Education and Training

THE NATIONAL LABOR College (NLC) is now accredited to offer an associate of arts degree. An AA degree “is basically the first two years of college and will provide students with the foundation to succeed in NLC’s bachelor degree programs or at any other 4-year college or university,” according to the college.

The NLC will soon be accepting applications for the fall semester, which begins Sept. 3, 2013. For additional information, and to be notified when applications will be available, visit www.nlc.edu.

HTUP graduates mark 70th anniversary

THE HARVARD TRADE Union Program (HTUP) celebrated its 70th year of operation in 2012 with a gathering of former students on the university campus in Boston. About 50 graduates from around the world participated, including Boilermaker staff members Tyler Brown (D-ISO/AAIP) and Gary Powers (A/D-ISO).

APPRENTICE COORDINATORS and instructors from the Great Lakes Area received training Sept. 12-14 on the new On-Line Interactive Learning Management System (LMS) and the updated Related Studies Lessons. The Boilermaker National Apprenticeship Program (BNAP) is developing the system in conjunction with Kelly Press to upgrade and standardize apprentice instruction.

Leadership course attended by 124 since Oct. 2011

AS THE WORK picture in Canada continues to grow, the need for qualified supervisors is expanding proportionally, says Grant Jacobs, Canadian Director of National Training. Over the past several years, National Training has been working with local lodge training coordinators to offer field supervisor leadership training across the country. Since Oct. 2011, 124 members have attended.

Local 454 (Chattanooga, Tenn.) members completed steward training in August. Seated, l. to r., Michael Hawkins, Jared McCosh, Lamar Elrod, Julian Black, and Jeremiah Johnson. Standing, Billy Cornelison, Chris Leitner, Ted Smith, Chris Newsom, Von Caylor, Jason Bailey, Larry Ezell, Michael Blanchard, Michael McCarthy, Shannon Bates, BM-ST Bobby Lunsford, and Director of Construction Division Services Dale “Skipper” Branscum (trainer).

Eighteen members of Local 83 (Kansas City, Mo.) completed a steward’s training class Feb. 17, 2012, at the lodge’s union hall. Front row, l. to r., Joe Lewandowski, Dale “Skipper” Branscum (Director – Construction Division Services and class instructor), Jason Hennigh, Brad Smith, L-83 President Tom Dye Jr., Chris Brown, L-83 Vice President Chris Urie, Gordon Gorajewski, and Robbie Gant. Back row, Paul McCarthy, Brian Williams, Joe Navarro, Gerald Calvert, Kevin Coones, Randy Kalleck, Ryan Oliveira, Bob Devereux, Rich Peve, and Danny Coones.

Twenty attend MOST training session

MEMBERS FROM A dozen local lodges met in Kansas City, Mo., Jan. 15-20 to expand their skills under the MOST Project Management Training Program. MOST (Mobilization, Optimization, Stabilization, and Training) is a pioneering labor-management trust fund designed to address issues in the construction industry through innovative programs and collaboration.

Institutes focus on labor education

MORE THAN THREE dozen Boilermakers interested in expanding their knowledge of labor and union leadership attended sessions at the School for Workers on the University of Wisconsin campus last August. Commonly referred to as the Boilermaker Summer Institutes, the sessions include one week-long block for basic studies, another for advanced studies. After completing the basic session, participants typically return the following year to complete the advanced course.

THE NATIONAL LABOR College (NLC) in Silver Spring, Md., has introduced a new financial education program especially for union members. The free program is designed to educate members about making sound financial decisions. It includes an informational website featuring how-to videos  and practical advice about investments, pensions, debt, credit cards, and other topics. A booklet is also available to be shipped to unions or downloaded.

Without clear guidelines, many lodges end up arbitrating more grievances than they should.