We need your help to defend our BAC apprenticeship programs against the biggest threat they've ever faced.
Our apprenticeship programs have developed the BAC workforce that has built our nation for over a century. As a BAC craftworker, you know better than anyone just how vital to the future of the trowel trades our training programs are. They’re tested, they’re proven, and they’re regulated to make sure they do their jobs – as Registered Apprenticeship programs, they’re subject to the stringent standards and oversight of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship or recognized State agencies.
But today, our apprenticeship programs are under attack – not because of any issues with their performance, but thanks to lobbying from non-union contractors who want to kill trade unions and cut your pay and benefits.
On June 25, the US Department of Labor published a proposed rule on Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs). The idea behind IRAPs is to allow “industry-leading organizations,” rather than the Department of Labor or state labor departments, to oversee apprenticeship programs in certain industries.
The problem with IRAPs is that there's no real regulation of them. Employers using IRAP apprentices won't be required to give them raises - ever. They won't be required to use journeymen - they could have all apprentices on a job. And there will be no guarantee that apprentices are actually learning the trade. IRAPs could be a path to "permanent apprenticeship," with low wages and no benefits.
Fortunately, the proposed rule indicates that the construction industry will be “initially” exempt from the IRAP system because our Registered Apprenticeship programs have been so successful. After all, the construction industry accounts for around half of the nation’s apprentices, even though construction workers make up less than 4% of the nation’s workforce. Our apprenticeship system works. We don’t need IRAPs, and so we were pleased to see that construction is not included in this “initial” IRAP concept.
But the temporary exemption promised in the proposed rule is not good enough.
Unless construction is more clearly carved out of the IRAP rule, BAC will constantly be defending our industry from the low-road contractors who can’t wait to use bogus apprenticeship programs to undercut prevailing wage laws and create an unskilled, underpaid workforce.
We need to take action – we need to make sure BAC’s voice is heard.
The public has been given 60 days to submit comments on the proposal. Those comments will be considered before the rule goes final. It’s essential that as many of us as possible submit comments supporting real Registered Apprenticeship in construction. And the International Union has...
We need your help to defend our BAC apprenticeship programs against the biggest threat they've ever faced. Our apprenticeship programs have developed the BAC workforce that has built our nation for over a century. As a BAC craftworker, you know better than anyone just how vital to the future of the trowel trades our training programs are. They’re tested, they’re proven, and they’re regulated to make sure they do their jobs – as Registered Apprenticeship programs, they’re subject to the stringent standards and oversight of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship or recognized State agencies. But today, our apprenticeship programs are under attack – not because of any issues with their performance, but thanks to lobbying from non-union contractors who want to kill trade unions and cut your pay and benefits. On June 25, the US Department of Labor published a proposed rule on Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs). The idea behind IRAPs is to allow “industry-leading organizations,” rather than the Department of Labor or state labor departments, to oversee apprenticeship programs in certain industries. The problem with IRAPs is that there's no real regulation of them. Employers using IRAP apprentices won't be required to give them raises - ever. They won't be required to use journeymen - they could have all apprentices on a job. And there will be no guarantee that apprentices are actually learning the trade. IRAPs could be a path to "permanent apprenticeship," with low wages and no benefits. Fortunately, the proposed rule indicates that the construction industry will be “initially” exempt from the IRAP system because our Registered Apprenticeship programs have been so successful. After all, the construction industry accounts for around half of the nation’s apprentices, even though construction workers make up less than 4% of the nation’s workforce. Our apprenticeship system works. We don’t need IRAPs, and so we were pleased to see that construction is not included in this “initial” IRAP concept. But the temporary exemption promised in the proposed rule is not good enough. Unless construction is more clearly carved out of the IRAP rule, BAC will constantly be defending our industry from the low-road contractors who can’t wait to use bogus apprenticeship programs to undercut prevailing wage laws and create an unskilled, underpaid workforce. We need to take action – we need to make sure BAC’s voice is heard.
The public has been given 60 days to submit comments on the proposal. Those comments will be considered before the rule goes final. It’s essential that as many of us as possible submit comments supporting real Registered Apprenticeship in construction. And the International Union has made it easy for you to submit a comment. If you go to ...
