Apprenticeship Updates SMW Local 104
The Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 104 and Bay Area Industry Training Fund met in January for the Trust Meeting of Labor and Management. Some highlights and recent developments discussed include:
Number of indentures increasing
With overall hours increasing significantly since April of this year, it’s not surprising that the request for new apprentices has also grown. As of August 31, 2022, 171 apprentices have been indentured for the East, North, South and West Bay areas. The Local 104 SMW Training and Bay Area Industry Fund Board of Trustees has approved additional indentures to ensure apprentices are available to fulfill workplace needs today and in the future.
Apprenticeship funding grows
Due to California’s budget surplus, the Related Supplemental Instruction (RSI) funding allocated by the California Chancellor’s Office of Community Colleges — also known as the Montoya Funds, allocated annually for all registered apprenticeship programs — recently increased from $6.77 to $8.82 for each RSI hour our training program receives for fiscal year 2022-2023.
The Dean of Apprenticeship Programs at Foothill College, Chris Allen, who is our LEA’s administrator for our annual RSI funding, said, “This is the largest increase I have seen to date, and is an incredible investment by the State of California for all registered apprenticeship programs up and down the state.”
These funds will go a long way to ensure our programs continually strive for state-of-the-art technology that supports all our instruction for the Local 104 Sheet Metal Apprenticeship Programs.
DID YOU KNOW?
SMW Local 104 Apprenticeship “101”
- Building Trades Sheet Metal apprentices complete three 2-week sessions during 1st through 4th year, then attend six evening classes as a 5th year apprentice. Service and TAB apprentices attend class in one-week blocks six times a year as 1st through 4th year apprentices, then attend six evening classes as a 5th year apprentice.
- Apprentices in good standing receive raises every six months and are required to perform community service hours as part of their apprenticeship.
- Apprentices must turn in their on-the-job training hours to the Division of Apprenticeship Standards every month (apprentices do not turn in their OJT hours to the DAS; they submit hours to the training program). If submittals are received late more than 3 times, apprentices are automatically dropped from the program.
- Apprentices needing time and space for additional support can request a leave of absence through their local apprenticeship Training Coordinator. Those needing substance abuse assistance can access the BEAT IT program through Local 104.
- Pre-apprentices waiting to get indentured can improve their ranking by earning extra points for every month they work and by completing additional elective classes through the training program.