Appendix #1. Comparison of key features of WIA programs,
union apprenticeship
programs and the Building Bridges project
Feature WIA programs Union apprenticeship Building Bridges
programs Project
Duration of Core: work first, 3-5 years 4000-6000 Eight to eleven
training "hot body". No hours of on the job week cycles, one
training provided. training 300-1000+ three-hour class
Intensive: Two weeks; hours of classroom per week.
job readiness only. training
Training: Determined
by need, program. In
some areas, there is
no cap on ITAs:
participants have
completed AA/AS
degrees using ITAs.
Representatio No unions; no link Wages, benefits Some general
n; link to between skills and bargained as part of introduction to
unions wages. Language of master agreement being a union
WIA says that the between union and member; some
funding provided industry. mentoring from
shall not be used to Representation is minority caucuses
"promote, deter or achieved through Joint in union. Some
assist" union Apprenticeship instructors are
organizing. Committee and union. union journeymen.
Contract links skills Exposure to
and wages. organizing
efforts.
Level of Sets up a tertiary Many union Part of the
overlap with education system -a apprenticeship tertiary
public default system lying programs are education system.
education behind 4 year developing links with No credentials.
system colleges, behind primary and secondary Purpose is to
community colleges systems: community create ladder by
and high schools. No colleges, four year which
entry back into colleges; apprenticeship
primary or secondary school-to-work programs are
systems except under programs in public entered.
ITAs. Certification, schools.
not diplomas or
credentials.
Education in None; narrowly Yes, if linked to Yes; Mentoring
social and defined skill-based community colleges for about union.
political training. Community AS degree, as more and Possible
context of college courses more apprenticeship experience in
education offered in programs are doing. organizing
beyond occupational areas Labor history is often efforts.
narrow only where there is offered as part of
skills documented apprenticeship
expectation of program.
economic growth.
Who pays for Federal and state or Contractors pay Donations of
the local tax funding. apprentices at the overhead from
training? Local Workforce negotiated churches;
Investment Boards pay apprenticeship rate Carpenters union
providers for (between $11 and $16 supplies some
training through per hour). Includes books, some
contracts; funds from benefits at specified teachers, some
ITAs are paid to point. annual support;
providers. Students other personnel
are not paid paid by their
(sometimes can organizations. No
receive UI while pay for students.
training).
Who is being Providers vend their Instructors, The spokespersons
paid in this services to local apprentices are all from unions and
system? workforce board, get being paid out of churches are paid
accredited, then get industry joint funds. by their
referrals. organizations;
the Interfaith
staff is paid;
the teachers are
not paid; the
students are not
paid.
Who are Employers, community Unions and the The only
providers? colleges, community industry association agreement (not
based organizations, as Joint necessarily
for-profit community Apprenticeship written) is
based organizations, Committees. between churches
for-profits of all Contributions made to and the
sorts. a joint fund according Interfaith
to hours worked. Committee.
Teachers
"provide"
training at
church sites, but
do not constitute
an organization
that is a
provider.
Goal Train more people to Maintain union control Assist women and
alleviate high-skill of labor force; union minorities to get
labor shortage; bring control of work. into unionized
unemployed into trades; to
workforce, find increase
alternate employment awareness of
for dislocated union training in
workers. communities; to
extend market
share of
community
construction
work.
Physical One-Stop Apprenticeship program Churches
place where (unemployment office, sites for some
participant located in population programs; union job
contacts centers). sites for programs
system with no hiring hall
such as Carpenters,
Bricklayers.
Source of Draws from pool of Applicants take Church
applicants unemployed seeking pre-apprenticeship congregations and
services through test; get on "list" in communities; word
One-Stop order of score plus of mouth
(Unemployment interview plus other referrals.
Insurance office); qualifications such as
not selective sponsorship. Classes
(depends on staff at of apprentices are
One-Stop) then drawn from these
lists and applicants
are "called."