New York, NY – The New York City District Council of Carpenters graduated 169 apprentices on Friday, June 24. As per the NYCDCC: The graduating class hails from all five boroughs and the tri-state area and will now be journeypersons of 9 local unions comprised of Millwrights, Dockbuilders and Timbermen, Cabinetmakers, Floorcoverers, High Rise Concrete Carpenters, Industrial Workers, and General Carpenters. These graduates have undergone rigorous training in the classroom and on the job throughout their four-year apprenticeship and are ready to embark on their careers building world-class infrastructure in New York City.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon, and District Council leadership joined to celebrate the graduates’ accomplishments at the Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens.
The New York City District Council of Carpenters proudly educates over 1,000 carpenter apprentices and 12,000 journey-level carpenters each year at their Training Center located at the corner of Hudson and Clarkson streets in downtown Manhattan. The Training Center produces the highly-trained workforce that makes up the membership of the District Council. These apprenticeships provide the training and opportunities that are the foundation for securing family-sustaining union jobs.
“The carpenters union is extremely proud to celebrate the achievement of our latest class of apprenticeship graduates. These graduates are the future of our industry and our union,” stated Joseph Geiger, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the New York City District Council of Carpenters. “Each and every graduate has dedicated their time and hard work to become the best in their field and they are ready to safely and skillfully build the infrastructure that New York needs.”
“Congratulations to all the graduates,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “This program is so important because it provides a pathway to the middle-class for so many hardworking New Yorkers and creates a skilled workforce for our city. The future is here in New York City, and as graduates of the District Council of Carpenters, you are building the city of tomorrow. Your work will shape the city for generations to come and our administration is excited to be there to life you all up. Now go out and build the future!”
“Graduates of this program represent some of the most highly skilled workers in the city. I am happy to attend this graduation and congratulate the next generation of union carpenters on their accomplishment,” stated Roberta Reardon, New York State Department of Labor Commissioner. “This apprenticeship program is an important contributor to our city’s workforce, and I commend the NYC Carpenters Union for creating pathways to good-paying, family-sustaining union jobs for all New Yorkers.”
“I joined the union as an apprentice in the Summer of 2017, and I am officially a General Carpenter Journeyperson. I am so thankful to the District Council for the opportunities that they have provided me. The apprenticeship program has given me a wealth of skills that will help me build a stable career that will support me and my family,” stated Nora Vega, an apprenticeship graduate.
Over the course of a four-year apprenticeship, apprentices train at the District Council’s state-of-the-art training center, while also getting exposure to working in the field and in-classroom instruction and testing. Additionally, each year, apprenticeships participate in a skilled-based competition to showcase the current class’ specialized skills.
Providing a holistic and ongoing training that stresses the importance of both building skills and working safely is a top priority for the District Council.
