{"id":4778,"date":"2017-01-26T09:30:30","date_gmt":"2017-01-26T09:30:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/iamaw16.ca\/?p=4778"},"modified":"2017-01-26T09:51:48","modified_gmt":"2017-01-26T09:51:48","slug":"bcfed-seeks-guarantees-from-clark-government-for-use-of-apprentices-on-public-infrastructure-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iamaw16.ca\/?p=4778","title":{"rendered":"BCFED seeks guarantees from Clark government for use of apprentices on public infrastructure projects"},"content":{"rendered":"

BCFED seeks guarantees from Clark government for use of apprentices on public infrastructure projects<\/strong><\/h1>\n

**For Immediate Release**
\nJanuary 25, 2017<\/p>\n

BCFED seeks guarantees from Clark government for use of apprentices on public <\/strong>infrastructure projects<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yesterday, Premier Clark announced more than $13 million in funding to expand and renovate trades apprenticeship training facilities at North Island College in Campbell River. But ironically, Victoria has no tangible guarantees in place that apprentices will even be used in the construction of the new facilities, says the BC Federation of Labour.<\/p>\n

And in a letter sent today to Clark, the Federation is calling on Victoria to set a basic standard that apprentices make up 25% of the construction labour force on all provincial government infrastructure projects, to ensure that apprentices receive the practical on-the-job experience required to complete their training. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cTechnical training with modern equipment in new facilities like those being constructed at North Island College is a key part of the training process,\u201d says BCFED president Irene Lanzinger. \u201cBut we also know that employer sponsorship of apprentices to provide practical work opportunities is equally important, because at least 80% of apprenticeship training occurs on the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lanzinger says that here in BC, the lack of employer placements is the biggest obstacle for
\napprentices trying to complete their training.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe lack of apprenticeship work opportunities also creates challenges for governments that seek to expand the supply of skilled trades positions,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the largest employer and biggest infrastructure builder in BC, the provincial government has a responsibility to adopt and follow a proactive model for apprenticeship placement practices.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018That\u2019s why we\u2019re urging the Clark government to publicly commit to a minimum of 25%
\napprentices on the North Island College project, as well as on all public infrastructure projects funded by the provincial government.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we are going to build a skilled workforce for BC, we need to do all we can to make that
\nhappen,\u201d says Lanzinger, \u201cand setting a 25% standard is a simple, practical step we can take.\u201d<\/p>\n

https:\/\/iamaw16.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/0500-16pr-IL-Guarantees-for-apprentices-on-public-infrastructure-projects.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

January 25, 2017 \u00a0Sent via email: premier@gov.bc.ca
\nHard copy to follow<\/p>\n

The Honourable Christy Clark
\nPremier of British Columbia
\nPO Box 9041 Stn Prov Govt
\nVictoria, BC V8W 9E1<\/p>\n

Dear Premier Clark,<\/p>\n

Re: Apprentices on Public Infrastructure Projects<\/p>\n

I write on behalf of more than 500,000 members of the BC Federation of Labour. We are
\nthe voice for working people in British Columbia, representing workers in every
\ncommunity in the province and every sector of the economy.<\/p>\n

We noted with interest your announcement yesterday about a plan to build new and
\nrenovated trades training facilities at North Island College.<\/p>\n

We know that technical training, with modern equipment, is important. However, we
\nalso know that employer sponsorship of apprentices plays a critical role, because at
\nleast 80% of apprenticeship training occurs on the job. But in BC and across Canada,
\nemployer participation in apprenticeship programs remains at 19%, making it difficult
\nfor eager apprentices to complete their training. The absence of employer placements
\nalso creates challenges for governments that seek to expand the supply of skilled trades
\npositions.<\/p>\n

As the largest employer and biggest infrastructure builder in BC, the provincial
\ngovernment has a responsibility to adopt and follow a proactive model for
\napprenticeship placement practices. I urge the Province to ensure that British
\nColumbians are getting the most out of our investment by capitalizing on these
\nopportunities to provide apprenticeship and training opportunities.<\/p>\n

The irony of your announcement yesterday is that there are no tangible guarantees that
\napprentices will be used in the construction and renovation of facilities at North Island
\nCollege.<\/p>\n

If we are going to build a skilled workforce for BC, we need to do all we can to make that
\nhappen. That\u2019s why I\u2019m asking that your government publicly commit to set a minimum
\nof 25% apprentices on the North Island College project, as well as on all public infrastructure projects funded by the provincial government.<\/p>\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n

IRENE LANZINGER President<\/p>\n

https:\/\/iamaw16.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/0500-16pr-IL-Guarantees-for-apprentices-on-public-infrastructure-projects.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BCFED seeks guarantees from Clark government for use of apprentices on public infrastructure projects **For Immediate Release** January 25, 2017 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iamaw16.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iamaw16.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iamaw16.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iamaw16.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iamaw16.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4778"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/iamaw16.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4778\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4781,"href":"https:\/\/iamaw16.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4778\/revisions\/4781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iamaw16.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iamaw16.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iamaw16.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}