:: rawblogXport ::union news / workers rights / construction / safety / irony... | |
today's home page ![]() | |
![]() |
|
carpentersunionbc.com | |
---|---|
google news | |
recent posts: | |
BlogRolling: | |
blogs that link here ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() implementation: email d@ve2300 this weblog is the work of dave livingston, a union carpenter in nelson bc canada ![]() | |
| |
| |
FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of labor and economic issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 Chapter 1 Sec.107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. | |
![]() | |
"The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people." Cesar Chavez | |
:: Monday, April 05, 2004 ::
'Michigan Works' doesn't work for all By LYNN STEVENS / H-P
Some minorities say they don't get a fair shake when seeking jobs, but area construction projects and building trades programs could help change that
Jim Hahn, of Stevensville, is the statewide training director for Michigan Carpenters, the association of union carpenters. He said Michigan is one of the few states to have an association of building trades teachers. It is a vehicle for sharing information among high school teachers and working professionals so students get up-to-date information on careers and how to get launch them.
Jason Winfield, labor agent for Carpenters Local 525 - which covers Michigan from roughly Battle Creek, west to Lake Michigan and south to the state line - said Lawrence and New Buffalo school districts have strong building trades programs that encourage the best students to enter apprenticeships when they graduate high school.
Apprentices follow a prescribed four-year training course including on-the-job and classroom training. With a few extra courses, paid by the union, they can earn associate (two-year) degrees in the process.
The carpenters apprenticeship program is the only one formally recognized by the federal Department of Labor, Hahn said. With recognition comes federal accountability.
'I myself had to do a demographic analysis of the labor force county by county,' Hahn said.
Matching active membership to the racial and gender demographic percentages of the county becomes the target. Hahn said the carpenters unions have exceeded the minority participation target. And they do not enroll apprentices unless they have jobs.
'We're about double our affirmative action goal,' he said. 'The labor force is 7.16 percent minority; we're at about 13.75 percent. As far as female representation, we're far below where we should be.'------------------------------------------- posted 8:07 AM :: reference link ::
0 comments ::