship program and a starting salary of $19.68 an hour.
The lease is for three parcels of land from the City for five years, with the option to extend for up to 25. The UA Local 412 will be adding new lighting around the property and providing security.
“Working with the union is a great thing to help more people get connected to good paying jobs,” said HHH Director Carol Pierce. “There are a lot of service providers nearby and we know that strong jobs programs can help people find pathways out of homelessness.”