Maine Apprenticeship Council Meeting

March 20, 2014: 9:00 AM
TBD


Date: Thursday, March 20, 2014 Location: Region 10 Technical High School, Brunswick

Attending: Phil Dionne, business; Joan Dolan, Director MAP; Jennifer McKenna, LU716 Plumbers & Pipefitters; Gloria Payne, MAP Program Specialist; Gail Senese - MDOE, Adult Education; Brian Watson ? Cianbro Training Institute; Guests: Melissa Harvey, Work Base Learning Coordinator, Penobscot Job Corps Academy (by phone); Jill Houser, Region One, USDOL ?ETA, Charlie McNeil, Region One USDOL-ETA, Travis Wood, DOE, CTE Representative Phone: Don Berry, Chair

 Phil Dionne, Co-Chair opened the meeting, requested introductions and noted no quorum due to inclement weather.

 During introductions Jason Darling, Region 10 Pre-Apprenticeship Instructor, spoke to the challenges of pre-apprenticeship and the need for accurate knowledge in the field; the important role of maturity, and selecting and educating the right students. Discussion: With no funding to support pre-apprenticeship, MAP is exploring connecting Adult Education & CTE Schools so that pre-apprenticeship becomes another recognized pathway to apprenticeship. The DOE Bridge Year Program - a 5-year HS model that awards a diploma and an AA degree - may be a model to explore for adding pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship for credit. Jill has witnessed similar models and shared that a NH CTE is acting as a sponsor in the manufacturing sector with a simplified one-page sponsor registration document.

 Minutes of January 2014 meeting: approved unanimously without changes. Motion - Jennifer McKenna; Seconded - Brian Watson.

 Director?s Report - Discussion Summary.  Business Outreach: Summit Natural Gas: an example of MAP efforts to bring different systems together (about 30 participants representing unions, community colleges, state licensing, employers and adult education) that was shared briefly at the last meeting. MAP will continue to be front and center in this initiative, especially with four natural gas employers facing similar challenges statewide. Thank you to those Councilmembers who participated. Maine General Health: MAP will be adding a Charge Nurse program that will be sent to the Council for approval this week. MGMC continues to add healthcare apprentices. North East Meats: Gloria has been working with Jen to develop a Butcher/Meatcutter apprenticeship. This is a good example of Councilmembers reaching out to local employers. Jen expects a follow-up meeting next week after some background work has been completed by the employer. She spoke to the vast amount of time and energy it can take to move an employer through the process, and suggested that the process for developing an apprenticeship be shared. Gloria committed to providing a presentation of the steps that occurs prior to the Council approval process at the next meeting. Tasman Industries: MAP has been working with this employer since last fall. Gloria has been challenged to identify SOC codes for a Tanner and has developed a draft work process which the sponsor is reviewing. The employer has also identified two additional apprenticeships - an Artisan Chemist (Color Matcher) and a Quality Manager in addition to the Tanner with the goal to oversee production of leather shoe tops and upholstery leather. ?Discussion: Joan pointed out that this sponsor is a good example of the time it may take with an employer to bring them onboard. Brian has had many requests for presentations at schools & education foundations (recent MELMAC Foundation) and wondered how MAP might ?get in front of more businesses? and not just schools. Many smaller businesses or the Mom & Pop may not be MAP registered, but may be informally already doing apprenticeship.

 Partner Outreach: Maine Manufacturing Association: seeking to partner as a grant applicant for long-term unemployed H1B Visas (high-level foreign labor) for a USDOL grant to train US citizens. This is an opportunity to rejuvenate the collaborative relationship. CareerCenter managers: there has been an increase in questions related to local business and more interaction. This level represents an important connection for boots on the ground contact. Maine Department of Transportation: interested in reinvigorating a level of employment they have traditionally had trouble keeping filled, and Gloria is working with them to consider using a lattice approach. There may be some challenges with the wage scale but the MDOT HR Department is working on discovering the specific issues. Farmers ? MOFGA and U. Maine Extension Service: Gloria working with the New Farmers? Apprenticeship Coordinator to translate their present informal program into registered apprenticeships and identify training through Maine Quality Centers to further develop the sector and connect UM Extension and KVCC. Jill suggested a look at the UK Aspiring apprenticeship programs and that NH Organic Farmers may be interested in following our lead. Department of Education ? Adult Education; Career & Technical Education: Joan felt the importance of including both of these agencies in the larger conversation, and is very appreciative that both agencies are open to working with MAP. Additional outreach with LWIB Directors ? a meeting is scheduled next week seeking to bridge some ?rough spots? for it may not be just about MAP but larger workforce solutions.

 General Work Activities: 2013 Annual Report: Joan distributed copies of the recently updated report to the Legislature which is required by statute. It will be posted on the MAP webpage soon. Jill recognized the report as a good example for other states. Responses to inquiries since January 1: prospective sponsors - six; individual emails - 50; prospective apprentices by telephone ? 10. Apprenticeship file update: Gloria continues to review, organize and update MAP files to ensure wage scales, Apprenticeship Standards and other program documentation is updated. The Standards of Apprenticeship template under revision will be a more integrated document to include more program information and is near completion. It will be provided at the next Council meeting. Discussion: Cianbro is updating Standards for their Lineworker and Electrical programs and has volunteered to test drive the new MAP template. The US-DOL Group-Non-Joint boilerplate has been updated and Charlie anticipates that the sub-committee will have further changes that reflect federal requirements mandated by 29 CFR 29. With the mandate to double apprentice numbers in the next five years, Jill shared that there is interest in the more effective use of technology to develop a searchable national online library where the more 20-50 common occupational standards and work processes are already electronically accessible and secure. Although Maine will still need a paper interface to accommodate our smaller sponsors, the vision is to be able to plug information directly into the system thereby simplifying the process. CSSP: program rule changes have been reviewed and approved. Changes will allow the use of a combination of workforce development funds to assist those at 200% or more below the poverty level. Participants will remain eligible for training funded by CSSP even if their income goes above the 200% level. Support services available to income eligible participants through the program include child care, transportation assistance. In addition to the aforementioned, a modest stipend is available to those at 125% of poverty. Certificates Issued: based on policy reaffirmed March 20, 2014 that apprentices issued Certificates of Completion will be reported to the Council on a quarterly basis ? four BIW apprentices (Electrical Designer, Structural Designer, Piping Designer and Non-destructive Test Technician) were issued certificates this quarter. Starting wages, expected end wages and the actual end wage will continue to be reported.

Current Challenges  Budget: MAP has approximately $25K remaining through the end of this fiscal year. Many sponsors have not submitted invoices for obligated funds, and Joan has been reaching out to them. Our 2013 Annual Report demonstrates that we are expanding but we need to identify other funding sources. Joan is already working on a grant framework for H1B the Maine Manufacturers Assn. Discussion: Jill shared that in the 2015 federal budget, financial support & resources for apprenticeship is anticipated to support the doubling of quality apprenticeship numbers in the next five years; levers or tools for the most ROI; pre-apprenticeships that really lead to registered apprenticeships; jobs & opportunities for displaced and low income workers women & minorities ? and to increase quality registered apprenticeships. There may be incentives ? tax credits or write-offs for employers; technologies to implement a sustainable system over the next 3-5 years - but specifics have not been confirmed. Registered Apprenticeship will be a requirement - not just a model or OJT - maybe a two year program that will grow. MAP is already doing many of these things: working to engage long-term unemployed into two year programs and into more complex programs. The scope of the initiative is unclear, but we will be kept informed as more information becomes available.
 Policy updates: Joan began with policies highlighted on the working document from last Council meeting. Fourteen policies were addressed: see Policy Updates attachment for changes, Council voting and policy deletions.  Council Membership updates: Joan: distributed a Contact Sheet with updated information for newest SWIB Representative Councilmember Gail Senese and five of the six previously vacant seats: two businesses, one public and two agencies; the labor seat remains vacant. She has been making progress adding Councilmembers and has received most of their paperwork. A nomination packet for new non-agency Council members that includes duties of the Council was distributed. The process for agency nominations requires a Commissioner or Committee Chair letter that states credentials.
Discussion: Jen just received word of the new Sheet Metal Workers Representative and would like to invite them to our next meeting. She also sought clarification of the requirements to fill the vacant labor seat. Joan reviewed her handout of the requirements of Councilmembers according to Title 26: MRS Chapter 37 Section 3209 (see attached).

Marketing and Business Sub-Committee update: Brian reported no activity to date. Brian has been providing presentations/talks at several CTE Schools (Somerset Career & Mid-Maine Technical Center) with plans for the Capital Area Technical Center. Jen will join him as they present Registered Apprenticeship as ? not just construction, but choice and career ready?. With a hiring goal of 16 positions, Brian has support for 12 to date. April 1st he will present on job skills at Skowhegan HS and has invited any Councilmember to co-present. Final Thoughts: Jen - UA Local 716 holding an Apprenticeship Orientation ? April 19th anticipating a large number of women (four already anticipated). As a no-cost initiative to MAP, Jen floated the idea of approaching CTE/Bangor or the MCCS to create audience-specific video materials, although they would have to be approached early in the academic year. It was noted that this may be a marketing & business subcommittee focus. Brian added that the Cianbro summer co-ops have traditionally been 40% women which are higher across Maine. Charlie ? requests that program information be sent to him to share, i.e., any news releases so he can push it out to his US-DOL network. This is also a great method to share the good work that Maine is doing. Jill ? any news releases or good program outcomes are good examples to send, like the large number of women participating in Cianbro? s Summer Co-op, apprentice stories or pictures. Joan would like to include photos and other sponsor stories in the next annual report. Gail ? shared her appreciation to be part of the Council - ?adult education programs operate at differing levels of awareness, and working with this group can strength and increase awareness in the opportunity of apprenticeship?. Brian ? welcomed new members to the Council. Shared that it was a good group they would enjoy working with.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS ? NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ? JUNE 19 hosted by MAP 9:30 ? Noon in the Sarah Wilson Room MDOL ? Bureau of Employment Services 55 State House Station Augusta

ATTACHMENTS MAP Director?s Report January 1 ? March 19, 2014 MAP Policies ? Reaffirmed and/or Revised 2014 (working draft) Maine Apprenticeship Council - Updated Council Contacts Maine Apprenticeship Council ? Apprenticeship Council Duties (Meeting handout)


Attachments