Connecticut state agencies have recognized the first group of Transportation Maintainer Registered Apprentices, marking a new collaboration between labor and government aimed at workforce development in public service. The Connecticut Departments of Labor (CTDOL), Transportation (CTDOT), and Administrative Services (DAS) partnered with the Connecticut Employees Union Independent (CEUI) to bring Registered Apprentices into CTDOT positions for the first time.
Nine apprentices completed 2,044 hours of training over 12 months and are now licensed Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Transportation Maintainers. Their responsibilities include snow plowing, construction, landscaping, and highway maintenance.
“This Registered Apprenticeship program is an innovative way we can provide on-the-job training to workers while maintaining the workforce needed to support Connecticut’s transportation system,” said Governor Ned Lamont. “I strongly encourage anyone who is seeking a new job and who is interested in a position with the Connecticut Department of Transportation to enroll in this apprenticeship program and get connected with a new opportunity that can lead to a long-lasting career.”
Garrett Eucalitto, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, commented on the significance of this step: “This is a significant moment for Connecticut state government. By becoming an apprenticeship employer, we are opening new opportunities into public service to build a stronger, more prepared transportation workforce. This partnership with CTDOL, DAS, and our labor partners ensures we are investing in the people who keep our roads safe and our state moving. Thank you to Governor Lamont for his leadership in creating this new career opportunity for Connecticut residents.”
Michelle Gilman, Commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services, said: “This partnership demonstrates what’s possible when state agencies and labor work together to build a skilled public-sector workforce. The Registered Apprenticeship program strengthens our recruitment pipeline, creates meaningful career pathways, and ensures Connecticut has the trained professionals needed to maintain and improve our transportation infrastructure. We are proud to support this innovative effort and congratulate the first class of Transportation Maintainer Apprentices.”
CTDOL Deputy Commissioner Mark Polzella highlighted benefits for both employers and workers: “Registered Apprenticeships are a win-win for employers and workers. Businesses can train their workforce for the skills and expertise they need now and in the future, and Registered Apprentices are employees from day one. They have a paycheck coming in as they train, and when they have completed the program, they’re masters of their craft with portable credentials. The Labor Department congratulates today’s newest Transportation Maintainers and welcomes them into public service.”
Carl R. Chisem, president of CEUI Local 511 added: “This apprenticeship program is a win for workers and for the state of Connecticut. It opens the door for more people to build lifelong careers in public service while ensuring we have the skilled, dedicated workforce needed to maintain and improve our transportation system. CEUI is proud to have worked alongside our partners at CTDOT, the CT Department of Labor, and the state to make this program a reality, and we congratulate the first class of graduates on this incredible achievement.”
Registered Apprenticeships require one to four years of training depending on industry area—including classroom hours plus on-the-job learning—before participants become credentialed experts ready for licensing exams or certifications as required by their field. There are currently over 6,500 Registered Apprentices across about 50 occupations working with roughly 1,800 employers statewide.
Todd Berch from CTDOL’s Office of Apprenticeship Training noted: “Pre-Apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship strategies have proven very successful in meeting both employer and industry needs in training, acquiring, and retaining employees. Registered Apprenticeships are rigorous and quite distinct from internships or corporate training programs; Registered Apprentices must meet high standards of mastery and put in thousands of training and classroom hours before being credentialed.”
The Office of Apprenticeship Training within CTDOL serves as Connecticut’s only U.S. Department of Labor-authorized agency overseeing such programs.
Employers interested in starting Registered Apprenticeship programs can contact CTDOL’s Office of Apprenticeship Training or review information available online about how to begin these initiatives.
