One hundred and sixty-eight CSEA-represented New York State employees successfully completed the NYS & CSEA Applied Skilled Trades Program (ASTP) during the 2007-2011 contract period. The two-year training and development program provided employees with classroom-related instruction that meets the relevant course work component of the minimum qualifications for appointment to the following non-competitive SG-12 journey-level positions:

• Carpenter
• Electrician
• Mason-Plasterer
• Plumber-Steamfitter
• Refrigeration Mechanic

The ASTP was created to provide agencies with the means to develop a more highly-skilled workforce and a larger pool of qualified candidates for future journey-level vacancies. The initiative has two areas of opportunity for participants: a traineeship and a certificate program.

The two-year traineeship includes both the required course work and 4,000 hours of on-the-job training (OJT) necessary for advancement to one of the SG-12 non-competitive journey-level trades' titles listed above. The OJT is provided by the agency.

The two-year certificate program provides employees with an opportunity to meet the course work required for advancement to one of the journey-level positions above. The certificate program does not provide OJT. Employees who finish the certificate program must still complete 4,000 hours of OJT in the specific related trade in order to qualify for appointment to a journey-level trades position.

The course work requirements of the ASTP are identical for both the traineeship and the certificate program.
All participants in the ASTP were required to complete the following refresher and core courses:

• Math Fundamentals (15 hrs.)
• Technical Math (45 hrs.)
• Blueprint Reading Fundamentals (15 hrs.)
• Workplace Communications (45 hrs.)

Upon successful completion of the above courses, participants were required to complete four trade-specific courses totaling 72 hours each.

Twelve skilled trades programs were held in the following geographic areas:

• Long Island: Carpenter
• New York City: Plumber-Steamfitter
• Capital District: Electrician (2); Mason-Plasterer
• North Country: Electrician
• Central New York: Carpenter; Electrician
• Southern Tier: Carpenter
• Western New York: Carpenter; Electrician; and Plumber-Steamfitter

During the contract period, 41 CSEA-represented employees from OGS completed three ASTPs (carpenter, electrician, and plumber-steamfitter) that were funded by the agency and administered by the Partnership.

The following seven agencies participated in the ASTP: Department of Correctional Services, Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of General Services, Office of Mental Health, Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, and State University of New York.

For more information about the ASTP, call: 518-486-7814 or 800-253-4332 or email: learning@nyscseapartnership.org.