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Daily Archives: November 14, 2012

Pa. Building Trades Members Encouraged to Contact Gov Corbett’s Office Over Lowering Standards

ALL PENNSYLVANIA BUILDING TRADES MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL AND/OR FAX GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT AND TELL HIM “NO CHANGES TO STATE APPRENTICE RATIOS!”

PHONE 717-787-2500, FAX 772 8284.

The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is trying to get the Governor to reduce the apprentice to journeyman ratio to 1:1 for non-union contractors. This will create extremely unsafe work sites throughout the Commonwealth.

Non-Union apprentice programs, where they exist at all, are notorious for low graduation rates, and low rates of women and minority participation. In Pennsylvania, less than 5% of all apprentices in the state are enrolled in non-union programs. Can you imagine a project where there are 100 workers, and 50 of them are 1st year apprentices? It’s a recipe for disaster.

This is nothing but another ploy by the ABC to drive down wages even further and gain a competitive advantage through its “race to the bottom” business model. It is nothing more than an effort by a small segment of the construction industry (ABC) to use a government agency to give them an unfair advantage over responsible contractors.

IF YOU LIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA, PLEASE CALL THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE (AS WELL AS YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES) ASAP. WE NEED TO STOP THIS!

Via Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO