THE E-TEAM

E-Team Machinist Training Program 112 Exchange St. Lynn, MA, 01901 Phone:617-699-1071 Email: biglabr@aol.com eteamhome.net

The idea for the E-Team came from a fact—there is a huge need for qualified machinists in our manufacturing community—and an idea--given the chance for a better life, people will work incredibly hard. And that was right—they have worked hard. Most of the 115 graduates of the program have found jobs that paid them an average of about fifty percent more—to start—than they were making before they entered the E-Team program.

The E-Team program was launched in 1996 as a collaborative effort between ECCO, the Boston Tooling and Machining Association, the Greater Boston Manufacturing Partnership and CWA/IUE Local 201. All along, it has had vital support from the communities and from the state. Since its founding, the legislative delegation of the North Shore has fought tenaciously to keep the program funded. Over the last several years this has been particularly difficult given the worsening economy and budget constraints. Economic conditions have also led the E-Team to broaden its curriculum to include metal fabrication and welding in order to ensure continued access to good jobs for its graduates.

About half the graduates are women and minorities. The average age is 32, but the range of ages is 19 to 60. The program requires a huge commitment of time and labor for each of the 32 weeks—600 hours overall, 200 of which are spent in the machine shop, three nights a week and all day every Saturday. When you add that to the busy lives the trainees already have, you have to agree they’re really making a sacrifice.

The E-Team is well into its tenth class. The esprit de corps is very high. Any visitor to E-Team classes senses the trainees’ enthusiasm and determination to succeed as well as the special dedication of their teachers. Here are the voices of some former E-Team students—in their own words.

Douglas Elston — “The teachers have tremendous integrity. They care if you learn. They are setting us up to succeed. What I believe is that the more you know, the further you go. I would definitely encourage my son or daughter to go into something like this. You know, I haven’t had to put a dollar into this training? All I have to put into it is my heart.”

Kathleen Kinloch — "The teachers are very patient. They’re great. My daughter thinks I’m really cool. She and my son help me with my math homework. I tell them I’m doing this to get a better life for myself and them."

Jorge Figueroa —“This is the first time in this country I found some help—I never had anything for nothing. It is so wonderful that this program is out there, and I am hoping the program will continue.”

E-Team Teacher, Phil Blaney — “Teaching the E-Team is very exciting. I taught high school for 31 years and night school. The enthusiasm of the students in this program is just amazing. When this started, I didn’t really want to teach. But the students are so motivated, they’re a pleasure to teach!”

“As it turned out, there are other things this program teaches you besides machining, to be a good worker, in general, to get to know the other students and care how they are doing. The student-teacher ratio is probably eight-to-one, which is great, because we really need this time with the students. Many of our students are already working in the trades. When they come back and say how it’s been, the students get instant feedback.”