Unions join Salute to Construction activities

This year's Salute to Construction Council has a little different flavor than it has in the past 19 years. Representatives from three of the larger local labor unions are participating in the organization's activities.

"The question came up of why the unions are not a part of Salute, and no one had an answer. So, we approached them," said Kim Buche, coordinator of the Salute to Construction Council.

The Salute Council extended invitations to a number of unions and out of that membership drive the Carpenters Union Local No. 978, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers No. 453 and the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local No. 15 all took Salute up on the invitation to participate.

"They have a lot to offer Salute, especially with their apprenticeship training programs, and the individuals they have serving as liaisons this year have been just wonderful. It really has been a great thing," Buche said.

The three main goals of the Salute to Construction Council are: improving public awareness about the design and construction industry as a whole; giving presentations at middle schools and high schools about the industry as a career option; and hosting an annual awards banquet highlighting various local professionals who are outstanding superintendents, craftsmen and developers, while recognizing the current year's scholarship recipients, photo contest winners, etc.

Danny Hyde, business representative of Carpenters Local No. 978, said the union chose to participate for a couple of reasons. "I think we have been shortchanging ourselves by not participating, and a number of our members have been Superintendent of the Year and we want to have a role in the group," he said. Hyde said the Carpenters Local No. 978 has been part of the construction industry in Springfield since 1901 and the union believes this will help get its name out in the community.

Last year the Salute to Construction Council did educational presentations on the design and construction industry in 23 high schools and middle schools in Springfield and the surrounding area.

"Primarily the people who go into schools to talk to the kids are professionals. By bringing the trades in, it gives us a broader representation of the different facets of the industry," Buche said. "Not every child is college material and the unions help us present more options for kids coming out of high school. This provides the kids information about different opportunities to make a good living, which also includes on the job training through apprenticeships."

John Creller, field representative for International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local No. 15, said Career Days are one benefit of participation in Salute to Construction.

"Those are a good way to let the kids know there is a way you can make a good living for your family and have a good pension that is not tied to the stock market if you want it," Creller said. He also mentioned that in the next 10 years there is an expected shortage of about 100,000 construction workers in the United States according to international unions and Department of Labor numbers.

Mike Mills, training director for the electrical joint apprenticeship and training committee, a joint effort of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union 453 and the Springfield division of the National Electrical Contractors Association, said right now there are 45 individuals enrolled in the IBEW-NECA apprenticeship program, which also provides ongoing training for journeymen.

Finding good applicants for the apprenticeship program is a challenge. Mills visited classrooms as part of Career Days, and said one thing he tried to instill in the students is that "(the industry) is growing and there's always a need for apprentices."