APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINING BY ERIC REDDING
To say these are uncertain times is an understatement. The COVID-19 Delta variant is raging through the southern states while steadily making its way north fueled by the notion that wearing a mask or getting the vaccine is an infringement of one’s Constitutional rights. What I know is that I have an obligation to provide a safe working/training environment for the staff of the FTI and all the members of DC 35, apprentice and journeyperson alike.
Fall is in the air and that means apprentice classes have begun. In fact, they began the last week of August. Every trade is now in session for the 2021/2022 academic year. As mentioned already, the Delta variant is surging north towards us and that means no matter how hopeful I was, we are unable to get back to normal. So, the order of the day is to have smaller class sizes utilizing the full capacity of both training centers and, when available, charity jobs.
The Ron Burton Training Village is just such a charity job. For over 30 years the RBTV has served 9,000 young men and women in their spiritual, physical, and educational growth. So, when former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh called and asked for help painting some of the items in the village, we knew it was the right opportunity to help a great cause. Director of Commercial Coatings Jim Sullivan led five weeks of apprentice classes over the course of the summer, donating over 2,000 hours to the village. At a recent ceremony, the newly-appointed United States Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh recognized the efforts of District Council 35 apprentices and Jim by mentioning them directly in his speech.
The outside charity work helps us keep socially distant while learning our craft, but a new and vitally important component of staying safe comes from the new Pandemic Resiliency Training the Director of Health and Safety Mike Moreschi has started to deliver to the apprentices. The iFTI has developed a train-the-trainer course for educational facilities on resiliency during infectious disease pandemics (with a focus on COVID-19) or outbreaks. The curriculum emphasizes current case studies and research affecting target training populations and facility types, infectious disease awareness (with emphasis on COVID-19), developing a Pandemic Plan (with example COVID-19 Plan), the selection and implementation of health and safety controls, and finding and using trusted sources of information.
New this year is an Industrial Painting calendar distributed by our Director of Industrial Coatings, Jeremy Allen. Included in this newsletter you will find an insert showing all the proposed Industrial Paint offerings including the schedule for related apprentice classes. Jeremy has made an earnest effort to realize a schedule that will be recognized year after year making it easier for our Industrial Coating members to remember just when they need to take those refresher classes needed to keep their 3rd party certifications. Because the 3rd part certifications have special requirements, we ask that the members in need reach out directly to Jeremy in the New Hampshire training center for scheduling.
Architectural Glass and Metal Technician (AGMT) classes continue to move forward with our Glaziers. Director of Glass & Glazing Sean Love recently completed a round of testing adding to our pool of Certified Glaziers. Our Glaziers will appreciate this certificate more and more with time as we work with Architectural firms getting NACC certified company language written into the bid specifications on many projects. Recently we had a non-union competitor removed from a project and replaced by a DC 35 signatory, A&A Window, employing Certified Glaziers. Again, because this is a 3rd party certification, we ask our members to reach out to Sean Love in the NH training center to access the application process. 
