Marano Fellows Class of 2012
Name: James Barry
Title:

Manager of Program Development

Organization:

32BJ Training Fund

Location: New York, NY
Industry Sector: Green Operations and Maintenance
Type of Organization: Non Profit, Joint Labor Management Partnership

Organizational Background & Mission: The 32BJ Training Fund is a joint labor-management organization founded in 1971, and cosponsored by Local 32BJ and the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations. Every year the Fund provides industry, academic, and computer courses to thousands of SEIU Local 32BJ workers at over 20 locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and The District of Columbia.

The 85,000 union members eligible for the Fund come from 64 different countries and speak 28 different languages. They work as cleaners, porters, handypersons, superintendents, security officers, maintenance workers, doormen, and window cleaners in commercial and residential buildings.

Interest in Sector Work: Buildings in the United States consume more energy than any other sector of the economy. In New York City this problem is especially pronounced, with buildings responsible for 66% of total energy use and 77% of city greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2005 The Fund began developing energy efficiency and green programming to train workers how to reduce energy and carbon emissions in their buildings. This effort not only helps the environment but improves worker job security and raises the standards of the industry. http://www.1000supers.com/program.php