canadiancontractor
Apprenticeship ratios not enforced in Alberta, reader says
Canadian ContractorAnd this is a good thing, this poster argues...
We haven’t posted about journeyman/apprentice ratios for a while.
But this post from ‘Mike Rabbit’ (we’re not convinced that is his real name) might kickstart a few discussions…
Move to Alberta. Companies like (name withheld) have about five journeymen to about 100 apprentices and no government organization has ever done a thing. I worked at another place that had one journeyman and there were 12 of us that were apprentices, from 1st to 4th. Why it isn’t enforced at ALL here is baffling. It should be one journeyman to three apprentices maximum, not one journeyman to 10-20 because companies like (name withheld) y are cheap and would rather fire a 4th year before school and hire another 2nd year and put that second year in charge of a brand new hire or two, and expect journeyman-level work.
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This also happens in BC although in BC ratios are enforced (if caught) but unfortunately some unscrupulous contractors instruct their apprentices to keep a broom handy at all times. If an inspector shows up, the apprentices drop their tools and start sweeping. When asked where the electrician is, they play dumb because after all, they’re just the clean up crew.
Something needs to be done. There no reason to ever finish an apprenticeship as your just making yourself unemployed. I have not been able to find work for over 3 months so far this year and nothing but a million apprentice listings. The board needs to do there job, get off there asses and do something about this. People are paying top dollar for shoddy work with under trained personnel.