From Concrete Foundations to Career Goals: Leon’s Union Apprenticeship Story

Leon was recently working on a construction job in Buffalo, New York: A water main had burst in a residential neighborhood, and he and his fellow workers needed to replace it.

“We had to dig five feet down into the dirt to find the water main and roughly a thousand feet across through every house’s yard to reconnect it to 40 homes, and then service each house with new copper pipes,” Leon said.

Leon is wholeheartedly committed to building a career in construction. Despite the rigorous demands he faces daily on the job, he continues to push forward. As a newly accepted and paid apprentice with the Buffalo Local 210 Labor Union, Leon trains under the guidance of an experienced journeyman, learning the complexities of both physical and technical labor in real time.

“It’s all hands-on; you have to look, ask questions, learn quickly, and you can’t be afraid,” said Leon.

Although the work can be demanding, for Leon, it represents more than just a job. It is a meaningful first step toward long-term stability and a well-paying career path.

When he was released from prison in 2023, Leon knew he needed to find employment. He wanted to get back on his feet and pursue a new and more productive life. He knew he wanted to pursue construction work, but he didn’t know the steps he needed to take to make that goal a reality. Luckily, he was referred to the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) in Buffalo by the Local 210 Labor Union President, which led him to be accepted into the advanced training program.

“CEO pointed me in the right direction,” said Leon.

“They had the information, and they had the answers.”

Through the program’s union training pathway, which connects candidates to mid-level professions that offer union membership opportunities and higher-earning career trajectories, Leon was introduced to the Buffalo Laborers Union Local 210. There, he enrolled in a six-month introductory construction training and received the financial support necessary to complete it and qualify for an apprenticeship position.

In the Local 210 course, Leon learned foundational skills in hazardous waste removal, scaffold building, masonry, and concrete work—including mixing, laying, and cutting. He also learned how to operate an aerial mobile lift and a light-duty dump truck, use a wide range of protective equipment and construction tools properly, and complete OSHA-certified training focused on workplace safety and health hazards.

“The union told me that once I completed that training, I should be expecting calls from different contractors to come to work for them,” he said.

“After I finished, I almost immediately got the call and started working.”

As a now-qualified apprentice in the Laborers’ Local 210, training and working under a dedicated supervisor, Leon is paid $25 per hour. He is guaranteed a $1 raise every year from the day he started until he completes the 4,000-hour requirement to become a journeyman. This promotion offers independence and an immediate increase to $35 per hour.

He says the opportunity to earn even more is always available during that time.

“Depending on what contract you’re working with, they may give you a raise all on their own,” he said.

Today, Leon works with NOVA Site Company, a commercial construction company in Buffalo. It was his first job after completing his training. Since he started in April of 2024, his pay has jumped to $30 per hour, with another expected $1 raise this July.

Once he completes his apprenticeship and becomes a journeyman, he says his next goal is to take on even more responsibility and become a foreman, supervising and leading a crew of his fellow workers on job sites, earning $40-50 per hour to do so.

“Whatever it takes, that’s the direction I’m going, and I’m working hard to get to where I need to be,” said Leon.

While he works, Leon is also shares his story, dedication, leadership, and success with other participants in CEOs program to let them know just exactly what the program entails.

“I let them know that this is a tough field; you have to come in ready and willing to get dirty and work hard, to be disciplined and want it, and that you can’t just go through the motions,” said Leon.

“But, if you’re eager to learn and you know what’s important to you, you can succeed and thrive in one of the best practical fields out there.”

His straightforward attitude and honesty have made him an exemplary figure for his peers, a mentor whose guidance is invaluable, and a testament to their potential.

“I came home from prison just like them and came to CEO,” said Leon.

“So to transition from that life into a field that I could retire comfortably from is amazing, but it is also just as possible for them as it was for me.”