The Biden administration proclaimed November 12 through November 18, 2023, as National Apprenticeship Week to support existing programs and offer America’s workers direct pathways to good-paying jobs with dignity and respect.

Since its inception, the IAM has been proud to support innovative programs to bolster students’ competencies while meeting the highest quality standards, which is critical to their industrial states’ economic success.

Apprenticeships are a great alternative to traditional college education and provide our country with the best workers in the skilled trades that keep America competitive and safe.

“This week strongly emphasizes that apprenticeships are crucial for boosting our union’s growth and our nation’s economy,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “In a time when workers must adapt to changing technologies, the IAM is firmly committed. We will actively support these training programs through our collective bargaining agreements. Our main goal is ensuring every member has easy access to the valuable knowledge and skills needed for success in their profession.” 

Through the IAM CREST Program, the IAM Apprenticeship Department, the IAM National Apprenticeship Strategic Initiative, and IAM Local Lodges and Districts’ initiatives, we keep our commitment to increase access and opportunities to existing and prospective members so they can enjoy well-paid work with substantial room for professional and salary growth.

“As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, it’s crucial to recognize the profound impact apprenticeships have on shaping a skilled workforce and contributing to our nation’s economic strength,” said Michael Oathout, IAM Director of Safety & Health, Apprenticeships, and Scholarships. “The IAM is committed to supporting innovative programs that elevate students’  skills. Apprenticeships offer a valuable alternative to traditional college education, producing highly skilled workers in the trades essential for our union.”

To provide the best services to our members, Michael Oathout, IAM Director of Apprenticeships, requests that all districts work to create an apprenticeship committee. If you need assistance and resources with developing or expanding a registered apprenticeship within the District or Local, please get in touch with the Apprenticeship Department at apprenticeships@iamaw.org.

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The Biden administration proclaimed November 13 through November 19, 2022 as National Apprenticeship Week to support existing programs and to raise awareness of their importance in enhancing workers’ professional and practical skills while helping them to advance their careers.

Since its inception, the IAM has been proud to support innovative programs aimed to bolster students’ competencies while meeting the highest standards of quality, which is critical to their industrial states’ economic success.

Apprenticeships are a great alternative to traditional college education and provide our country with the best workers in the skilled trades that keep America competitive and safe.

Through the IAM CREST Program, the IAM Apprenticeship Department, the IAM National Apprenticeship Strategic Initiative, and IAM Local Lodges and Districts’ initiatives, we keep our commitment to increase access and opportunities to existing and prospective members so they can enjoy well-paid work with substantial room for professional and salary growth.

“This commemoration is a reminder that apprenticeships are key for our union’s growth and this country’s economy as workers must continually adapt to changing and emerging technologies,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr.. “The IAM will continue to promote and support these programs through our collective bargaining agreements, so our members can have equitable access to professional knowledge, and technical and mechanical skills they need to succeed.”

In order to provide the best services to our members, Michael Oathout, IAM Director of Apprenticeships, requests that all districts work to create an apprenticeship committee. If you need assistance and resources with developing or expanding a registered apprenticeship within the District or Local, please reach out to the Apprenticeship Department at apprenticeships@iamaw.org.

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The IAM’s Corporation for Re-Employment and Safety Training (CREST) recently spearheaded a webinar to help drum up participation in skilled trade apprenticeships in New Jersey. The event, which touted the District 15 Automotive Technician and Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship Training Program, coincided with National Apprenticeship Week activities in the Garden State.

Ira Stern, the IAM’s New Jersey Training and Apprenticeship Coordinator, led a presentation of the union’s apprenticeship opportunities in collaboration with the Passaic County Workplace Development Board. In addition to the IAM, the event included presentations from a representative for building trade unions, AFSCME District 1199J, which represents health care workers and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).

Stern shared testimonials from participants of the IAM program, which works with local employers like Penske and Hudson Toyota in Jersey City, N.J.

The IAM apprenticeship program receives funding from the New Jersey (NJ) Department of Labor and Workforce Development as part of their Youth Transition To Work (YTTW) program. The YTTW provides funding to help young people move from high school into occupations through apprenticeship training.

Introduction to Career Opportunities

“This was a great opportunity to introduce many young students to a high paying career alternative to going to college,” Stern said. “The IAM’s diesel and mechanic apprenticeship has introduced many people to great and rewarding work that pays a good wage and sets them up for a great career. This apprenticeship also answers the call to provide a steady stream of qualified and well-trained workers for the demands of our union employers.”

The event was attended by students and educators, and included remarks from New Jersey Labor Secretary Robert Asaro-Angelo, who lauded apprenticeships as a vital tool to prepare the state for more job opportunities.

The webinar was just a snapshot of the several events the IAM was involved in as part of the National Apprenticeship Week. The IAM has several apprenticeship programs throughout the country, all efforts to introduce young workers to many trades.

“These apprenticeships are a great chance to introduce students to rewarding career opportunities,” said Michael Oathout, IAM Director of Safety & Health, Apprenticeships and Scholarships. “These apprentices are earning good compensation as they’re learning on the job. These apprenticeships also offer a solution for employers seeking good, qualified workers. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

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As businesses and governmental agencies come to recognize the value of investing in trade and vocational training programs, the IAM welcomes more partnerships to fill the growing need for skilled workers.

For more than a century the Machinists Union has fought to include apprenticeship training at many locations where our members work. The union has always understood the importance on-the-job training, taught by experienced workers who have a complete understanding of the necessary skills, complimented by up to date classroom learning.

Economic research now shows that a four-year bachelor’s degree, with its likely burden of student debt, will not result in the so-called “college premium” for everyone. Skilled trade programs, like those promoted by the IAM, can offer workers solid careers with good income.

“Our members work in many industries that require experience and skills not found in a training manual alone,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr.

“Increasing apprenticeship programs with employers has been important to the IAM in the past, and that growth will continue in the future.”

As part of New Jersey’s Youth Transitions to Work program, IAM District 15 and IAM CREST work in conjunction with the state and employers to offer high school seniors apprenticeship training in automotive and diesel technology. Last month they participated in the Department of Labor annual National Apprenticeship Week.

In Alabama, the IAM Local 65 has partnered with Northwest Shoals Community College in an apprenticeship program to train skilled machinists for the Tennessee Valley Authority. The next four-year program begins in January 2020.

READ: Skilled to Work: TVA working to boost its machinist workforce through and apprenticeship.

Through IAM apprenticeship programs, workers receive the opportunity to learn their trade through hands-on training and technical education. Participating employers gain competent and highly skilled employees.

Learn more about IAM apprenticeships.

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Last month IAM CREST held a 10-hour OSHA training seminar for their Youth Transition to Work Program in Lyndhurst, NJ. The goal is to prepare students with basic safety awareness skills, as they start their four-year apprenticeship that includes both on the job training and classroom sessions.

The OSHA training provided the students safety training on walking and working surfaces/fall protection to emergency action plans and fire prevention. Material handling, hazardous materials, electrical, industrial hygiene, ergonomics and personal protective equipment were also covered in the training.

The IAM CREST Youth Transition to Work Program is made possible through funding from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development grant. IAM CREST and District 15 have collaborated since 2009 to strengthen the program helping students transition from high school to jobs in the Automotive and Diesel Technology fields.

The class was led by Project Coordinator/Instructors Michael Oathout and Shaun Trude.

For more information about the youth transition to work program or apprenticeships please visit iamcrestapprentice.org or contact IAM CREST at 301-967-4707.

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Five new apprentices entered the diesel mechanics program at Bronx Community College (BCC) in New York, and will work at IAM represented locations as they train.

“There is no better way for a young worker to learn a trade than to do it on the job and in a union environment,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President Jimmy Conigliaro. “When these diesel apprentices complete the program, they will be journeymen Machinists with state of the art skills and training, with all the benefits of an IAM contract.”

The IAM is a financial sponsor of the Consortium for Workers Education, which works with employers and unions to place automotive and diesel apprentices into the BCC program. Conigliaro is on the consortium’s board of directors.

“These apprentices represent the future of our union,” said IAM District 15 Directing Business Representative Dominic Taibbi. “By partnering with employers and BCC in this program, the result is a win for everyone.”

Pictured from the left are IAM Apprenticeship Project Manager Ira Stern, Apprentices Chad Ingram and Kevin Perez, Instructor Mike Porcelli, and Apprentices Walter Martelly, Sam Carillo and Jose Castillo. The new apprentices are employed in New York by Penske, Truck King and United Parcel Service. Each employer has a contract with the IAM.

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From left: Local 447 President Joseph Scianna, Local 447 Automotive Technicians Edwin Acevedo, Warleen Carrera and Carlos Marin; District 15 Business Representative Cristino Vilorio, IAM Director of Apprenticeships Jim Reid, Local 447 Diesel Mechanic Joas Jean, Local 447 Automotive Technician Miguel Torres, District 15 Directing Business Representative Dominic Taibbi, Local 447 Diesel Mechanic Michael Csordas and IAM CREST Apprenticeship Coordinator Ira Stern. Not pictured Local 447 Automotive Technician Ben Colon.

At the latest District 15 meeting, apprenticeship completion certificates were awarded to seven students who enrolled in the program in 2015. The new journeyman automotive technicians and diesel mechanics are employed under IAM contracts at area Honda, Mazda and Penske locations.

“Through hard work and dedication, these members have earned the respect of their IAM brothers and sisters in the industry and across our union,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President Jimmy Conigliaro Sr. “They represent our future, and I congratulate them on achieving the status of journeymen.”

With constant technological advances in vehicles and maintenance equipment, the apprenticeship program offers participating employers motivated and reliable employees while they learn. Apprentices receive classroom and on-the-job training for a skilled career with good pay and the other benefits of an IAM contract.

“I am very proud of these Local 447 members for what they’ve accomplished,” said IAM District 15 Directing Business Representative Dominic Taibbi. “I’m also proud of the ongoing work of IAM CREST and District 15 staff, and employers who understand the value of apprenticeships.”

Through the New Jersey Youth Transition To Work (YTTW) grant program, IAM CREST works with IAM represented dealerships and service centers to place accepted apprentices in paid positions while they complete the four-year apprenticeship program.

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Western Territory General Vice President Gary Allen was recently on hand for an announcement regarding the new apprenticeship program of the City and County of San Francisco (City) in partnership with IAM Local 1414, the Advanced Manufacturing & Transportations Apprenticeship of California, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, and the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

The agreement was signed by Micki Callahan representing the City of San Francisco, Ed Reiskin representing SFMTA, Katie Hobin Porter representing CAT, and Art Gonzalez representing IAM Local 1414.

“This partnership has been a long time coming and I look forward to giving the opportunity to people, especially young people, in the San Francisco bay area,” said District 190 Business Representative Art Gonzalez. “We are also close to having a pre-apprenticeship program for women and foster children and having an outreach to young people that might not know to choose an automotive or machinist trade for a career.”

“I commend the leadership of Local Lodge 1414 and the city of San Francisco for having the vision to plan for tomorrow,” said Western Territory General Vice President Gary Allen. “I’m very proud of Brother Art Gonzalez and his dedication to winning an apprenticeship program for his membership so the precious skills that keep the city running are preserved.”

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, apprenticeships have dramatically impacted the lives, careers and opportunities for millions of workers, and more than 150,000 businesses over the last 80 years, from careers in healthcare, energy and IT, to manufacturing, transportation and more.

The benefits are substantial – companies that offer apprenticeship programs can diversify their workforce, improve productivity and profitability, standardize training, and reduce turnover.

“I commend all the parties for coming together and making this partnership a reality,” said District 190 President and Directing Business Representative James Beno. “Great things happen when we act on our common goals of a thriving community and a vibrant working class.”

The average journey-level starting wage for apprentices is more than $60,000, and workers will earn an average of $300,000 more over their lifetime than their non-apprentice peers.

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Western Territory General Vice President Gary Allen was on hand to congratulate the recent graduates of the jointly administered apprenticeship program.

The IAM and Boeing have a long tradition of working together to fill positions with highly skilled Machinists union members.

“In the days of old, our trades were held as sacred; a hidden knowledge that was treasured and not shared with just anyone,” said Allen. “The skills that each graduate learned from those who traveled this path before can never be taken away – they are a gift that each journey-person will carry for the rest of their lives.”

Among the graduates in attendance were, Loren Bourassa, Ken Nguyen, and Sam Butcher-Doty.

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The IAM has been awarded three Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) grants totaling nearly $400,000.  

FMCS grants are available to labor-management partnerships aimed at defining and confronting workplace problems and developing long-term solutions. The three grants were awarded to IAM District 190, IAM District 15, and IAM Local 701.  

IAM District 190’s grant ($119,718) will help women, returning veterans, high school students, at-risk disconnected youth, and formerly incarcerated individuals. The grant dollars will be used to help grow IAM District 190’s Automotive and Machinist Apprenticeship Training Program.  

IAM District 15’s grant ($111,541) will train women, returning veterans, and at-risk disconnected youth participate in the Tractor Trailer Driver Training gaining jobs with New England Motor Freight. This will help our partnership with New England Motor Freight.  

IAM Local 701’s grant ($135,871) will provide OSHA safety training to new apprentices, increase apprenticeship numbers and develop a pre-apprenticeship program for high school students. This grant will support the state-of-the-art automotive apprenticeship training program at Local 701. 

“These grants help IAM Districts and Locals address the shortage of skilled workers in different sectors where the IAM represents working people,” said IAM Director of Apprenticeships Jim Reid. “These grants make it possible for the IAM to provide comprehensive training programs and grow our membership through these joint labor-management partnerships.”

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