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Recognizing November 17-23, 2024, as National Apprenticeship Week in the City of Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, National Apprenticeship Week is celebrating its 10th Anniversary of raising awareness of the vital role apprenticeships provide in creating opportunities by allowing apprentices to earn while they learn and preparing a pathway to good, quality jobs and well-paying careers in Philadelphia and across the nation; and
WHEREAS, Apprenticeship programs enable employers to develop and train their future workforce while offering career seekers affordable paths to secure high-paying jobs; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia recognizes the role of apprenticeships in expanding opportunities in our workforce that are inclusive of individuals who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality, thus providing a path for all qualified individuals, including women, youth, people of color, rural communities, justice-involved individuals, and individuals with disabilities, to become apprentices and contribute to America’s industries; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia recognizes that apprenticeship programs, a proven and industry-driven training model, is a key strategy to improving job quality, and creating access to good-paying, family-sustaining jobs for all, starting with youth and young adults, while addressing some of our nation’s pressing workforce challenges such as rebuilding our country’s infrastructure, addressing critical supply chain demands, supporting a clean energy workforce, modernizing our cybersecurity response, and responding to care economy issues; and
WHEREAS, Since establishing an apprenticeship program in 2016, Accenture has hired more than 2,500 apprentices. The vast majority joined the company without a four-year college degree. A year later, it co-founded, along with AON, the Chicago Apprentice Network, partnering with local employers like McDonald’s, Zurich Insurance and Walgreens to jumpstart their professional apprenticeship programs. The model later expanded across the country and has launched nine new networks; and
WHEREAS, PAN employer and ecosystem partners include: Accenture, Aon, Zurich, MERCK, CHUBB, Philadelphia Works, ApprenticeshipPHL, Urban Technology Project, TechImpact, Summer Search, Lincoln Financial Group, BERWIND, Allied World, The Wistar Institute, Drexel University, Goodwin School of Professional Studies, Community College of Philadelphia, YearUP, Montgomery County Community College, The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, and Judge Group; and
WHEREAS, Building off the success of previous network launches, Accenture and Aon launched a new network in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Apprentice Network (PAN), to bring like-minded employers together to create additional job opportunities through apprenticeships, share best practices and, as a network, work collaboratively to create greater economic impact for the region; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO is a federation of over 100 local labor unions representing 150,000 working people in the public sector, private industry, and the building and construction trades. The Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO fights for social and economic justice to for working people to ensure they have a voice on the job, in politics, and in the community; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO believes standing together with co-workers in a union makes a tangible difference you can feel every day. Union contracts negotiated in 2023 gave workers an average first-year wage increase of 6.6%. Workers in labor unions make 18% more in wages than our nonunion counterparts. According to the Department of Labor, more than nine out of ten union members have access to employer-provided health insurance compared to 68% of nonunion workers. Union members work in safer workplaces and have more job security especially in moments of economic crisis. Life is better in a union; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO would like to formally recognize the following partners who formed the National Apprenticeship Week Host Committee: Eiding Community Labor Coalition, Philadelphia Building Trades, IUPAT DC 21, IBEW Local 98, Boilermakers Local 13, Sheet Metal Workers Local 19, AFSCME District Council 47, Sam State Sr. Pre-Apprenticeship Program, Everybody Builds, PhilaPOSH, Senator Nikil Saval, Philadelphia Academies Inc., the Urban Technology Project, Philadelphia Works, Apprenticeship PHL, PA Careerlink, We Love Philly, United Way Greater Philadelphia Southern New Jersey, PA Youth Vote, Men of Courage, the National Association of Women in Construction, GEM Mechanical Services, Turner Construction Co., General Building Contractors Association, Nulite Inc, and Mercy Career and Technical High School; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes November 17 through November 23, 2024, as National Apprenticeship Week.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That Engrossed copies of this Resolution be presented to the Philadelphia Apprenticeship Network and The Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, further evidencing the sincere respect of this legislative body.
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