The union times., 1947-05-03

STATE COUNCIL
 These are a few of the highlights presented to a recent meeting of the executive board of the Connec- ticut State Building and Construc- tion Trades Council by I. Harry Hyman, Field Representative of the Apprentice-T Training Service, U. s. Department of Labor. Further in- formation was obtained in an in- ferview with Mir. Hyman.
 Hyman told the Board that appren- ticeship has taken root in the con- struction industry in Connecticut be- cause of the generally recognized need for maintaining an adequate supply of skilled craftsmen.
 ssEvery objective analysis of the industry's labor requirements points toward long run shortage" " he said. ssLabor and industry have moved to meet this problem by in- stituting long range plan, jointly operated, which will assure the in- dustry of the trained journeymen as they will be required.
 "The plan embraces program for the careful selection of qualified young men interested in becoming journey men mechanics in particular trades. These men are placed under the sup ervision of joint 1abor-contractor committees who are responsible for seeing that the apprentice has the opportunity to acquire the broad skills of the trade through actual work experience under journeyman instruc- ton. The basic slzills to be acquired are established in a schedule of work sexperience which becomes a part of each apprenticeship agreement"
 JOINT RESPONSIBILITY In effect, Hyman told the Board, this places a responsibility upon the committee and each contractor to make available to the apprentice the types of work called for in his agreement. It also places respon- sibility upon the journeymen to in- struct the apprentice so as to en- able him to develop the skills and ssknow hOw'' of the trade, and re- quires of the apprentice that he apply himself diligently to the seri- ous business of qualifying himself for journeymanship in his chosen occupation.
 In addition to this on-the-job ex- perience and instruction, each appren- < tice is required to attend school for a minimum of IA hours per year to ac- ouire technical information related 'to his trade. In short, the overall objec- live of the program is to train ade- uuately, through the cooperation of all parties concerned, the building trades mechanics needed to maintain the in- dustry on sound footing.
 "The benefits of program of this kind to labor organizations, employ Sers, the apprentice and the community are apparent" Hyman continued. "It is generally recognized that labor or Qanizations in the construction indus Stry have maintained a strong bargain ing position because of the general afiliation of highly skilled craftsmen with these organizations. Employers seeking qualified men have in the past Hound a ready reservoir in the unions land industry has come to accept the union as an essential element in the proper functioning of the construction Industry.
 ssThis position could be under. mined by labor's failure to provide flor the maintenance of high level of skill among its members. TO discharge the responsibility for manning jobs with skilled mechan. ics. labor organizations are now fos. tering apprenticeship systems as an Integral part of the unions func. tions."
 HELPS EMPLOYER
 To the employer, he said, the avail ability of an adequate supply of skilled
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