FLAC's FAQ's

1. If this is public safety policy then why are only the employees of C-10s affected?
   
2. Why is "Electrician" defined the way it is?
   
3. Why is Mandatory State Registered Apprenticeship such a hot issue?
   
4. Who offers State Approved Electrical Apprenticeship Programs, and what is the availability?
   
5. Is "Los Angeles Trade-Tech" a State Approved Apprenticeship program?
   
6. Why change the current method that is used to calculate wages of registered apprentice?
   
7. Isn't AB931 really a Union "Get-back-the-work-scheme"?
   
8. What is the history of Building Trades Council (BTC), the IBEW and Market Recovery Programs?
   
9. Who's next and when?
   
10. Can they do this?
    
11. How does this affect The Electrical Construction Industry?

If this is public safety policy then why are only the employees of C-10s affected?

• To avoid opposition from other service or construction trade unions, The IBEW and NECA authors wrote the law so that it would only affect their contractor competition.

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Why is "Electrician" defined the way it is?

• The Operating Engineers and Laborer Unions still want to run conduit. Other trades still want to do the "incidental" electrical work they perform. The Authors did not want to have to fight other unions about that issue.

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Why is Mandatory State Registered Apprenticeship such a hot issue?

• The Union (especially the IBEW) holds a death grip on the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, and monopolizes the California Apprenticeship Council.
  

• Typical entrance requirements of high school diplomas and algebra are exclusionary, and can discriminate against minorities.
  

• Because Mandatory Apprenticeship is what makes certification work in favor of the union.

• New regulation under AB921 makes approval of new or expanded merit shop programs unlikely.

• Because changes in the CAC now mandate that contractors are required to pay all State Registered Apprentices Prevailing wages, or a portion there-of that is practically equal to the Prevailing wage, even on private jobs.

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Who offers State Approved Electrical Apprenticeship Programs, and what is the availability?

• Statewide, Unions currently operate programs in every county, compared to 6 Merit Shop programs.

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Is "Los Angeles Trade-Tech" a State Approved Apprenticeship program?

• No, and neither are most community colleges like Pasadena City College or Long Beach City College, nor are most Regional Occupational Programs (ROPs) or Private Vo-Techs such as Educorp or ITT.

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Why change the current method that is used to calculate wages of registered apprentice?

• Artificially raising wages of all classifications of construction workers to a level at or above collective bargained rates makes union labor more competitive without them having to improve productivity or change work rules. This has now been approved by the California Apprenticeship Council.

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Isn't AB931 really a Union "Get-back-the-work-scheme"?

• Yes, Its known as "Market Recovery Agenda" or by the IBEW as part of their "Mission 2000"

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What is the history of Building Trades Council (BTC), the IBEW and Market Recovery Programs?

• Prevailing wage compliance. BTC funded "Center for Contract Compliance" or (CCC).

• Job Targeting.

• Salting, IBEW's COMET -Construction Organizing Membership Education and Training.

• Project Labor Agreements (PLAs).

• Bid Prequalification (Prequals).

• Electricians Certification.

• AB 1889. (it's now the law)

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Who's next and when?

• Carpenters, Plumbers and Pipe Fitters, Mechanical, then probably other structural related trades.

• The "Electricians Certification" will become the model! Whatever goes for the Electricians will most likely go for the other trades.

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Can they do this?

• Yes. It's already happening!

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How does this affect The Electrical Construction Industry?

• Estimated 39% of workers don't qualify for licensing or apprenticeship, 67% are minorities.

• A large number of potential new workers will be prohibited from entering the trade as early as January 1, 2004 due to Apprenticeship entry requirements.

• Estimated 30% of workers must enroll in programs that don't and can't exist.

• Wages of remaining workers rise by as much as 200%. Apprentices in San Francisco County will get starting wages exceeding $21.00!

• Journeymen won't work for less than apprentices. Journey-level wages will increase by the same ratios as apprentices.

• Doubling the payroll expense equals half the jobs.

• Half as many workers means 50% effective productivity.

• 50% of the work getting done means other trades eventually slow down about the same amount.

• In an attempt to keep-up production and save costs, your soon to be Ex-Customers will directly hire your ineligible ex-workers who continue to work at their old wage rates, and who now are not required to certify, or get training.

• Other mechanical and structural trades initiate certification laws for themselves.

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