It’s Time For The Trades - BC Building · PDF fileprenticeship Commission (ITAC) that...
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Introduction Trades training are in crisis in BC. In 2002, the BC Liberal government eliminated the Industry Training Ap- prenticeship Commission (ITAC) that engaged industry, labour and government in an equal partnership and replaced it with the Industry Training Authority (ITA), which virtu- ally eliminated labour participation. Staffing dropped from 120 positions to 50 and regional offices across the province were closed. Challenges Under the ITA The new system removed appren- ticeship counsellors who ensured that apprentices were paid correctly, monitored job safety, helped to find job placements and responded to apprentices’ needs. After 10 years of pressure from the BC Building Trades, the provincial government reinstated 15 appren- ticeship coaches, a far cry from the 40 counsellors they removed in 2002. Under the ITA, National Red Seal Endorsement completions fell from 3,093 in 1999/2000 to less than 2,000 per year from 2003 to 2005. While union-sponsored apprentic- es have a completion rate of 95%, over-all completion rates under the ITA are a dismal 37%. BC is now in a position where it is simply not producing enough jour- neypersons. NDP leader Adrian Dix has called this a “future of jobs with- out people.” Compulsory Certification The BC Liberal government also eliminated compulsory certifica- tions. Trades such as electrician, pipe fitter/steamfitter and roofer are no longer certified. Without trade certification there is no certainty that the people doing the work have the skills, qualifications and education to do the job properly. Bringing Balance Back Skilled journey-level workers have been passing their skills onto ap- prentices for centuries. When the BC Liberal government dismantled the ITAC, they removed the tri-par- tied partnership between labour, industry and government. Labour participation must be returned to governance boards in order to get trades training back on track. Putting Trades Training at the Centre of the May 2013 Election Call on your local candidates to support: 1. Full and equal representation by labour, industry and government on ITA & ITO Boards. 2. Reinstatement of apprentice- ship ratios and apprenticeship quotas in government contracts. 3. Bringing back compulsory trades to maintain national standards. 4. Opening regional ITA offices to provide assistance and coun- selling across the province. 5. Making apprenticeship training a key component in all public and P3 infrastructure projects. 6. Engagement of employers through a training levy to create incentives to train apprentices. APPRENTICESHIP & SKILLS TRAINING FACTSHEET #2 It’s Time For The Trades GET THE FACTS & JOIN THE CAMPAIGN TO PUT OUR RIGHTS AS TRADESPEOPLE AT THE CENTRE OF THE MAY 2013 ELECTION BC Provincial Election Factsheet Series for Construction Workers - Collect All 6 Project Labour Agreements Apprenticeship & Skills Training Safety & WorkSafeBC Labour Code Fair Wages Take Action
Transcript of It’s Time For The Trades - BC Building · PDF fileprenticeship Commission (ITAC) that...
FACTSHEET #2
IntroductionTrades training are in crisis in BC. In 2002, the BC Liberal government eliminated the Industry Training Ap-prenticeship Commission (ITAC) that engaged industry, labour and government in an equal partnership and replaced it with the Industry Training Authority (ITA), which virtu-ally eliminated labour participation. Staffing dropped from 120 positions to 50 and regional offices across the province were closed.
Challenges Under the ITAThe new system removed appren-ticeship counsellors who ensured that apprentices were paid correctly, monitored job safety, helped to find job placements and responded to apprentices’ needs.
After 10 years of pressure from the BC Building Trades, the provincial government reinstated 15 appren-ticeship coaches, a far cry from the 40 counsellors they removed in 2002.
Under the ITA, National Red Seal Endorsement completions fell from 3,093 in 1999/2000 to less than 2,000 per year from 2003 to 2005.
While union-sponsored apprentic-es have a completion rate of 95%, over-all completion rates under the ITA are a dismal 37%.
BC is now in a position where it is simply not producing enough jour-neypersons. NDP leader Adrian Dix has called this a “future of jobs with-out people.”
Compulsory CertificationThe BC Liberal government also eliminated compulsory certifica-tions. Trades such as electrician, pipe fitter/steamfitter and roofer are no longer certified. Without trade certification there is no certainty that the people doing the work have the skills, qualifications and education to do the job properly.
Bringing Balance BackSkilled journey-level workers have been passing their skills onto ap-prentices for centuries. When the BC Liberal government dismantled the ITAC, they removed the tri-par-tied partnership between labour, industry and government. Labour participation must be returned to governance boards in order to get trades training back on track.
Putting Trades Training at the Centre of the May 2013 Election
Call on your local candidates to support:
1. Full and equal representation by labour, industry and government on ITA & ITO Boards.
2. Reinstatement of apprentice- ship ratios and apprenticeship quotas in government contracts.
3. Bringing back compulsory trades to maintain national standards.
4. Opening regional ITA offices to provide assistance and coun- selling across the province.
5. Making apprenticeship training a key component in all public and P3 infrastructure projects.
6. Engagement of employers through a training levy to create incentives to train apprentices.
APPRENTICESHIP & SKILLS TRAINING
FACTSHEET #2
It’s Time For The TradesGET THE FACTS & JOIN THE CAMPAIGN TO PUT OUR RIGHTS AS TRADESPEOPLE AT THE CENTRE OF THE MAY 2013 ELECTION
BC Provincial Election Factsheet Series for Construction Workers - Collect All 6
Project Labour Agreements
Apprenticeship & Skills Training
Safety & WorkSafeBC Labour Code Fair Wages Take Action
