The world of apprenticeships work much like academia – many good programs all work to recruit the same stellar students. In Indiana, instead of fighting for those students, training coordinators banded together to form Built to Succeed, a group created to increase awareness, education and recruiting opportunities for the building trades.
Formed in March 2016, Built to Succeed formed a street team, known as cast members, made up of apprentices passionate about their programs, their careers, and more importantly, their futures. Marketing and social media campaigns featuring the cast members help get out the word that apprenticeships are higher education and come with a college degree upon graduation.
Participating building trades apprenticeship programs contribute equally to the program.
“We are trying to emulate how the colleges go about recruiting,” said Tim Myres, training coordinator for Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 20, which covers the state of Indiana. “We’re trying to make a bridge to all the schools, all the trades. We’re trying to work together as building trades rather than fight for the same students.”
Students accepted into any of the apprenticeship programs are encouraged to take a selfie with the hashtag, “I am Built to Succeed.” Through a partnership with the Indiana High School Athletic Association, Built to Succeed’s cast members are featured in videos played at state athletic championships and cast members attend public events such as New Year’s Eve in downtown Indianapolis and Indiana Pacers games to spread the word.
“We can reach out to everyone associated to potential applicants, including students, parents, grandparents, teachers and administrators at one large event with our message at the same time,” Myres said.
Catie Rogers, 25, will graduate from the sheet metal apprenticeship this year and is a cast member with Built to Succeed. As the only female in the Indianapolis school, she tells anyone who will listen about her education, career and future. As a student, she just purchased a home for herself and her young daughter.
“In my eyes, if a young person is looking for a career, why not choose a career that pays you to learn, that gives you a pension, that provides you benefits? Why not?” she said. “The most important thing to do is show up every day on time and do the work. I think it’s a really great opportunity that other young people would take advantage of if they knew about it.”
In Central Indiana, the building trades’ directors of apprenticeship training often meet to discuss common challenges. Built to Succeed came out of one of those conversations.
“Sixty training centers, 15 different trades – we all sat down at the table and tried to determine the most effective way to market our trades,” said Jim Patterson, training coordinator for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 481/National Electrical Contractors Association .
A potential apprentice can fill out one application, which will go to all participating building trades, a tactic also used by state colleges around the country.
“They now have one tool, one place to go to find out all the information on all the building trades. It’s taken a lot of steps out of the process,” Patterson said. “Through the common application, it’s allowed us to contact people right away who are interested. It’s a more effective means of communication, and we’ve seen a huge uptick in applicants.”
A handful of 2017 high school graduates have already applied to the program, and “that’s never happened before,” Patterson said.
Those interested in Built to Succeed can visit www.builttosucceed.org.
Author: paul
As Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, many across our vast country will be celebrating and remembering the history that made Canada the great nation it is today. Labour played a key role in that history, by fighting for rights and improving conditions for all workers, both represented and unrepresented alike. Our forefathers in the Labour movement fought hard on issues like hour of work, decent wages, health and safety, maternity leave and more.Many lives were lost and many injuries sustained during the early years of our Unions to give us what we have today.While the list of achievements and benefits earned by Labour are seemingly endless, I would like to cover a few key moments in our history that changed the Labour movement forever and changed the lives of working people for betterment of all.
The Trade Union Act, 1872
On March 25, 1872, the Toronto Typographical Union walked of the job to advance workers’ interests on
the issue of a shorter work week. Replacement workers were brought in. On April 15th of that year a rally was held at Queens Park that was over 10,000 strong. The next day the strike committee was arrested.
Just two days later Prime Minister John A. MacDonald introduced legislation called the Trade Union Act
which legalized and gave protection to Unions and to the Canadian workers fighting to form them.
Winnipeg Strike, 1919
The Winnipeg general strike in 1919 is another key moment for the Canadian workers. In one of the biggest strikes in Canadian history, workers from all walks of life from both the public and
private sectors — walked off the job at 11:00 am on May 15, 1919. Just over a month later, on June 19, police and union-busters were brought in. Shots were fired at
striking workers. Two were killed and many more were injured.
While the violence brought an end to the strike, these bloody events set the stage for many future
Labour reforms.
Unemployment insurance, 1940
The Unemployment insurance we all take for granted was born only after the heroic efforts of unemployed workers in Vancouver, who were forced to work in camps for next to nothing. Finally, they abandoned the camps and struck for two months. The workers then trekked to Ottawa to further their cause by addressing elected officials on Parliament Hill. This was stopped by government orders and the strike was ended — but the legacy of protection from unemployment lives on.
Windsor Ford strike, 1945
Even today, Unions’ enemies push right-to-work laws to let freeloaders to enjoy Union terms without
paying dues. The 1945 strike at Windsors massive Ford plant led to the precisely opposite ruling.
In 1945 the Canadian Auto Workers went on strike. There were 14,000 workers in the Ford plant, many
of whom were voluntarily paying dues. The Union wanted automatic dues check-off and two weeks paid
vacation.
After 99 days, government intervention and the appointment of an arbitrator, the strike ended.
Six weeks later arbitrator Ivan Rand, a Supreme Court justice, gave his decision rejecting mandatory
Union membership but approving automatic dues check-off—based on the reasoning that because
everyone in the workplace benefits from the Union they should contribute to the Union.
Our struggle continues
While these events represent important moments in our nation’s history, they are only a few glimpses
at a struggle that includes many other battles—all fought to give us things like overtime pay, maternity
leave, health and safety legislation, and much more.
Today, Unions fight constantly to maintain the gains that working families won many years ago and to
stave off the relentless attacks from those who oppose us and who look to degrade our decent standard
of living.
In order to successfully protect our gains and our standards, We must continue to stand together as
Brothers and Sisters collectively while we also work with those who stand with us.
Doing so will ensure we can maintain and build upon our history and the gains we now enjoy
—because for future generations of working families, their livelihoods will depend upon what
we do today.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA!
Fraternally,
James Jackson
Tiffany Newman, a 37 year old mother of three and member of Local 276 is profiled in Roofing BC Magazine. Not only has she fulfilled the role as a pioneer in the roofing industry but she has given back to her local community as well by serving as a member of the Shawligan Lake volunteer fire department. Not only did she start her apprenticeship at the local, but she now serves as a foreman at Alpha Roofing and Cladding.
Click here to read the entire article online on page 26 of Roofing BC Magazine
On the night of June 27, our Union tragically lost two Brothers when CSX Conductor Jake Lafave and Conductor Trainee Stephen Deal (both of Local 600) died after being struck by an Amtrak passenger train just north of Union Station in Washington D.C.
On behalf of our entire membership, we extend our most heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of both men, and to their co-workers working out of Cumberland, Md.
Brother Lafave, 25, was with CSX for nearly four years. He is survived by his wife Katelyn and his parents, and we offer special thoughts for his father, CSX dispatcher Jim Lafave.
Brother Deal was 20 years old and had just over two years of CSX service. He is survived by his parents.
An investigation is underway, and SMART will join in those efforts to learn not only what caused this accident but also how to guard against similar incidents in the future.
The new nonpartisan group, ReBuild USA, recently announced its launch with a short video highlighting the threat to America’s people and economy if comprehensive efforts are not taken immediately to address the nation’s infrastructure needs.
The group is backed by all 14 building-trades belonging to the North American Building Trades Union (NABTU). According to NABTU President Sean McGarvey: “ReBuild USA will hold elected officials of both parties accountable for the promises they made in recent elections to fix our disastrous infrastructure and put Americans back to work. Our members and leadership are united also in supporting ReBuild USA’s effort to guarantee pro-worker protections, including prevailing wage standards at both the federal and state levels.”
At SMOHIT the mission, in addition to their health screening program, is to provide industry-leading health and safety solutions that minimize occupational illnesses and injuries for members in the sheet metal industry.
As an added benefit of membership, they are hosting a little friendly competition — a STEPS Challenge.
The top 15 individuals who have the highest number of steps for six weeks – June 15th to July 31st – will win big. Visit http://www.smohit.org/stepschallenge for more info.
Michael Gregory Olleck, a long time SMART TD member lost his life on June 10th, 2017 while at work. Mike enlisted in the United States Marine Corps soon after high school. He then worked for the LIRR for 17 years first as a trackman and then as a track foreman. He lost his life tragically in an accident while at work. His union brothers and sisters would like to help his devastated family as much as possible.
According to Anthony Lavoratore, SMART TD Local 29 General Vice President, “Mike was a great man and a good friend. He has helped so many of his fellow members through the years. This is something we would like to do to pay him back for all he has given us through the years.”
Below is a link to the GoFundMe account set up to assist his family: https://www.gofundme.com/michael-olleck-and-family
Sheet Metal Workers Local 40 in Connecticut has made a point about being a partner in local communities.
On a Saturday in April, Local 40 volunteers helped spruce up the West Haven Little League baseball & softball fields at Morse Park. Local 40 helped clean, power wash, scrape and paint the fields in preparation for the new season.
“We’re in the neighborhood just like everyone else, and playing a positive role pays big dividends in the long term,” said Local 40 Business Manager Dave Roche.
“Giving back and leading in our local areas builds the good will that opens people’s hearts and minds to partnering with us in developing the kind of good-paying middle class jobs we’re trying to build. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
A new study has found that construction workers across the southern United States receive little to no employment benefits and have relatively low pay.
The Workers Defense Project report found that 40% of construction workers in Houston had no health insurance, retirement savings, paid vacations or sick leave. More than 30% were not offered breaks during the day and reported that their employer did not provide drinking water on the job. Only 5% of the 1,435 workers interviewed in six Southern states said workers’ compensation covered the cost of their work injuries, and 57% said they earned less than $15 an hour.
The results of this study reinforce the story of the “low road” business model that has taken root in the U.S. construction industry, particularly across the southern U.S. which has become predominantly right to work (for less). On one hand, contractors express their concern about a skilled-labor shortage, but on the other do little to address it in their business practices.
Across the nation, average hourly wages for American construction workers, adjusted for inflation, have been in decline since the late 1970s.
The Workers Defense Project report underscores the fact that, at least in the South, many companies aren’t making the necessary changes in compensation and workplace culture to be an attractive option for new entrants into the skilled construction trades. All too often, the short-sighted focus is to target labor as a place to cut costs in order to see a bigger profit or to win work as low bidders. This creates a race to the bottom which sees not only deteriorating jobsite conditions but also a substandard product once complete on many non-union sites.
SMART TD brother and conductor Mike Case was tragically the victim of a shooting by a disgruntled passenger while working Train 4 in Naperville, Ill. The father of four suffered injuries to his liver, pancreas and parts of his intestines from the single gunshot wound, according to a hospital spokesperson from Edward Hospital in Naperville.
Brother Case has been part of the Amtrak family for quiet some time. According to a GoFundMe site set up to assist both him and his family, “Anybody who knows him knows he is a huge jokester and a great guy.”
Those interested in helping him and his family during the very difficult time are encouraged to visit this GoFundMe site that was set up by his co-workers. No amount is too small and everything is greatly appreciated.