Is ABC fair to its apprentices?

By Lyle Balistreri

As I read "A Preliminary Report on Associated Builders and Contractors Apprenticeship Training: Flawed and Failing Initiatives," I can only conclude that ABC's program is a failure. And it doesn't look like ABC is doing much to improve its apprenticeships and training.

The report got much of its information right off the U.S. Department of Labor database, and the study covered some 36 states. The report shows that union apprentice graduates were 75 percent of the total apprentice graduates for the area covered. In state after state, the numbers reflect that there are more cancellations than graduations in the ABC apprenticeship program.

The study shows that the 25 percent graduation rate includes the ABC program and all other nonunion programs combined. I think this is sad, and it makes me wonder why these people were cancelled. Could it be that they know a bogus program when they see it? Did they feel there was no future for them working for merit-shop contractors? I would like to see the completed study include a survey of the people cancelled to find out why.

Seventy-two percent of the apprentices enrolled for the states covered are in union programs. Seventy-three percent of the minorities enrolled are in union programs.

Eighty-one percent of the women enrolled are in union apprenticeship programs. Looks like the ABC program is not gender or minority friendly. You can draw your own conclusions from that.

Wisconsin is no different. According to the report, between 1995 and 2002 ABC registered 2,665 apprentices in Wisconsin, graduated 551 and cancelled 769. In that same period, 96 of the 1,155 female and minority apprentices were enrolled in ABC programs. And, as of May 2003, ABC programs in Wisconsin accounted for 2.2 percent of all registered apprentices.

Now, some might argue that the numbers are off (I'm often suspicious of the DOL's data collection). I will say, however, that if anyone wants to look and compare numbers and percentages, just call the Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards at the state Department of Workforce Development. You'll find those numbers reflect the dismal performance of the ABC program in Wisconsin in all the areas I have mentioned.

So what is ABC doing to make its program better? It's attached amendments to bills to eliminate job-site ratios for electrical apprentices working on prevailing-wage jobs. Electricians are the only tradespeople with apprentice-to-journeyman job-site ratios set by the state.

Electrical apprentices need strong supervision in the workplace because there is much to learn and constant danger. Could it be that ABC's interest is not to educate? Could it be that ABC wants to flood the workplace with cheap labor so it can turn a bigger profit? I certainly believe so.

Finally, why would ABC take a position against drug testing? The Wisconsin Pipe Trades introduced a bill calling for statewide testing on government jobs. ABC's spokesman stood opposed even after a number of open-shop contractors, possibly ABC members, spoke in favor.

Hey ABC, stop thinking of increasing your profit margin and start thinking about what you will do to fix your program.

Lyle Balistreri has been the president of the Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council for eight years. He has been a union member and journeyman electrician for 36 years.