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LABOR NEWS |
| By Rod Chapel, Director Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations |
For release the week of: November 20, 2006
Engineers Local 513 Training Program
Last month I had the great honor of touring the Operating Engineers Local 513 Training Program in Silex, Missouri. The goal of the training program is to provide well trained and safety concise operators for Missouri contractors so they can in turn provide their clients with skilled and productive workers that promote a safe work environment. The facility itself sits on 250 acres and has over 60,000 square feet of administrative, classroom and instructional area. It includes housing and dining facilities that can accommodate up to 48 people.
The individuals who complete the Operating Engineers Local 513 Training Program can earn credit toward an Associate of Applied Sciences degree at several community colleges. The three-year program requires that its apprentices be at least 18, live in 513’s jurisdiction and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Additionally, they have to complete a minimum of 144 hours of training and 300 hours of work in the trade in order to go into the next term. Some of the qualifications that an apprenticeship graduate would hold include a CDL license, certification in hazardous waste material removal, OSHA construction safety training and many other important certifications.
Perhaps one of the most important features in the apprenticeship program is that once an applicant is accepted, Local 513’s membership and the contractor association signatories to the Union bargaining agreements subsidize the cost for his/her training. That is, other than some miniscule incidental charges, an applicant can join the program and be trained at no substantial expense in contrast with traditional higher education. Furthermore, journeymen may continue their training and upgrade skills in all certifications at no cost for the 513 local members. At the state Labor Department, our vision is to ensure Missouri has safe work places, free from discrimination, and an economically secure work force and provide for the most efficient services for those that do business with the Department. It was wonderful to see that the partners of Local 513 and the contractor signatories are fostering the values of leadership, partnership, accountability and inventiveness. It is only through a combined effort that we as Missourians can promote safe workplaces one person at a time, eliminating discrimination and provide the most efficient services available in the state by an economically secure workforce.
As I rode over portions of the 250 acre campus, it occurred to me that the skills they are building not only provide for a strong and safe Missouri economy, but also ensure that the homes and buildings we live and work in are high quality and fit for their intended use. If you or someone you know is interested in the training program, I encourage you to call 573-485-2200 or email info@oelocal513training.com to receive additional information about the program and all of its benefits.###
Information and Planning · 421 East Dunklin
· P.O. Box 504 · Jefferson City, MO
65102-0504
573-751-7500 · 573-751-6552 (Fax)
Relay Missouri: 1-800-735-2966 (TDD) 1-800-735-2466 (Voice)