Apprentice Chris Darden (L) and Lloyd Weatherford, organizer
Weatherford, who is an organizer for the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters and also Financial Secretary of Carpenters Local 456, has been working to create opportunities for apprentices since he heard about Seattle Housing Authority’s redevelopment projects. He has been joined in that effort by Chuck Gotcher, the Regional Council’s business representative.
High Point apprentice Kim Collins“We’re both working to open doors for apprentices to get into our programs, both inside and outside the union. We don’t want to get people into dead end jobs so that when the job is done they just face unemployment again. Instead, we are trying to pre-qualify people and make sure that they are ready to learn when they enter the program.”
For the apprentices at High Point, the job offers a mix of learning opportunity and plain hard work. Chris Darden, was hired through SHA’s “Section 3” hiring program, which promotes the hiring of community residents. Gesturing at the new housing going up near him at High Point, Darden said, “It’s hard work, but it’s exciting, and I am learning a lot. It’s great to look around and see all the houses that we’re building here and know that we’re building homes for people who need them. I’m really proud that my hands have touched every house out here.”
He enjoys the work and considers it a really good job. “Before I came into this program, I spent eight months with Labor Ready. I just wasn’t doing what I wanted to be doing. This is a lot better, but there is one thing I really don’t like very much – that’s all the mud that we have to deal with out here. But I know that’ll be better by this summer.”
Kim Collins is another apprentice at High Point, and she is also a resident of the High Point community. She has had a long-time interest in carpentry, and has always enjoyed working with her hands. As a single mother, she has high hopes that the apprenticeship program will eventually pave the way to a solid career in the building trades.
According to Weatherford, she is currently responsible for cutting the stair stringers for the new housing. “It is a very exacting job,” explained Weatherford. “You have to measure very carefully, and cut precisely. It is a job that is frequently assigned to apprentices because it allows them to practice some very important skills. By the time Kim is through with this assignment, I’m sure she’ll be really good at it – there are a lot of stairways in this construction project!”
Currently, Absher Construction, the general contractor for the High Point project, has 19 apprentices on site, working as carpenters and laborers. In addition to the strenuous work of building houses, they also attend classes at the King County Training Center, sponsored by Renton Technical College and the Carpenters Trust of Western Washington.
A typical apprenticeship program can take four to six years to complete, and allows participants to learn about all of the facets of the building trades. Often up to 40 hours of classroom instruction is required per quarter, along with the on-the-job-training that participants receive while they are earning.
Apprentices on the High Point job makes around $12.36 per hour, and receive a 5 percent increase every six months. When an apprentice graduates from the program, he or she can expect to earn as much as $20.60 an hour as a residential carpenter.
The Seattle Vocational Institute also plays a part in supporting apprenticeships. They sponsor a three-month pre-apprenticeship program that gives participants the opportunity to experience what the building trades have to offer. Once they have been through the three month program, candidates already know what it is like to work outside all day hauling lumber, pounding nails and handling construction tools.
In addition to classroom work and on-the-job training, apprentices have to fulfill a number of requirements along the way, explains Weatherford. “For example, they need to obtain a first aid card. There are a series of requirements that can be a challenge for them. But when they graduate, they are well trained for this profession.” The continuing need for residential housing in the Puget Sound region makes the building trades attractive to many younger workers, said Weatherford.
Both the union officials and the Absher supervisors take obvious pride in the accomplishments and progress of the apprentices. Even though they have to take orders from just about everyone on the job site, they are learning as they go, and their teachers are supportive. Union officials check in frequently as well, to assist where needed.
“We are especially interested in finding young workers who are genuinely interested in learning the building trades,” said Weatherford. “An apprenticeship can be a great opportunity for both the participant and the company.”
Community members near High Point, Rainier Vista or NewHolly can contact The Job Connection offices sponsored by SHA for information on apprenticeships. The Job Connection staff can be contacted at the following community sites and phone numbers:
The Job Connection at High Point
3136 SW Holly St.
(206) 937-3292
The Job Connection at Yesler Terrace
825 Yesler Way, Lower Level
(206) 344-5837
The Job Connection at Lake City
12546-1/2 33rd Ave. NE
(206) 363-1471
The Job Connection at Rainier Vista
4500 MLK Jr. Way S.
(206) 722-4010
The Job Connection at NewHolly
7050 32nd Ave. S.
(206) 760-3284