Public Employee Press

Boiler workers can study for promotions

DC 37's Education Fund continues to offer new courses and training programs to help members move up the career ladder. Some of the latest offerings are geared for members of Local 983 who work in high pressure boiler rooms at a number of city agencies as High Pressure Plant Tenders.

Presently, the fund is offering the Power Plant and Building Systems class, which meets for 12 sessions, for the first time.

In February, the fund will again offer the 15-session license preparation course. The class prepares members for the rigorous written test for the High Pressure Boiler Operating Engineer license. If they succeed on the written exam they can move on to the practical portion of the test. If they pass, they become eligible for promotion to higher-paid jobs.

"All of these classes have one very important thing in common," said Local 983 Vice President Tony George. "There are no out-of-pocket expenses for Local 983 members. That's the union advantage, because these courses could cost over $3,000 to take elsewhere."

Local 983 member Ralph Kaszuba plans to take the test for his license after he has more time on the job. "As soon as I'm eligible I'll be there," said Kaszuba, who works at the huge Dept. of Sanitation boiler plant in Woodside, Queens. As an HPPT, he operates and maintains high pressure boilers that pump steam into Sanitation Dept. facilities. "This is really a great opportunity for us," he said.

A class for members who work on refrigeration and air conditioning systems will also be offered in January. Local 983 members who want to enroll in any of these classes or get information on requirements or schedules should contact DC 37 Education Fund Assistant Director Manuel Gomez-Rosa at 212- 815-1679 or Local 983 Vice President Tony George at 212-815-1795.

"We are constantly trying to put more money in members' pockets, and working with the DC 37 Ed Fund to provide education for upgrading is an important way to do this," said Local 983 President Mark Rosenthal.