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Sheridan College electrical studies graduate Alexander Klusek of Oakville, Ont. spoke to drive home the point about limited apprenticeship opportunities.<\/p>\n
For over a year he has been unable to find a position despite sending out over 100 resumes. He feels defeated and let down, he said, and he is considering changing professions.<\/p>\n
Apprenticeship ratios for construction trades are reviewed by the College of Trades every four years with the last review completed in 2014. The latest review period was extended into 2019 because of the recent provincial election.<\/p>\n
Similar to the last review, consultations seem likely to pit opponents of restrictive apprentice ratios, such as the OEL, against proponents of the current structure such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).<\/p>\n
Responding to the OEL call for a new ratio structure, James Barry, executive chairman of the IBEW Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇåion Council of Ontario and a former member of the OCOT board of governors, said the current ratio structure tends to ensure the safety of electrical workers and promotes better quality construction, and suggested OEL contractors were looking to save on wages.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen considering ratios, one must also give sufficient thought to how this would affect completion rates, the integrity of apprenticeship training and occupational safety,\u201d commented Barry in a statement to the Daily Commercial News.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe complexity of electrical work requires adequate supervision and training to not only keep apprentices and workers safe but it\u2019s essential to ensuring we are building schools, hospitals and other key infrastructure projects correctly with no risk to the public.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the costs issue, he wrote, \u201cA scheme that would allow contractors to cut their costs by hiring \u2018helpers\u2019 under the guise of apprenticeship \u2014 knowing full well they will never advance to journeyperson status \u2014 is not a solution to any potential skilled trades shortage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sell addressed the wages and safety issues during a question and answer session and in a follow-up interview.<\/p>\n
\u201cHealth and safety is more complex than just the ratio,\u201d he said. \u201cTake any jobsite for example. You have higher risks on some jobsites than on others. So because the ratio is not applicable to a jobsite per se, it applies to the company, where is the health and safety from site to site? The ratio doesn\u2019t impact that. That\u2019s where it is on the company to ensure people on that site are properly trained and are observing the rules, and that they are training properly.\u201d<\/p>\n
On wages, Sell said the costs saved by having more lower-paid apprentices on staff is countered by the productivity losses associated with a journeyperson having to perform a mentoring function, and the apprentices themselves are not as productive as a journeyperson.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you look at it from an overall economic standpoint, it is probably a wash,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Another speaker at the press conference was Don Gosen, chair of the OCOT board of governors, who worked as an electrical contractor for 38 years. He said the review period as currently planned could take up to nine months but he was committed to fast-tracking the process.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am excited that this group is bringing this issue forward,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not advocating for the 1:1 ratio,\u201d he clarified in an interview. \u201cI think the ratios need to be eased but I personally am not in favour of 1:1 because I am concerned about the quality of training.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has to be some checks and balances in place to ensure that the mentorship is maintained, and that the quality of training and quality of experience the apprentice has is maintained.\u201d<\/p>\n
George Gritziotis, CEO and registrar of the College, issued a statement stating he appreciates the work OEL has done on this issue and for inviting the College to participate in the news conference.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe look forward to supporting work related to the ratio reviews alongside all of our stakeholders and the new government to ensure the best possible ratio setting process based on economic need, safety and quality of training for apprentices in all trades,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n
\u201cOntario\u2019s journeyperson to apprentice ratio limits are of course only one part of the apprenticeship system, and the College looks forward to continuing and expanding the supports and opportunities available to sponsors and apprentices to help develop Ontario\u2019s future skilled workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Ontario Electrical League (OEL) has fired the first volley as the Ontario College of Trades (OCOT) enters its next round of reviewing apprenticeship ratios for construction trades. The OEL held a media conference in Toronto Aug. 22 at which time its leadership said the current ratio structure prevents new electricians from finding positions in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":171429,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_expiration-date-status":"saved","_expiration-date":0,"_expiration-date-type":"","_expiration-date-categories":[],"_expiration-date-options":[]},"categories":[11],"tags":[24826,2325,24828,24827,35,16960,17216,2326,733,2023,24824,9818,11643,13060,2176,24825],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n