Position Paper Boilermaker National Standards, Apprenticeship & Journeyperson Training September 25, 2008 Proudly endorsed by the Boilermaker National Training Trust Fund a joint initiative of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and the Boilermaker Contractors Association.
Table of Contents Boilermaker Facts &Figures... 3 What is a Boilermaker?... 3 Designated Red Seal Trade... 3 About the Boilermaker National Training Trust Fund... 3 Maintaining the Integrity of the Red Seal Program... 4 Common Core Curriculum & Common Sequencing... 4 Developing National Training Standards for Practical Skills Development... 5 Development of National Safety Training Standards... 5 Apprenticeship... 6 Compulsory Certification... 6 Journeyperson Training... 7 2008. All rights reserved. 2 of 7
Boilermaker Facts &Figures What is a Boilermaker? Canada s National Occupational Classification (NOC 7262) states that Boilermakers fabricate, assemble, erect, test, maintain and repair boilers, vessels, tanks, towers, heat exchangers and other heavy-metal structures. They are employed in boiler fabrication, manufacturing, shipbuilding, construction, electric power generation and similar industrial establishments. Boilermaker is a specialized trade that provides critical support to large industrial and engineering projects (e.g., Alberta oilsands, Ontario nuclear power industry). The productive work of Boilermakers packs a significant economic punch even though they are fewer in number compared to some other trades. Designated Red Seal Trade The occupation of Boilermaker is designated as a Red Seal trade by the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA). The Red Seal Program provides skilled workers mobility across Canada by encouraging the standardization of training and certification. Red Seal certified Boilermakers can work anywhere in Canada where their trade is designated. www.red-seal.ca About the Boilermaker National Training Trust Fund The (IBB) represents approximately 11,500 Boilermaker apprentices and journeypersons across Canada (www.boilermaker.ca). Founded in 1893, it has a track record of success in meeting the demand for highly skilled, qualified Boilermakers. The Boilermaker Contractors Association (BCA) is the largest employer group in Canada that employs members of the (www.bcacanada.ca). An association of provincial and territorial Contractors Associations formed in 1971, it represents approximately 320 Boilermaker contractors. The IBB and BCA share an enduring commitment to national standards, apprenticeship and journeyperson training. In 1993 this led the partners to jointly create, finance and administer the Boilermaker National Training Trust Fund (NTTF) to provide a national scope of activities. 2008. All rights reserved. 3 of 7
National Standards Maintaining the Integrity of the Red Seal Program The and the Boilermaker Contractors Association support the federal government s Red Seal Program established over 45 years ago to provide greater mobility across Canada for skilled workers. Through the program, apprentices who have completed their training and certified journeypersons, are able to obtain a Red Seal endorsement on their Certificates of Qualification and Apprenticeship by successfully completing an Interprovincial Standards Examination. Given the reality that training is a provincial/territorial jurisdiction, maintaining the Red Seal Program becomes even more important as a forum for addressing pan-canadian interests. Canada s national interests are best served when all provinces and territories respect National Standards and the Red Seal Program. When a jurisdiction does not endorse National Standards and the Red Seal Program, it has a negative impact on mobility and compromises our ability to address skills shortages in areas of high construction activity. We are concerned about the possibility that interprovincial labour mobility agreements may result in a lowering of occupational standards. We are monitoring the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) signed by British Columbia and Alberta in 2006 (www.tilma.ca) and similar efforts being discussed in other jurisdictions. Common Core Curriculum & Common Sequencing The Red Seal Program encourages standardization of provincial and territorial apprenticeship training and certification programs. We wanted to achieve a truly national apprenticeship program for the Boilermaker trade and were instrumental facilitating the completion of the Boilermaker Common Core Curriculum in 1997. Today, most colleges that train Boilermaker apprentices use the Boilermaker Common Core Curriculum as their training guide. Colleges in British Columbia and Quebec use it as a reference source for instructional staff. This has assisted in the mobility of Boilermaker apprentices across Canada. Common sequencing which has been achieved in 80% of provincial jurisdictions has proved to be helpful in removing some barriers to mobility faced by Boilermaker apprentices. Common sequencing has yet to be achieved in British Columbia and Quebec. Apprenticeship is 85% on-the-job training and many apprentices must work in different provinces in order to obtain the hours needed. Ideally, Boilermaker apprentices should be able to work and learn seamlessly across Canada. Removing barriers to the mobility of apprentices will also help us in recruiting young people to our trade. Ideally, Boilermaker apprentices should be able to work and learn seamlessly across Canada. Removing barriers to the mobility of apprentices will help us in recruiting young people to our trade. Joseph Maloney International Vice-President of Western Canada 2008. All rights reserved. 4 of 7
Developing National Training Standards for Practical Skills Development As good as the Red Seal Program is there is room for improvement with respect to influencing standardization of practical skills development, as opposed to classroom skills development. A level of qualification should be achieved for the core practical disciplines determined by trade experts for each trade. A system integrated into the provincial apprenticeship program for a Red Seal trade could be tied to the Red Seal Program. This system would require in each year of an apprenticeship training program that apprentices must demonstrate through practical testing a level of competency in core practical skills. In some trades, such as welding, this is already in place but not recognized as such. It is codes that determine the standard that is to be met in order to meet practical qualification requirements. The result is consistency across Canada because the codes are National and adopted by each province in Canada. A training standard would ensure the level of practical skills apprentices have achieved along with their knowledge of the technical side of their trade. We encourage the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) to explore the feasibility of developing national training standards for practical skills development. The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers encourages the CCDA to consider the feasibility of a national training standard for practical skills development. This coupled with the current Red Seal Program would ensure graduate journeyperson have the skill sets needed to supply industry with well qualified individuals. Development of National Safety Training Standards In Canada there is a need for a code of standards for safety training that would be the guideline for all safety training. Today safety training is being delivered; however, the present system does not allow for recognition of prior learning. This results in repetitious training which is both costly and inefficient. Ed Power International Vice-President of Eastern Canada International Brotherhood of Boilermakers The lack of a national safety standard has resulted in huge costs to governments and industry in continuous safety training. Often the same course is delivered from province to province and job site to job site. Employees who work in mobile industries can take the same safety training multiple times in a given year. Employers are reluctant to acknowledge safety training credentials because the law requires due diligence and there is no national accreditation standard that oversees this training. National Safety Training Standards would eliminate the current barriers to mobility and reduce significantly the costs of the current system to governments, industry and employees. We feel that the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) has a role to play in assisting industry in addressing this issue. 2008. All rights reserved. 5 of 7
Apprenticeship Compulsory Certification The and the Boilermaker Contractors Association support compulsory certification for the Boilermaker occupation in every jurisdiction. This position is linked to concerns about public safety, worker safety, environmental impacts and industry support. In 2008, the occupation of Boilermaker is designated as a Red Seal trade in all ten provinces but none of the three territories. Currently, only 30% of the provinces that recognize the occupation of Boilermaker as a designated Red Seal trade deem the journeyperson certification compulsory (i.e., Quebec, Alberta and most recently Nova Scotia). Our goal is to have compulsory certification in all jurisdictions over the next decade. The issue of enforcement is critical to the success of any system of compulsory certification. Enforcement is vital to ensure that workers have the appropriate licenses. Provincial/territorial governments should apply the resources and political will to build and maintain an effective enforcement regime for the laws and regulations that it puts in place. Vigilant enforcement of compulsory certification keeps the lid on the underground economy and this yields dividends with respect to increased public revenue and improved safety records. Once compliance is achieved then consideration should be given to increasing standards. We support compulsory certification for the Boilermaker occupation in every jurisdiction. Our goal is to have compulsory certification in all jurisdictions over the next decade David Galvin President Boilermaker Contractors Association We support enforcement of trade qualifications through a broad-based approach to inspection services (i.e., Workers Compensation Board, Health & Safety, building & code inspectors, environmental, Ministry of Labour as well as apprenticeship authority). Cooperation and coordination across government departments and from government to government (i.e., inter-provincial & intra-provincial) are critical in this regard. 2008. All rights reserved. 6 of 7
Journeyperson Training In response to the ever-increasing pace of change, Boilermaker industry stakeholders need to redouble efforts to encourage skills development across a Boilermaker s career. The training facilities owned and operated by the various Boilermaker training trust funds are centres of excellence. Jointly financed and controlled by industry, they efficiently develop and deliver skills training to meet industry-specific needs. The Training Center Infrastructure Fund which was in its second year was cancelled shortly after the 2006 Federal election. Yet these kinds of initiatives by federal and provincial governments leverage the private sectors investment in skills training to meet the ever increasing needs to upgrade facilities across Canada. Partnering with industry in this way is an efficient use of training dollars and utilization of infrastructure already in place and paid for by private sector dollars. Trades training should be viewed as a continuum that starts with apprenticeship training and continues with ongoing journeyperson training to maintain skills currency. Journeyperson skills training enable union contractors to compete in new markets and this is linked to our long-standing goal of market share enhancement. Practical mechanisms to facilitate continuous learning for journeypersons and, in some cases to provide related financial assistance, should be enhanced. Particular efforts should be made to provide preparatory training for journeypersons with a provincial license who want to upgrade to Red Seal status. This will increase the number of Canadian Boilermakers available to work across Canada in areas of high construction activity. Learning does not stop when a Boilermaker achieves journeyperson status. Technological change demands an ongoing commitment to skills development. The training facilities owned and operated by various Boilermaker training trust funds are centres of excellence. Grant Jacobs Boilermaker National Training Coordinator Boilermaker National Training Trust Fund Lifelong learning supports an individual in creating and following a career path. For example, in the construction industry trades qualifications are a foundation for laddering to supervisory positions. Local 128 Training Center Toronto, Ontario Local 146 Training Center Edmonton, Alberta 2008. All rights reserved. 7 of 7