The University of Iron
Ironworkers
Apprenticeship Program
Local 377 and 378
Organized Labor
Jan 2009
The training center is an accredited facility and the class can be applied toward an AA degree. Ironworking is a professional career. Zampa refers to the center as the University of Iron. Zampa is the grandson of legendary ironworker and community leader Al Zampa. The Al Zampa Memorial Bridge, crossing the Carquinez Straits, was named after his grandfather. “The bridge is a monument to all the working people who get up everyday and go to work in the hot, in the cold, and the wet. We’re proud it was named after a bay area ironworker, but it honors all the working stiffs, men and women,” says Zampa. And he is carrying out his grandfather’s legacy by constantly improving the curriculum so that the ironworkers training center will be one of the top in the nation, maintaining and advancing the skills and traditions of the profession. For more information on the Ironworker apprenticeship program, please visit universityofiron.org.