“This is an investment in the system, an investment in their education, an investment in the school, an investment in parents, to make a program successful, said Jack Schirpke, vice-president for Total Mechanical in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.
Dajen Bohacek, associate director of Plumbing Mechanical and Sheet Metal Contractors’ Alliance, took the lead in promoting the program and recruiting students. She focused on schools that had construction curriculum already in place. “We knew [the students] had an interest in construction because they were enrolled in a class,” says Bohacek. “We knew they had teachers who were interested and supportive of a career in construction … If a school has construction in its building, that means the principal is supportive, and that means the superintendent and the administration are supportive, so getting your foot in those doors is easier.” Students had to be on track to graduate on time or early to be considered for the program. Each youth apprentice went through an interview process with the contractors. Once the match had been made, the school, contractor, and youth apprentice worked together to develop a schedule that met everyone’s needs. Total Mechanical in Pewaukee, Wisconsin was one of five contractors who were part of the pilot program. The company took on two youth apprentices. Jack Schirpke, vice-president of the Environmental Services Division, says the company understood there would be some short-term sacrifices for the chance at long-term gain—the journeyman mentor would slow down, and some office resources would also be used for the program. “This is an investment in the system,” he says, “an investment in their education, an investment in the school, an investment in parents, to make a program successful.” Safety training is paramount. Before the youth apprentices started work, they participated in 40 hours of paid pre-employment training that included OSHA 10, first aid, CPR, along with use and care of tools, union heritage, and more. Mentors play a crucial role in the program and are chosen carefully by the contractors. “They have to have good communication skills and be patient,” says Rollings. “It’s got to be somebody who has the qualities of a good teacher but is also a good tradesperson and has enthusiasm for the trade.”
Gaven Post participated in the inaugural year of the Youth Apprenticeship program sponsored by SMACCA Milwaukee and Local 18. Post is a senior at Brookfield Central High School in Brookfield Wisconsin and spent much of his senior year working at Total Mechanical.
Journeyman Matt Weid of Total Mechanical was asked to be a mentor and readily agreed. “I thought this program would be a good way to get more high school kids to join the union building trades,” he says. Weid was impressed by his apprentice who was “always on time, paid attention, and did a great job.” Gaven Post did a youth apprenticeship at Total Mechanical. When he heard about the program, he thought it was a great opportunity to see if the trades were really for him. Turns out they were. As Schirpke says, “We took the risk, and there are two individuals that are now educated, their schools are educated, their parents are educated, their friends are educated, and they’re going to be employees.” The Alliance is planning to expand the program next year, bringing on 10 youth apprentices. If they can repeat their level of success, the “well-kept secret” of the trades may not be a secret for much longer. Cairine Caughill is a freelance writer based in Ontario, Canada. During the Regional Breakouts at the Partners in Progress Conference, regions discussed the different ways they are addressing workforce and recruiting. Share your success stories with us at editor@pinpmagazine. org.
Partners in Progress » May 2018 » 11
