UA Local 51 Plumbers & Pipers, a member of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada, announced a new state training and job placement program today.

Of local note, a public orientation session will be held at the Martin Luther King Center on April 23rd from 5 pm to 7 pm.

The Announcement

UA Local-51 leads a consortium of community, business and training organizations to design and deliver a sustainable recruitment, workforce readiness and targeted training program, connecting Rhode Island’s fastest growing population segment – low and moderate income, urban minorities – to high demand, high wage and high skill employment opportunities within the Rhode Island manufacturing and makers industries.

The program was made possible through a state grant under the Real Jobs RI program. Real Jobs RI is a demand-driven initiative of the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) focused on addressing workforce skills gaps through training targeted at requirements for current jobs openings that are going unfilled due to a lack of unqualified applicants. Participating training partners include Progreso Latino, Skills For Rhode Island Future and Center For Southeast Asians.  Full-time job placements will be in the welding, machinist, warehouse, assembly, manufacturing technicians and facilities operations

“UA Local-51 is proud to be a partner in the Real Jobs Rhode Island program and to lead our state’s effort to build a high skill and high wage workforce, particularly in the critical manufacturing industries.  We are particularly proud of the hard work of our past graduates.” stated Timothy Byrne, Business Manager, UA Local-51.

For those interested in learning more and applying for a training position, several orientation sessions will be held in Rhode Island during the month of April, 2019 including:

Friday, April 12th        10am – 12pm    Progreso Latino 626 Broad St, Central Falls
Saturday, April 13th   10am – 12pm    Progreso Latino 626 Broad St, Central Falls
Tuesday, April 23rd    5pm – 7pm        Martin Luther King Center  20 Dr. Marcus Wheatland Blvd, Newport

– About UA Local-51 –

Local- 51 is a member of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada. It was recently formed from the consolidation of four locals from Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.  Local – 51 serves a geographic area consisting of 39 cities and towns in the State of Rhode Island and 68 cities and towns in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Membership totals 1,286 plumbers, pipefitters and refrigeration technicians. Today, Local – 51 is the fastest growing trade union in the region, whose membership enjoys full employment and Local – 51 is a recognized, leading force for effective change in the labor community.  

Ryan Belmore

Ryan Belmore is the Owner and Publisher of What'sUpNewp.  He has been involved with What’sUpNewp since shortly after its launch in 2012, proudly leading it to be named Best Local News Blog in Rhode Island by Rhode Island Monthly readers in 2018, 2019, and 2020 and an honorable mention in the Common Good Awards in 2021.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Potter League For Animals. He previously served on the boards of Fort Adams Trust, Lucy's Hearth, and the Arts & Cultural Alliance for Newport County.

In 2020, he was named Member of the Year by LION and won the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County's Dominque Award.

He is a member of Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the North American Snowsports Journalists Association.

Born and raised in Rhode Island, he spent 39 years living in Rhode Island before recently moving to Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife and two rescue dogs. He still considers Rhode Island home, and visits at least once a month.