High School Students Flock to L.A. Trade Show

George Valverde needs a job, but not for the typical teenager’s reasons. He needs to help support his family.

On Friday, the San Fernando High School junior and hundreds of other students from 10 high schools strolled the aisles of the AFL-CIO Union-Industries trade show at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Most are probably not college bound, and are looking for alternatives to minimum-wage jobs.

And the 400 companies participating in the trade show are looking for apprentices and skilled labor. Bricklayers, pilots and other professionals handed out apprenticeship forms and answered questions.

“Today is very helpful because I need a job now rather than later,” said Valverde, holding two bags full of pamphlets and forms for various jobs from glass-blowing to electronics. “I need to help my family.”

The 17-year-old said he has to support a 15-year-old brother, an ill mother and a recently laid-off father in Van Nuys.

One option that interested Valverde was an electronics apprenticeship.

The Electrical Training Trust offers a five-year program that starts at $11.64 an hour, with wage increases from 45% to 85% every six weeks, and health and pension benefits.

About 10% of the 1,000 participants in Los Angeles County are high school students, said Jane Templin, a group representative and electrician.

The group encourages graduates to apply. They pick up things fast because “they’re still in the learning mode,” Templin said.

Pat Springer, a computer science teacher who brought 45 students from Locke High School, says the trade show is a good incentive for students to finish high school even if they don’t plan to attend college.

The trade show proves “they can still make a lot of money being a union worker,” she said.

Further, she is hopeful that the success they achieve might prompt them to attend college later.

At the very least, said Bud Jacobs, director of Los Angeles Unified School District high school programs: “This gives them a chance to see role models who have a special interest in these kids.”