Building Skills Partnership

BUILDING SKILLS PARTNERSHIP CONTINUES TO EXPAND PROGRAM OFFERINGS STATEWIDE

With a statewide Board of Directors and full-time staff now in place, the Building Skills Partnership continues to provide a broad range of important services to janitorial workers around the state.

Due to California Community Foundation and Americorp grants, BSP continues to provide English as second language, computer skills, and health education classes to janitors and their families, as well as parent education, citizenship and tax preparation workshops, both in the Bay Area and in Los Angeles County.

BSP’s Newsletter provides a more detailed review of all activities.

Click here for the latest version.

About The Program


The Building Skills Partnership (BSP) was founded in 2000 in Northern California as a non-profit training collaboration between building service employers and the janitors’ union, SEIU Local 1877, to advance the skills, educational opportunities and well-being of building service workers and their families. The Partnership develops and offers innovative programs to train workers in English as a Second Language (ESL), literacy, leadership development, computer skills, vocational skills and worksite health and safety. 

BOMA/GLA joined forces in 2006 with the SEIU, American Building Maintenance Service (ABM) and Able Building Maintenance Company to set up a pilot program in Southern California that would offer ESL classes over a 6-month period to janitors at buildings owned by Maguire Properties and JP Morgan. Class size was limited to 20 to allow students greater time for participation. The owners provided the funds for instructors and materials, as well as classroom space. After many hours of study and practice, 60 janitors proudly graduated from the program with members of their families in attendance.

In 2007, janitors at 11 buildings participated in the English classes. Along with Maguire Properties and JP Morgan, participating owners included Kilroy Realty Corporation, Thomas Properties Group, and CB Richard Ellis. Janitorial companies OneSource Building Services and DMS also joined the program. BOMA/GLA, the SEIU and BSP staff are currently working to expand the program in 2008 to assist additional workers.

In order to participate in the program, the following are required:

  • Classes must have 20 students; however, if your building has fewer than 20 janitors, staff of the Building Skills Partnership will work with surrounding owners and area janitorial firms to coordinate to include additional students.
  • The cost to the owner for each class is $2,000. This covers the cost of the instructor and class materials for 6 months (classes meet 3 times a week). 
  • Owners must supply space in their building for the class.

To learn more about how your janitorial staff can participate in this important program, please contact Martha Cox-Nitikman, Senior Director for Public Policy and Education, at mcoxnitikman@bomagla.org.
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