SEIU Local 1000, in partnership with the Department of General Services and Bakersfield College, is proud to announce the graduation for the first cohort of apprentices of the DGS and SEIU Local 1000 Custodian to Office Administration Apprenticeship Program! The first cohort of graduates consisted of thirteen DGS Custodians who registered in August 2023. After two years of hard work, these apprentices are now equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to begin their new civil service careers as administrative professionals in classifications such as Office Technicians, Personnel Specialists, and Staff Services Analysts.
Remarks and recognitions of achievement were offered from the leadership of the respective stakeholders, including our own President Anica Walls and BU 15 Chair Eric Murray. Eric Murray remarked, “Upward mobility has always been a core union value, and for Bargaining Unit 15, it’s been a top priority. Too often, our members feel stuck, with limited options for growth. This program changes that. It opens doors. It proves that when we invest in our people, we invest in the future of state service.” This program is a first of its kind for Custodians and directly addresses those issues.
The graduation of this cohort represents years of effort in the making and a long overdue opportunity for our Custodians who aim to promote into clerical, administrative, and analytical roles. This apprenticeship comes at no cost to apprentices and allows them to grow their skills without any loss of income. Apprentices received certificates of completion from SEIU Local 1000, DGS, and Bakersfield College in addition to their official graduation certificates provided by DAS.
This program is a demonstration of SEIU Local 1000’s continued commitment to upward mobility and providing our members with the opportunity to earn a living wage. The Custodian to Office Administration Apprenticeship Program marks the tenth program in SEIU Local 1000’s portfolio of career development opportunities. To date we have had the privilege of supporting over 150 apprenticeship graduates, and we look forward to continuing to provide growth opportunities to our members in the future.
Learn more about our apprenticeship programs here: seiu1000.org/apprenticeship/