A Commitment to the Future:

Unions Develop New Training Resources in Tight Economy

The union construction industry in general, and Building Advantage in particular, consistently tout their commitment to their members and training, while also recognizing the need to prepare the workforce of tomorrow for the brighter economic days to come.

There is no better proof of that dedication than the five unions in southeastern Wisconsin that are now either remodeling or building new training facilities or headquarters.

The Electrical Workers Local 494, District Council 7 and the Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons Local 599 have all committed millions of dollars into new training facilities. The Sheet Metal Workers Local 18 and Operating Engineers Local 139 have put time and money into updating their existing offices or new buildings. Of course, 100 percent union labor is used on these projects. The results show how committed the unions are to developing the industry for the long haul.

"We plan on having the local union here for the next hundred years," said Pat Landgraf, Sheet Metal Workers Local 18's Business Manager, when asked why they made the decision to change locations. "Our long-term goal is to meet the needs of the membership in the future."

The Sheet Metal Workers, along with District Council 7 and the Cement Masons, all plan to move into their new locations within the next few months. The Electrical Workers moved into their facility last September, and are already holding classes at the training center. Meanwhile, the Operating Engineers made improvements to their existing location.

The Electrical Workers and Cement Masons decided to upgrade their training facilities out of necessity; the arrangement with MATC was no longer delivering the best possible benefit. The decision to upgrade was embraced by the membership for two reasons: the buildings would now be theirs, and the ability to stay on top of new technologies would become far easier.

Like the other trades, the Electrical Workers spend approximately $1.5 million each year on training. "We need to ensure that our contractors are getting the best possible workforce," said Mike Chetney, Electrical Workers Training Director. "I believe many of our contractors will be very happy with our new facility, and it will prove we are committed to a stronger future."

District Council 7 went from an outdated facility to a 40,000 sq. ft. building that will act as a multi-craft training center. "With the stimulus money and the new green initiatives affecting our council, we felt this move was very necessary," stated John Jorgensen, District 7's Business Manager. "We are dedicated to our members and our contractors, and we’re hoping they will see it once the building is complete."

Terry Ullsperger, Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons Local 599 Business Manager, commended their members for having the foresight to recognize the importance of this move, even in today's economy. "Our members noticed really quickly that the new building was going to be an asset to our local," said Ullsperger. "They understood that in order to compete in the future we needed to make this investment."

United They Stand

Each union was not fully aware that other locals were making similar investments at the same time, but the news ultimately didn't surprise any of them. Jorgensen noted that each union's commitment to preparing for the future helps union labor overall achieve a higher standard of excellence.

"It's [money spent on updating or building facilities] a credit to the construction industry, unions, and contractor associations when people are pulling back, and yet we still feel confident enough to spend that moment and those resources for things to be better in the future," he said. "We've had the foresight to move forward and weather this storm to make the industry stronger."

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