When folks “discover” registered apprenticeship, it’s declared “America’s Best Kept Secret!” The National Apprenticeship Act, or The Fitzgerald Act, went into effect July 1, 1937, so this “secret” is celebrating its 70th anniversary. As the regional apprenticeship consultant for the Department of Labor and Industries, I publicly declare the following:
It is not now, nor has it ever been, a state secret, government policy, nor an attempt by us to withhold this program from public knowledge or use!
If you want to grow your own occupationally-qualified employees with skills, knowledge and abilities tailor made to your industry specifications, you need to know about the apprenticeship advantage.
Field operations
From July 16 to July 20 at Vancouver’s Heathman Lodge, the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council and the Department of Labor and Industries hosted a series of symposiums and formal meetings on numerous apprenticeship issues. Representative Deb Wallace of the 17th District and the chairman of the House Higher Education Committee was guest speaker. The city of Vancouver Public Works Department took the first of two steps in sponsoring their own apprenticeship, and their request for an Individual Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee was approved.
Friday, Aug. 3, the Oregon and Southwest Washington Apprenticeship Coordinators Association hosts an information session in Portland on a variety of building and construction trade programs. The training directors of apprenticeship programs in Washington and Oregon will explain how their program operates, how to apply, their selection process and all the other “secrets and mysteries of the trades.” It is open to interested business parties (call 503-257-1022).
The National Association of State and Territorial Apprenticeship Directors will hold its 57th Conference in Portland Aug. 6-10. This is a partnership of apprenticeship regulators from the US Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship and twenty-six states and territories. The Washington Apprenticeship Program Manager, Elizabeth S. Smith and the Oregon Apprenticeship Director, Steve Simms, are featured presenters.
The national Workforce Innovations Conference took place last month in Kansas City, and the 70th anniversary of Apprenticeship was noted with a variety of presentations. A speaker from The National High School Alliance said that schools need to reconnect with real-world experiences. She suggested more career-focused coursework since the majority of students do not pursue a four-year degree.
Boeing Co. Senior Vice President Rick Stephens said the ideal employee does not necessarily need to have a degree and that 70,000 Boeing workers have training or education other than a four-year college degree. In November 1939, Boeing became one of the first Registered Apprenticeship programs in Washington.
The apprenticeship training directors and a team from the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council and Career and Technical Education directors from Clark College and area high schools will meet to enhance connections and mutual opportunities after the Aug. 3 information session.
Code words and technical terms
There are many options for registered apprenticeship. The City of Vancouver is an individual employer with agreements with several unions, so this is a labor-management sponsor called “individual joint.” If a group of employers or employer association sponsors a program, and they do not have an agreement with a union, it’s called a “group non-joint” program. Group programs select participating employers as “training agents” that provide the paid on-the-job training of apprentices.
Operatives exposed
I’m leaking to the press the names of the nine sponsors and 228 training agents in Clark County using this system and method of privately funded post-secondary education to employ, train and educate apprentices in 92 occupations and earn nationally recognized credentials. Visit www.vbjusa.com and click on Opinion to see the names of those local companies that are paving the way for registered apprentices.
Recruitment and deployment
Registered apprenticeship need not be America’s best keep secret. For more information, contact Ed Madden at madf235@lni.wa.gov to learn more.
