The strength of a union is its members. Recruiting new members remains vital to maintaining a healthy future for any union.

No one knows this better than CISCO’s Director of Education‑to‑Careers, Jamillah Muhammad.

Growing up on Chicago’s South Side, Jamillah worked several jobs before a union member told her that the electricians were accepting applications. She’s now a 10‑year communications electrician.

Today, Jamillah’s responsibilities include reaching out to young men and women and attracting them into the trades. Young people, women and minorities need to hear that the trades are open and looking for diversity and inclusion.

Great opportunities await young people, women and minorities. Joining a union can be life‑changing, according to Jamillah, especially for someone from a disadvantaged area. She works with programs that target young people who may not want to go to college or aren’t aware that a career in the trades is an option.

Other young adults may be thinking about college but can’t afford it. Jamillah spreads the word that “you can get paid while you learn and work.” She also uses social media and word of mouth to get the message out. Her motto is: Keep sharing, keep sharing, keep sharing.

A collaborative effort. Churches, schools, career fairs, local politicians and organizations are key to promoting union work. CISCO has worked with the Chicago Transit Authority on a webinar series called Construction Talks. A collaboration with St. Paul Community Development Ministries included a construction conference and expo, “Step up to Opportunity.”

Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT) holds an information session every Wednesday and women are showing up. CWIT also offers a pre‑apprenticeship program that lasts 12 weeks. Women who have completed the program become the best ambassadors to promote the trades. On Sept. 11, CWIT and several local alderpersons hosted a community event with the Obama Presidential Center at the Kennedy King Campus.

Many local unions conduct their own recruiting, outreach and apprentice programs.

• IBEW 134’s Jump Start program prepares applicants to take the Electrical Union’s apprentice test. The union accepts applications for the apprenticeship program every Wednesday.
• Pipefitters 597 takes application requests the first Wednesday of every month.

Between labor work picking up and members retiring, it’s more important now than ever to get new people into the trades. It’s critical for that knowledge and experience to be passed along to the next generation of proud union members.

Contact Jamillah at jamillah@cisco.org.