The International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) this week joined the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) and IUEC Local 21 to highlight the value of hands-on training and education opportunities in the union elevator industry for local attendees – from local lawmakers, including Mayor Jim Ross of Arlington, Texas, to industry stakeholders and allies from the business community.

"On behalf of the more than 700 hardworking men and women represented by our union in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, I am proud of this week’s open house. Attendees left with a firm understanding of the ins and outs of our apprenticeship training program," said International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 21 Business Manager Ryan Donnell.

Mayor Jim Ross, who was elected in June 2021, stopped by the event to not only show his support for unions and union apprenticeship training but to also thank IUEC members for the work they do to keep the community and its riding public safe.

"I am so impressed by the education program of the International Union of Elevator Constructors. As a public official, and more importantly, as a father and grandfather, nothing should come before safety," said Mayor Jim Ross. "The men and women of this great union master everything from electricity to hydraulics. It’s truly impressive. These workers – ones who are properly trained and licensed – must be the same ones building, servicing, and repairing elevators and other conveyances. There is no way around that. These are complex pieces of machinery, and I want my family, and every family, to ride on elevators that are nothing but safe."

NEIEP offers hands-on training that utilizes labs, assorted training aids, text materials, and video to all IUEC members. The main responsibilities of the U.S. Department of Labor-accredited program are managing and directing the implementation of curricula; designing, administering, and monitoring probationary training and evaluation program for all new hires entering the trade; administering a distance learning program for eligible students; and conducting seminars to improve the teaching skills and techniques of instructors.

"Safety – that’s what sets us apart from the non-union industry," said National Elevator Industry Educational Program Area Coordinator Jerome Ramirez. "Upon completion of the program, NEIEP students are prepared for their mechanic exam. The exam – proctored by an independent third party which helps maintain the integrity of our program – is something our students feel confident taking, as the IUEC’s education and training program, as well as our continuing education opportunities, are unparalleled. We set up our students for success. Keeping workers safe on the job and the riding public safe as they go about their everyday lives means that all elevator constructors should graduate from an accredited program. Education and training are the only ways to be proactive in keeping people safe."

"Our members’ training is demanding to say the least, and that’s what makes them the safest, most successful workforce in the industry," said International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 21 Business Representative David Lopez. "Safety is at the core of all we do. Our union knows that when education and training are prioritized, both workers and the riding public are safer – at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about."