Utility reaps the rewards of training and hiring military veterans
CHICAGO—Since 2011, Peoples Gas has participated in a training program to help military veterans develop the technical skills needed to work in the state’s natural gas industry and, if successful, join the Peoples Gas team.
The Utility Workers Military Assistance Program was created as a public-private partnership between the Chicago Federation of Labor Workforce and Community Initiative, the UWUA Power for America Trust, and Peoples Gas. Graduates earn their Gas Utility Worker Advanced Certification at Dawson Technical Institute, a satellite site of Kennedy-King College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago.
The program recently graduated its 500th trained veteran. More than 400 of those graduates have gone on to accept positions with Peoples Gas.
Lori Flores Rolfson, vice president of operations and maintenance for Peoples Gas, told American Gas that the program developed at the perfect time for the utility. “We were faced with our new system modernization program, which involves replacing the old cast-iron system in Chicago. So, we had a huge program coming. We were also anticipating a number of retirements. This program was a really good match. These veterans are dedicated, committed and a very good quality workforce.
“We’re also really proud of the fact that we have the opportunity to provide veterans with a real family-focused career, not just a job,” she told us. “Graduates hired from this program start as utility workers. Even though we’ve had a lot of success there, that’s just a steppingstone. A lot of them stay and work their way up through journeyman. Some have moved on to become trainers. Some even go back to college and move into other positions within the company.
“We are committed to continuing this vital program in partnership with our union leaders from UWUA Local 18007,” she added.
As far as Rolfson is aware, the Peoples Gas military assistance program is not only unique to Illinois, but it is the only such program in the nation. —Robert Bittner
