Committee Votes “Ought to Pass” on Bill to Inform, Strengthen Registered Apprenticeships

Last week, a majority of the Labor and Housing Committee voted “ought to pass” on a measure to inform, strengthen and diversify Registered Apprenticeships.

“LD 1539 is about improving standards on publicly funded apprenticeship programs to ensure that Registered Apprentices are diverse and are fairly- compensated upon graduation,” said Adam Goode, the Maine AFL-CIO's Legislative and Political Director. “Public investments in training programs should be marked by high standards for hiring and training from underrepresented populations, good wages and benefits.”

The amended version of LD 1539:

• Incentivizes Registered Apprenticeship sponsors that do not merely check the box by recruiting traditionally underrepresented populations such as women, people of color and Mainers who have involved in the justice system, but demonstrate a real commitment to success by graduating and supporting these populations; and
• Mandates that Registered Apprenticeship sponsors report their "total package value" which includes not only end wages but the value of benefits such as health and retirement.

LD 1539, sponsored by Representative Traci Gere (D - Kennebunk), provides the data on, and lays the groundwork for, further adjustments to the Registered Apprenticeship program so that high-quality, high-road programs with a demonstrated record of success are supported, and those that fall short are re-tooled or simply stripped of their state stamp of approval.

"While it's shameful that certain programs need an incentive to do the right thing with respect to diversity, we are where we are," said Jason J. Shedlock, President of the Maine State Building & Construction Trades Council and a representative for Laborers' International Union Local 327. Shedlock, who also serves as the Vice Chair of the Maine Apprenticeship Council went on to say, "Program sponsors that take taxpayers funds and run; only to basically trip over a shamefully low bar are now on notice that not only does data not lie, it will also serve as the irrefutable evidence that will clearly identify subpar programs unworthy to be spoken in the same sentence with our union-run programs."

The measure will soon be before the Maine House and Senate for further votes.