Alaska House Majority

  • HOME
  • PRESS
    • Rep. Claman
    • Rep. Edgmon
    • Rep. Drummond
    • Rep. Foster
    • Rep. Johnston
    • Rep. Josephson
    • Rep. Lincoln
    • Rep. Lebon
    • Rep. Kopp
    • Rep. Knopp
    • Rep. Ortiz
    • Rep. Spohnholz
    • Rep. Stutes
    • Rep. Story
    • Rep. Tarr
    • Rep. Thompson
    • Rep. Tuck
    • Rep. Wool
    • Rep. Zulkosky
  • NEWSLETTERS
    • Rep. Claman’s Alaska Matters
    • Speaker Edgmon’s Newsletter
    • The Drummond Dispatch
    • Rep. Josephson’s Newsletter
    • Rep. Kreiss-Tomkins’ Newsletter
    • Rep. Stutes’ Newsletter
    • Rep. Lincoln’s Dist. 40 Newsletter
    • Rep. Wool’s Newsletter
    • Rep. Tarr’s Times
    • Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky
    • Rep. Tuck’s Community Connection
    • Rep. Ortiz’s Newsletter
    • Rep. Spohnholz’s The Spohnholz Standard
  • MEMBERS
    • Rep. Matt Claman
    • Rep. Bryce Edgmon
    • Rep. Neal Foster
    • Rep. Zack Fields
    • Rep. Grier Hopkins
    • Rep. Sara Hannan
    • Rep. Jennifer Johnston
    • Rep. Andy Josephson
    • Rep. Gary Knopp
    • Rep. Chuck Kopp
    • Rep. Jonathan Kreiss Tomkins
    • Rep. Bart LeBon
    • Rep. John Lincoln
    • Rep. Harriet Drummond
    • Rep. Dan Ortiz
    • Rep. Ivy Spohnholz
    • Rep. Louise Stutes
    • Rep. Andi Story
    • Rep. Geran Tarr
    • Rep. Steve Thompson
    • Rep. Chris Tuck
    • Rep. Adam Wool
    • Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky

Bipartisan group of lawmakers oppose draft DOLWD regulations

  • Press

Agency’s draft regulations would undermine workplace safety, veterans’ career pathways, and industry-funded training

ANCHORAGE – A bipartisan group of lawmakers today signed a letter urging the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development (“DOLWD”) to withdraw proposed anti-apprenticeship regulations that would endanger construction workers and undermine career pathways for veterans.


The department recently proposed regulations that would eliminate a longstanding requirement that electrical workers, plumbers, and pipefitters complete apprenticeship training with a 1:1 ratio of journeyworkers to apprentices. The new regulations would allow as high as a 10:1 ratio of inexperienced to experienced workers and would create a new category of “student” trainees without the rigorous standards of the federal apprenticeship system.

 

In addition, the regulations would allow Outside electrical workers and pipefitters to receive certificates of fitness based simply on hours worked in the trade, rather than completing a rigorous apprenticeship program. Under current law, electrical workers and plumbers/pipefitters must complete a four- to six-year apprenticeship with hundreds of hours of classroom training and thousands of hours of on-the-job experience, all under the direct mentorship of an experienced journeyworker.

 

“Alaska’s private sector construction contractors have invested in apprenticeship training for generations,” said Rep. Kelly Merrick (R-Eagle River). “We should support industry-funded training with a stable, predictable, and effective regulatory climate.”

 

DOLWD’s regulations would also tear down an important career ladder for our veterans and their families. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Plumbers and Pipefitters’ unions have built national programs to help transitioning service members enter the skilled trades. The Veterans Electrical Entry Program and the Veterans in Piping program support the entry of military families into our workforce.

 

“Alaska’s government should support transitioning service members, not undermine veterans’ career opportunities,” Rep. Zack Fields (D-Anchorage) said.

 

Signers of the letter include Reps. Zack Fields, Kelly Merrick, Matt Claman, Harriet Drummond, Sara Hannan, Grier Hopkins, Andy Josephson, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Gabrielle LeDoux, Dan Ortiz, Laddie Shaw, Ivy Spohnholz, Andi Story, Louise Stutes, Chris Tuck, and Sens. Tom Begich, Elvi Gray-Jackson, and Scott Kawasaki.

 

ATTACHMENT: A copy of the January 13 letter from lawmakers to Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Tamika Ledbetter.  


 

###

CONTACTS
OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE ZACK FIELDS
Representative.Zack.Fields@akleg.gov
(907) 269-0106

OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE KELLY MERRICK
Rep.Kelly.Merrick@akleg.gov
(907) 465-3777

Find Us on Facebook

Rep. Bryce Edgmon

Speaker of the House

Toll-Free +1 800 898-4451
Session Contact
State Capitol Room 208
Juneau AK, 99801 
Phone: 907-465-4451
Fax: 907-465-3445
Interim Contact
1500 W. Benson Blvd.
Anchorage AK, 99501-2133 
Phone: 907-269-0275
Fax: 907-269-0274

Find Us on Facebook

Phone

Phone: 907-465-4451
Fax: 907-465-3445

Address

State Capitol Room 208
Juneau AK, 99801

Copyright Alaska House Majority 2020