Skilled Trades
This UAW department addresses the special issues and concerns of members in Skilled Trades classifications. It’s involved in bargaining agreements and providing special assistance and advice to UAW local unions, regions and other national departments.
The department has the sole authority for issuing journeyman cards to certify skilled trades workers and routinely performs in-plant inspections to determine which craft cards are appropriate for the site. It also deals with such issues as technology and registered Apprenticeship Programs through the U.S. Department of Labor and State Apprenticeship Councils. It provides staff support to the 24-member council (ISTAC), which advises the International Executive Board on skilled trades policy matters, including the recommendation of new card classifications.
The department’s highly acclaimed Pre-Apprenticeship Program helps UAW members develop the skills needed to compete successfully for apprenticeships. More than 17,000 UAW members have graduated from the pre-apprenticeship program – half of them minorities and women. The department is also involved in School-to-Work, Career Fairs, and mentoring programs, which provides high school juniors and seniors both classroom and hands-on education to prepare them for apprenticeship programs.
Through its Child Development Specialist Apprenticeship Program the department maintains a database for all program graduates and monitors issuances of Child Development Specialist Certification Cards. The Skilled Trades Department also sponsors, calls and conducts special Skilled Trades Conferences around appropriate themes such as health and safety, technology and collective bargaining.
The department also maintains relationships with many organizations related to the skilled trades and apprenticeship programs, such as:
Skilled Trades Department Publications Below:
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