I am pleased to inform you that this morning the Construction Industry has been carved out of the new Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP) ruling. Organized labor’s position has always been that our registered Apprenticeship & Training Programs funded by our signatory contractors, are highly effective and do an outstanding job meeting industry standards and demand.
Sincere thanks all our Local Unions and those pro-labor politicians that helped protect the future of our trade and the standard of education that our apprentices receive.
However, we may not be done fighting on this front if a lawsuit is filed by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) against the Department of Labor over the construction carve-out. But for now, the rule prohibits SREs from recognizing IRAPs in the construction sector, which has the greatest existing utilization of registered apprenticeship programs.
Gary Perinar
Executive Secretary-Treasurer
§ 29.30 Scope of Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs Recognition by Standards Recognition Entities (SREs). (a) The Administrator will not recognize as SREs entities that intend to recognize as IRAPs programs that seek to train apprentices to perform construction activities, consisting of: the erecting of buildings and other structures (including additions); heavy construction other than buildings; and alterations, reconstruction, installation, and maintenance and repairs. (b) SREs that obtain recognition from the Administrator are prohibited from recognizing as IRAPs programs that seek to train apprentices to perform construction activities, consisting of: the erecting of buildings and other structures (including additions); heavy construction other than buildings; and alterations, reconstruction, installation, and maintenance and repairs.
