CTA HOSTS WEBINARS TO INCREASE WORKFORCE

The Chicago Transit Authority has created a webinar called, Construction Talks, where people can receive information and get their questions answered about workforce development in the construction trades. Photo courtesy of CTA
The Chicago Transit Authority has created a webinar called, Construction Talks, where people can receive information and get their questions answered about workforce development in the construction trades. Photo courtesy of CTA

CTA hosts webinars to increase workforce

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Amid COVID-19, those interested in training and workforce resources with the Chicago Transit Authority have the opportunity to participate in webinars called, Construction Talks. The hope is that people will take advantage of available opportunities and CTA will increase the workforce for its Red and Purple Modernization Program, while practicing social distancing.

Each webinar includes details on apprenticeship, virtual tours, and an opportunity for people to ask questions.

Chynna Hampton is the senior project manager for Workforce Initiatives at CTA. Hampton said Construction Talks began at the start of the pandemic.

“We host a lot of outreach events throughout the year, quarterly,” she said. “So, with our RPM project happening on the North Side of the city, our workforce and development consultants are tasked with doing workforce outreach quarterly. So, what we decided to do was since we couldn’t reach out and touch those folks, we are hosting virtual construction industry conversations via webinar[s].”

Hampton said in the past, CTA has been able to connect jobseekers with people in the construction trades through the workforce seminars. “We’re coming into their living rooms. We have subject matter experts in the trades, like the electricians, we’ve got the roofers, we’ve got the carpenters. They’re talking to job seekers via the webinars about job opportunities in those trades,” she said.

Hampton said in other construction industry conversations, the public buildings commission has come on board to talk about contracts and workforce opportunities. Additionally, people from the Safer Foundation have talked to ex-offenders about careers in the construction industry.

There have been five webinars since the pandemic hit. The first one was with the carpenter’s union and there was a virtual tour of the carpenter’s union facility.

“We talked to the Carpenters Regional Council, their training liaison and he talked to our viewers about what the requirements were for entry into that trade,” Hampton explained.

There has also been a webinar with the IBEW Electricians Union 134. “IBEW 134 is what we consider the crème de la crème of unions and a lot of folks want to be electricians. So, what they did was provided us with a tour of their facility and throughout the tour, they provided viewers with what the requirements were for entry into that industry,” she said.

The Friday, June 26, webinar was geared towards businesses and individuals looking to get into the workforce. Hampton said while they want individuals to work on their projects and work in a trade, they also want people to become business owners who can obtain contracts and work on CTA projects. “What we know is a lot of individuals who start off in the workforce ultimately become construction owners. So, you may be an electrician, but the goal for us here at CTA is, we want you to own your own electrical company so you can take advantage of contracting opportunities on our projects,” she said.

The next webinar will take place at noon on Friday, July 10. The webinar will focus on workforce diversity. The Roofers District Council will give a tour and talk to job seekers about what requirements are necessary to get into that trade.

Hampton said the ultimate goal is raise awareness of opportunities in the construction industry and to educate people on the requirements to get into certain trades. She added, “Ultimately, we want to raise awareness, educate folks and have them have some type of opportunity on our construction projects.” The goal is for people “to use the information they’ve obtained to figure out what industry they want to be in,” she said.

To register for the July 10 webinar, visit https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pYIzKqXUT_OOrmTRMZt5ww.

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