The message was simple: “We can safely supervise more than one apprentice at a time.” Four ABC members joined John Schulze, ABC’s Director of Legal and Government Relations to ask the State Assembly for greater flexibility on the state mandated apprenticeship ratios.
The Assembly Committee on Workforce Development, Labor and Integrated Employment held a public hearing on a bill that would increase the ratio from 1 apprentice for every 1 supervisor, to allow 2 apprentices to be trained by the same supervisor.
John Schulze was the first to speak, and reminded the committee that the unions are permitted a 3:1 ratio. He also informed them that Michigan (and several other states) have already moved to a 2:1 ratio, and have seen no safety issues with the change. “Where I think it (a change to the ratio) will matter the most is small and medium sized contractors in places like Lake Mills, Fort Atkinson, and Sheboygan, where there are employees ready to start their journey into a lifelong family sustaining career in construction but cannot because of current state law,” he explained.
Bill Brink of Kettle Moraine Heating and Air Conditioning, LLC, agreed. “We have far more applicants for apprenticeship than we can hire, because of the 1:1 rule. We want to expand our business, but are limited by the number of apprentices we are allowed to train at one time.”
Greg Baldus, a past graduate of ABC’s apprenticeship program and project manager from Edge Electric agreed, and said the current numbers don’t make good business sense. “I have two sons that are interested in my business,” he shared. “How do I tell one son I can’t hire him, because of the state’s ratio rules?”
Jeff Disher, of Disher Electric, Inc., reminded the committee that companies are accountable for their work and their safety. “We stand behind our work, and are accountable for safe outcomes. We would not put anyone on our team in an unsafe situation, because we want them to go home to their families, and ultimately our company is held responsible for the safety of our work.”
Jim Haak of Black-Haak Heating, Inc., agreed with the other members’ testimonies, and added “Time and technology are changing. We can be more efficient on jobsites and that includes how we train apprentices.”
The committee listened to the testimony and thanked ABC members for coming to the hearing. A vote on the bill is expected soon, and ABC anticipates it will move out of committee and to the Assembly floor.
