Faulty accusations?

Based on my experience as a former human resources director for a merit-shop electrical contractor and a former member of the Associated Builders and Contractors State Apprenticeship Board, I can state that the "data" Lyle Balistreri quoted (Wisconsin Builder March 2004) is not accurate.

For the last five years, I have worked outside the construction industry, but this union propaganda still gets to me. Apprentice-ship program completion rates are much higher, but leave it to union leaders to twist the facts and lie to make themselves look superior.

A question for Lyle: If ABC apprenticeships provided such "dismal" training, why were you always looking to recruit journeymen that had completed the ABC program? You were looking for well-trained journeymen, and you know that ABC graduates are qualified.

As far as the ratio issue, yes, electrical apprentices need supervision, but not one on one. Even doctors in successful residency programs have less stringent ratios. The truth is that both the union and ABC in Wisconsin have great training programs, and both merit shops and unions have great contractors. Merit shop does not mean low pay or low quality.

Lyle needs to quit acting like the stereo-typical union leader (no wonder why more than 80 percent of construction personnel choose to work for a merit shop) and start speaking facts. Stop using union vs. merit as a divisive battle issue. Let's start working together to keep the industry strong in Wisconsin.

Kathy DeVries, Appleton

What a deplorable article! I realize this was an opinion by Mr. Balistreri, but I feel I need to respond anyway. The article contained many outrageously incorrect facts and figures. I believe ABC of Wisconsin will be responding to each of these.

I have been an ABC apprenticeship instructor for five years. I have watched the program grow and prosper. Thanks to a long-standing partnership with several Wisconsin technical colleges, ABC has developed a very high-quality apprenticeship training program.

Additionally, all instructors are technical-school teachers accredited by the state of Wisconsin. Can organized labor make that claim? It can't, and that only leaves us guessing as to what is the quality of their instruction.

I have personally been responsible for helping many apprentices graduate to journey-man status. If we listen to Mr. Balistreri, we might think that organized labor is the only legitimate trainer for the construction industry. It truly isn't. In fact, ABC's apprenticeship has grown at a far faster rate.

Please work hard to get objective journalism in your publication that is accurate. We definitely need to see the truth on this issue instead of union rhetoric.

Michael Somers, Plover

I just wanted to respond to the letter that attacked ABC's apprenticeship program. We are an electrical contractor in the Chippewa Valley area. We have two journeyman electricians and one master electrician who have completed the program. We also have a third-year apprentice and a second-year apprentice who are currently in the program. The ABC apprenticeship has turned out quality and knowledgeable craftsmen for our profession. If the ABC program wasn't successful, why would we continue to send employees through this program? ABC's apprenticeship is an excellent program.

Martha Hartung,
Richardson Electric Inc., Durand