The union times., 1945-06-30
100000 Homes Now Being Planned

New England States and New York met recently in Bethel, Me-, in an atmosphere drama tized by the recent acute shortages of skilled shipyard mechanics in both east and west coast warship repair yards and concluded that un- less something is done inn mediately to recruit a mimi mum of 100000 apprentices for skilled artisan training, this country may one day find itself faced with the paradox of mass unemployment on the one hand and a drastic short age of skilled workers on the other.
 A.F.L. REPRESENTED
 The conference was attended by representatives of the Veterans Administration, state vocational education authorities, the Federal Apprentice Training Service, man. agement men and representatives of the American Federation of La Dor and other labor groups.
 The startling fact that at present there are only 1000 apprentices regis tered with the State Apprentice Coun- Gil at work in all of New York State was brought out by members ot the New York delegation. Of these, 1t was said, 400 are in the building trades field
 NEED OF SKILLED LABOR
 Mrs. Lois Hunter, deputy commls- sioner of the New York State De partment of Labor, pointed out to conference group that an indicated 100000 dwellings to he constructed in the country in the next few years will require training skilled labor force of our own. She said that we cannot look, as in the past, to Europe as a source of skilled artisans.
 Labor and management repre- sentatives agreed that as soon as buiIding materials are released be- tween 10000 and 3O,OOO appren- tices will be needed in the build- ing trades alone because of the dearth of jOurneymen and artl- sans.
 The situation in the building trades, it was brought out, is typical ot that existing in virtually every skilled trade. The average age of skilled me chanics, whose ranks have been dec1- mated by lack of apprentice training during wartime, is now around forty five. Mass-production techniqueS, valu- able in turning out floods ot war goods with price as secondary tac- tor. will not have the same utility III many time production heldS. Short war-work courses and training in assembly-line methods the conferees felt. will prove no substitute for bed rock technical skill such as only four to hve-year apprenticeship can give.
 Problem of the Veteran
 The younger veteran and ms relationship to an apprentice training program received a good oeaI OI attention from the con- ferees. A question as to whether veterans should receive credit tO- ward apprenticeship completion for inc amount of time passed in the armed forces was debated pro and con and finally sent to the Vet erans' Administration for clarlhca- uOn. The consensus at the meet ing was that such credit, ii not founded in actual skill, would work against the veterans interest. Veterans are paid a subsistence allowance during training under the C. |. Bill of Rights when learn ing a skilled trade, just as ii they had elected to go to college.
 The basic unit in the training ot apprentices is the plant joint commit tee, composed of labor and manage ment. There now are more than 2,UOO of these i'll the country. The plant, committee idea got off to start III l937 and then was slowed down some what by the war. The committee served as a model for the wartime labor management committees winch succeeded in keeping production gong so well III many defense plant areas.
 What the Apprentice Training Service of the War Man-POwer Commission does is to approve training programs and standards. In cooperation with the state councils and plant committees, its limited staff provides technical assistance necessary to developing training programs.
 Organizations i'll Connecticut have one maJor purpose, that ot providing apprentice training opportunities to returning Veterans and others inter ested in obtaining trade training. Ap- proximately 170 programs approved by the Connecticut State Apprentice ship Council in diversified trades are in operation involving some 500 regis tered apprentices.
 To meet the needs of industry ana apprentices, related instruc- ton adapted to their needs arc functioning at lale University, New Haven Junior College, and Board man Trade School Offering advis' ory service to Veterans, Appren- tices plants and all organizations relating to programs P. M. HOvey, P. o. Building, Bridgeport; Harry n IT TCE c Hartford. and