Our Mission

The Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills Inc. pre-apprenticeship training program opens the door to New York City residents seeking entry into the unionized building and construction trades. Construction Skills provides DIRECT ENTRY access to meaningful long-term careers offering high wages, health benefits, and retirement security.

OPPORTUNITY

Building and Construction Trades Union Apprenticeship Programs

Construction Skills is dedicated to preparing a trained and skilled workforce from communities throughout the five boroughs of New York City for careers in the unionized construction industry.

Unionized apprenticeship offers training, education, certification, high wages, health benefits, and retirement security paid for by union contractors, while simultaneously being employed on construction projects throughout all of New York City.

DIVERSITY

With an outstanding rate of success, including a retention rate of 80% Construction Skills has resulted in a stronger more diverse workforce, with Black/African Americans, Hispanic/Latino, and Asians from all five boroughs representing the majority of new union members in the construction industry.


89%
OF CSKILLS GRADUATES PLACED INTO UNION APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS SELF IDENTIFY AS BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN, HISPANIC/LATINO, ASIAN, OR OF OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS

8000
UNION APPRENTICES GO TO WORK EVERY DAY IN NEW YORK CITY

75%
OF THESE APPRENTICES ARE
NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS

65%
OF THESE RESIDENTS ARE SELF IDENTIFYING PEOPLE OF COLOR

31%
ARE FROM
BROOKLYN

8%
ARE FROM
MANHATTAN

28%
ARE FROM
QUEENS

24%
ARE FROM
THE BRONX

7%
ARE FROM
STATEN ISLAND

RESULTS


CSKILLS has placed more than 2,561 New York City residents into apprenticeship programs jointly sponsored by union affiliates of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. 

More than 1,795 of these apprentices remain actively employed in the unionized construction industry including more than 1,134 journeypersons. These opportunities help to empower individuals and strengthen both families and communities. 

203

FROM
MANHATTAN

280

FROM
STATEN ISLAND

569

FROM
THE BRONX

775

FROM
QUEENS

730

FROM BROOKLYN

OFFICERS

Paul Fernandes
Chairman and Treasurer

Edwin Lopez
Secretary

Gary LaBarbera
President and CEO

Nicole Bertran
Executive Vice President

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Paul Fernandes
Executive Director
CCA Metro

Edwin Lopez
Executive Secretary
New York Electrical Contractors Association

Wendy Webb
Director of Apprenticeship
Building and Construction Laborers Local 79

Maritza Silva-Farrell
Future of Workers Program Officer
Ford Foundation

Raymond G. McGuire, Esq.
Partner
Kauff, McGuire & Margolis LLP

Daniel Mulligan
Senior Project Manager, Workforce Development and Training
NYSERDA

Peter Myers
President
NYS Ironworkers District Council

Davon Lomax
Political Director
IUPAT District Council 9

Jeffrey M. Grabelsky
The Worker Institute at Cornell
ILR School, Cornell University

Darly Corniel
Director of Education
Consortium for Worker Education

Elizabeth Crowley
President and CEO
Building Trades Employers Association

OUR STAFF

Nicole Bertran
Executive Vice President

Talisa Smith
Program Director

Jerrica Sanchez
Director of Outreach and Communications