Machinists Institute’s Peschek on DOL apprenticeship panel

SEATTLE (March 20, 2024) — The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the appointment of Shana Peschek, Executive Director of the Machinists Institute, to the Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship. This committee, comprised of 30 distinguished members, is entrusted with advising the Secretary of Labor on ways to utilize the apprenticeship training model to enhance equitable access to career pathways for America’s workers and jobseekers.

“Registered Apprenticeship (RA) is my passion, and it is a great honor to be on a committee that drives innovation and access to the national apprenticeship system,” Peschek said. “I deeply believe in it as an educational modality that gives greater opportunity to achieve the education and skills needed for careers that provide quality, family wage jobs across many industries. RA is a critical component of developing a highly skilled and diverse workforce to maintain our global competitiveness, providing pathways for communities and populations that have been historically excluded from these careers.”

Peschek’s appointment is a testament to her expertise and dedication to the advancement of RA programs. Since the inception of the Machinists Institute in 2019 by the International Association of Machinists District 751, Peschek has spearheaded the expansion of RA initiatives across the state of Washington and along the West Coast. Under her leadership, the Machinists Institute has witnessed significant growth, including the doubling of RA occupations, the establishment of a state-recognized pre-apprenticeship program, and the introduction of continuing education courses, all in partnership with IAM District 751.

“The unwavering support of IAM District 751 has paved the way for incredible opportunities for the Machinists Institute, including solutions to barriers our students face, such as childcare,” Peschek said. ”In a true spirit of collaboration, the Machinists Institute and IAM District 751 have united under a common mission to create prosperity for workers across multiple industries through accessible and affordable education and training.”

This partnership has not only facilitated innovative solutions to overcome barriers faced by students, but has also actively engaged IAM District 751 members at every level, from teaching and assisting outreach to speaking to students and informing policymakers.

“We are excited for Shana to represent our organization on the national stage and contribute to expanding the RA system while championing equity and access as fundamental principles,” said IAM District 751 President and Directing Business Representative Jon Holden. “With the Machinists Institute’s apprenticeship program, we aim to create prosperity for workers across multiple industries through world-class, accessible, and affordable education and training by providing pathways to build a better future for aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, and machinist workers. With Shana’s appointment, we are a step closer to achieving that goal.”

The Machinists Institute is a nonprofit educational institution serving the aerospace, manufacturing, and automotive machinists industries. Established by the International Association of Machinists District 751, the Machinists Institute proudly serves current and future workers to reach their career goals and provides cutting edge education and training to build a highly skilled and diverse workforce to meet employer demand. Visit MachinistsInstitute.org for more information.