PATHWAY TO THE TRADES: THREE TRADE UNIONS PARTNER WITH AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING SIGNING
New partnerships and pathways to technical trade work have opened for Aiken County students with a new Memorandum of Understanding with three local trade unions.
The signing with the three trade unions took place at the Aiken County Career and Technology Center on Tuesday, May 19. IBW Local 1579, Smart Local 399 and Local 709 Ironworkers each had representatives present alongside Superintendent Dr. Corey Murphy, Assistant Superintendent of High Schools Mr. Bert Postell and CTE Director Mr. Kennth Lott to celebrate this tremendous milestone.
“Through these partnerships, students in our electrical, ironwork or welding programs, will have greater access to apprenticeship opportunities, industry training, and career advancement opportunities that can accelerate their transition from the classroom to the workforce,” Superintendent Dr. Corey Murphy shared. “This work is more than just preparing students for jobs. It is about preparing them for their futures. The skills trades offer meaningful high demand careers that are essential to the strength and growth of our region, and we want students to see those successes clearly.”
Three Aiken County students, Michael Chavious (Wagener-Salley), Joshua Jacobs (Wagener-Salley) and Owen Jay (Silver Bluff) are planning to take part in these pathways after graduation this May.
“This partnership is tremendous,” Justin Wingard, the representative from Smart Local 399 said. “It will help students further their career in a trade and put it to use. There’s a lot of students that want to work with their hands and make an honest living doing it.”
For students that participate in the CTE Completion programs and pass entrance exams, students who partner with these local trade unions get a year off of apprenticeship training, leading to faster job and career success.
“It's their opportunity to learn a vital trade that is not going to be subject to being lost through AI anytime soon. It's a very livable wage. There's no student debt incurred. While they're learning their trade, they'll be earning money,” Reis James, a business developer and recruiter with Local 709 Ironworkers shared. “It's just good to know there's high quality training that goes into the students prior to us getting to them, and it just saves us a lot of time and money and effort, and it enables them to get onto the workforce quickly.”
“Being associated with these long-standing organizations that have a wonderful reputation, not only here in Aiken County, but across the river and across the state is just wonderful,” Aiken County Career and Technology Center principal David Harris said. “I'm so excited for our partners who are going to get qualified, energetic, well-trained students and who are ready to work.”
