Sheet Metal Apprenticeship Program Graduates 102

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)"I always complete what I start,” said Latauna Bigelow proudly last Saturday. Bigelow (at right) was one of 102 graduates of the Sheet Metal Workers Local 100 Apprenticeship Training Center’s four-year program. “I love my job at CMC Sheet Metal and I feel very proud of myself,” Bigelow added, noting that the good wages of her unionized job enabled her to “save some money for a down payment and recently bought a house in Prince George's County."  She joined the program through one of the Community Services Agency's workforce development programs. Another graduate was Jeremy Goldman, son of Carl Goldman, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 26 and a longtime Metro Council Executive Board member. Saturday’s graduation was a festive event attended by labor leaders, contractors and graduates' families who joined in the celebration of the brand new journeymen and women.  “CSA’s Building Futures program has helped lots of folks successfully enter the trades and become financially independent,” added CSA Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy. - photo by Sylvia Casaro