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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 16, 2019)
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS | August 16, 2019 | PAGE 11 Building trades sounds alarm on DOL apprenticeship proposal North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) is sounding the alarm over proposed changes to how apprenticeship training programs are created and oper- ate. In June, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposed regu- lations to implement Industry- Recognized Apprenticeship Pro- grams (IRAPs). Unlike the Registered Apprenticeship model — where program spon- sors must meet certain require- ments in order for the DOL to recognize their program — the new IRAP system will give pri- vate organizations such as em- ployers and trade associations free rein to create new watered- down standards and self-certify subpar programs. Registered apprenticeship pro- grams are used in the construc- tion industry and are widely con- sidered an effective training strategy that leads to quality em- ployment, equips workers with job-relevant skills, and helps em- ployers meet their current and fu- ture workforce needs. NABTU and local building trades unions across the country are concerned second-rate IRAP certifications will undermine the gold-standard that Registered Apprenticeship programs have attained. The proposed IRAP regula- tion does provide a temporary exemption for the construction industry, but that could change when the DOL issues its final version later this year. “While we applaud the gov- ernment’s interest in expanding apprenticeship opportunities in new industries, IRAPs have no place in construction,” said NABTU President Sean McGar- vey. “We need to make sure that when the final regulations come out, the construction industry ex- clusion is permanent.” McGarvey served on a presi- dential task force that was born out of President Donald Trump’s July 2017 Executive Order to ex- pand apprenticeship in America. The task force’s mission was to identify strategies and proposals to promote apprenticeships, es- pecially in sectors where appren- ticeship programs are insuffi- cient. Joseph Sellers Jr., general president of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, Comment period ends Monday, Aug. 26, 2019 NABTU has set up a submittal page at: https://bit.ly/2Z2iHcV and Doug McCarron, general president of the Carpenters Union, also served on the task force. There were also members on the task force who argued that registered programs were too re- strictive and included too much administrative red tape, which has kept many companies from offering such formal work-based training. Given the Trump Ad- ministration’s history of deregu- lating safety and environmental regulations in the workplace, the building trades aren’t taking the exemption for granted. NABTU and local building trades unions across the country are calling on all union workers, their families, and friends to sub- mit comments to the DOL asking them to “ keep IRAPs OUT of construction!” A 60-day public comment pe- riod ends Aug. 26, 2019. NABTU has set up a submittal page at https://bit.ly/2Z2iHcV. You can mail comments to: Adele Gagliardi, Administrator, Office of Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Av- enue NW, Room N-5641, Wash- ington, D.C., 20210. On Aug. 13, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer and Multnomah County Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson held a press con- ference at the Multnomah County Courthouse under con- struction in downtown Portland to denounce IRAPs. Joining them was Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle and union leaders from the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Coun- cil, its affiliated locals, and other unions. HAPPY LABOR DAY TO ALL from IRON WORKERS LOCAL 29 118 PROUD YEARS OF SERVING THE WORKING MEN AND WOMEN OF OREGON Joseph Bowers - F INANCIAL S-T/B USINESS M ANAGER Chad Young - S ERGEANT AT A RMS Rod Sprinkle - P RESIDENT /B USINESS A GENT Eric Cole - C ONDUCTOR Paul Diaz - V ICE P RESIDENT /O RGANIZER Tom Pearson- B USINESS A GENT /D ISPATCHER Tyler Smith - R ECORDING S ECRETARY Fabian Monroy - O RGANIZERS Executive Board Eric Cole, Jade Worthington, Chuck Riggs, Mike Newton, Travis Taylor Trustees Steve Mahoney, John Hillstead, Dean Viers Aimee Parmeter - A DMINISTRATIVE P ROFESSIONAL /B OOKKEEPER T ONI V ALERIO - A DMINISTRATIVE A SST . 11620 NE Ainsworth Circle, Suite 200, Portland, OR 503-774-0777
