Apprenticeship programs develop trade skills

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Both union and nonunion organizations offer apprenticeship programs in the building trades and are actively seeking applicants, according to Mike Smith, apprenticeship and training representative for the U.S. Department of Labor.|ret||ret||tab|

Some nonunion shops pool their resources to offer training programs. Union organizations provide training through their local union branches.|ret||ret||tab|

Smith works with employers to help set up instruction programs and assists people in finding programs suitable to their needs and abilities. The Department of Labor provides certification for apprentices who have successfully completed at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job training, plus a minimum of 144 hours of related classroom instruction.|ret||ret||tab|

"The programs are a win-win situation for the employer and the employee," Smith said.|ret||ret||tab|

The sponsor gets a motivated worker, and the trainee receives compensation and benefits during his apprenticeship.|ret||ret||tab|

"A lot of people have been concerned we would be in dire need of tradespeople by the year 2020," Smith said. But interest in the trades seem to be on the rise lately, he added.|ret||ret||tab|

Some tradespeople are optimistic that increased interest in the trades will fill the spaces left by people retiring.|ret||ret||tab|

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Sheet Metal Workers|ret||ret||tab|

The Sheet Metal Workers Union, Local 146, offers a four-year program, which includes 180 hours of yearly classroom study.|ret||ret||tab|

The program covers all aspects of heating, ventilation and air conditioning, according to Lu Walker, office manager for the local. The office has three to five people per week seeking applications.|ret||ret||tab|

Applicants must be hired by a contractor to enter the program and must have a high-school diploma or equivalent, Walker said. They also must take the Bennett Mechanical Aptitude test at Ozarks Technical Community College before starting.|ret||ret||tab|

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Carpenters|ret||ret||tab|

Danny Hyde, business representative for the Carpenter's District Council, said there are 90 apprentices in the Carpenters Union, Local 978, at various stages in the four-year program offered.|ret||ret||tab|

The performance-based program requires apprentices to achieve 56 skill blocks before they reach completion and become journeymen, Hyde said.|ret||ret||tab|

"In recent years, we'd reached a point in the construction industry that there was beginning to be a shortage of skilled worker," Hyde said. "But we're starting to build back up."|ret||ret||tab|

Hyde said applicants must have a letter of intent to hire from a contractor. As beginning apprentices, they earn 60 percent of a journeyman's wage with 5 percent incremental increases. |ret||ret||tab|

Full health benefits are included in the wages. There is a probationary period required for entry into the pension plan.|ret||ret||tab|

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Plumbers and Seamfitters|ret||ret||tab|

The Plumbers & Seamfit-ters Union, Local 178, has 49 registered apprentices in its five-year program. Trainees must complete 224 classroom hours, plus 1,700 hours on the job per year. Participants earn college credits during training and can go on to acquire an associate's degree in construction with an additional 30 hours of online instruction through the University of Michigan.|ret||ret||tab|

Apprentices begin at 40 percent of journeyman's wages, plus benefits, and receive annual raises, according to Andrew McCarty, training coordinator. The training program is funded by the membership through the contractors and general membership fund, McCarty said.|ret||ret||tab|

McCarty said in the last two years he has seen more young people apply for the apprenticeship program in the 18-to-24 age range. Previously, applicants were older, either people out of jobs or wanting to make career changes.|ret||ret||tab|

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Electrical Workers|ret||ret||tab|

Michael Mills, training director for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union, Local 453, said he has definitely seen more qualified young people apply for apprenticeship in his field. Applications were double this year over last year, he said.|ret||ret||tab|

IBEW opens application for its five-year program every spring. Of this year's 110 applicants, there were only openings for 11 people.|ret||ret||tab|

"We had better qualified people apply this year," Mills said. "About 30 people qualified. It was hard to make a choice."|ret||ret||tab|

Apprentices must have a high school diploma or equivalent, and must have had some algebra. Trainees are on the job 40 hours per week and spend another 2 1/2 hours per week in classroom activity.|ret||ret||tab|

They earn 50 percent of journeyman's scale, plus benefits. Apprentices are encouraged to change contractors once a year to give them a variety of working conditions.|ret||ret||tab|

According to Mills, the average age for applicants is about 25 years. They used to come in right out of high school, he said.|ret||ret||tab|

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