Member Perspective: Leslie S. Richards

Guest Commentator: Leslie S. Richards, General Manager, SEPTA @SEPTA

How do apprenticeships and other skills-based hiring programs help displaced workers secure employment amid the pandemic?

Next month marks one year since COVID-19 first impacted our world. Through it all, SEPTA and our entire workforce has demonstrated that our services are essential. Without SEPTA, grocery store shelves don’t get stocked, hospitals don’t get cleaned, the sick aren’t cared for, and people can’t get from one place to another. I have great pride and appreciation for the people of this agency – a strong, diverse, and highly skilled workforce – who continue to help the region move better in the face of adversity.

That’s why SEPTA has committed to taking the Chamber’s PHL Pledge, the actions of which are at the very core of our service to the Greater Philadelphia region. As part of the Recharge & Recover PHL efforts, SEPTA is supporting businesses in their efforts to safely operate during the pandemic while creating opportunities for displaced workers through skills-based training and hiring initiatives.

While SEPTA has already been actively involved in retraining and reskilling workers, the unprecedented numbers of furloughed or laid-off employees from other industries, coupled with high unemployment rates across the city, has motivated the agency to double down on these efforts.

Through our comprehensive, industry-leading and state-certified apprenticeship programs for Bus Maintenance Technician, Rail Vehicle Electrical Electronic Maintainer, Rail Electronic Specialist, and our nationally certified Elevator-Escalator Technician program, we are reskilling workers for high-demand jobs. SEPTA recently wrapped up a 2.5-year Elevator-Escalator Apprenticeship, with five individuals completing the training program; their highly specialized skills will be in high demand. Separately, we are adapting our specialized bus operator training and orientation to adhere to strict COVID-19 health and safety guidelines; under the guidance of Colleen May, Manager of Surface Operations, Maintenance and Welding Training/Apprenticeship Coordinator, we are on track to train and hire 16 new bus operators every three weeks – helping to meet demand for bus operators.

Through strategic partnerships and outreach with the City of Philadelphia, School District of Philadelphia, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, vocational/technical schools, CareerLink, and the Philadelphia Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC), SEPTA is using skills-based hiring methods to widen the talent pool for certain positions.

And, given the disproportionate effect of the pandemic on women, particularly women of color, we believe it is more important than ever to help connect women to fulfilling career opportunities. Through the Tradeswomen of SEPTA initiative, founded by my colleague Jenny Barrett, we are focused on recruiting and advancing more highly skilled women in the transit industry including hourly skilled trades and maintenance positions – jobs traditionally held by men.

While we have seen success over the past year in creating jobs and supporting training opportunities, this COVID-19 era has impacted our ability to fully fund and safely carry out all of our apprenticeship programs and other workforce initiatives. As we plan for the future, the SEPTA team is hopeful to continue building on the success of these important reskilling and skills-based hiring initiatives. Transit drives the economy – and it drives our commitment to the Recharge & Recover PHL Pledge.

Through Recharge & Recover PHL, the Chamber is working with our members to position Greater Philadelphia as the new national model to learn, apprentice, and work in the jobs of the future.