No progress in talks with JCP&L, striking workers
(Fri, Dec/31/2004)
NEWARK, N.J. - Six hours of talks hosted by a state mediator failed to end a strike by union workers at the state's second-largest power company.
The mediator will join representatives of Jersey Central Power & Light Co. and the union for more negotiations on Wednesday, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported Friday. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union went on strike Dec. 8 over health care costs.
"We made no progress," Ed Modzelewski, union vice president, told the newspaper. "We made a proposal in the future retirees' health care that the company rejected and the company has no counter proposal," Modzelewski said.
Company spokesman Ron Morano said costs related to retirees' health care was the issue most discussed during the negotiating sessions.
"This is not just an issue at JCP&L, it's a nationwide issue," Morano told the newspaper.
The company is using management workers with training as line workers to fill in during the strike.
In September, the company had offered a 9 percent wage increase over three years, but the union rejected it. The company said the cost of providing health coverage to the union workers has doubled from $7 million in 2000 to $14 million this year.
The strike is the first since 1987 for New Jersey's second-largest utility, which provides electricity to 1 million customers in 13 counties, primarily in the northern part of the state.
The five local unions that comprise IBEW System Council U-3 represent linemen, technicians, clerks, mechanics and other employees of the Morristown-based company.
---
On the Net:
IBEW Unit 3 System Council: http://www.ibew1298.org/JCPL-FENews.htm
JCP&L: http://www.firstenergycorp.com/welcome/index.jsp
Article's URL:
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/104-12312004-425223.html
Friday, December 31, 2004
IBEW Local 300 (Montpelier, VT) Reaches Agreement With Central Vermont Public Service
CVPS, IBEW Reach Four-Year Contract
Wednesday December 29, 3:56 pm ET
RUTLAND, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 29, 2004--The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 300 and Central Vermont Public Service (NYSE:CV - News) signed a four-year contract today, following interest-based negotiations focused on win-win outcomes.
The new contract, affecting 221 unionized employees, was approved this morning and takes effect at midnight Dec. 31, when the existing contract expires.
"The interest-based style of negotiating has proven effective in building and maintaining a relationship between the IBEW and CVPS," Local 300 President George Clain said. "It has instilled respect and openness, and has allowed both sides to completely understand each other's needs, and work toward meeting those needs in a collaborative way."
CVPS President Bob Young praised negotiators on both sides, who worked with a Cornell University trainer to understand win-win negotiations. A non-union CVPS employee, Ross Schifo, served as facilitator. Union members suggested Schifo to moderate the discussions between negotiators.
"I think that speaks volumes about how far we've come in the past several years," CVPS President Bob Young said. "The union and management worked side by side to create an agreement that serves employees, the company and our customers. It provides employees with a fair package of benefits, while helping control costs for our customers."
The four-year contract is the longest in company history, the third reached through interest-based negotiating, and the third straight contract approved on the first vote of the union. Prior to the first use of the technique six years ago, negotiations were often filled with rancor, and every contract was rejected at least once.
The contract provides an annual 3.5 percent pay increase from 2005 through 2008, with some additional adjustments starting in 2006 for a few specific jobs, based on comparable utilities' wages. The parties also agreed to increase the company's match for 401K contributions from 4 to 4.25 percent in 2007, and to increase employee health care contributions, co-pays and prescription drug charges.
Contact:
CVPS
Steve Costello, 802-747-5427
802-742-3062 (pager)
or
IBEW
George Clain, 888-423-9300 ex. 13
Source: CVPS
Wednesday December 29, 3:56 pm ET
RUTLAND, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 29, 2004--The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 300 and Central Vermont Public Service (NYSE:CV - News) signed a four-year contract today, following interest-based negotiations focused on win-win outcomes.
The new contract, affecting 221 unionized employees, was approved this morning and takes effect at midnight Dec. 31, when the existing contract expires.
"The interest-based style of negotiating has proven effective in building and maintaining a relationship between the IBEW and CVPS," Local 300 President George Clain said. "It has instilled respect and openness, and has allowed both sides to completely understand each other's needs, and work toward meeting those needs in a collaborative way."
CVPS President Bob Young praised negotiators on both sides, who worked with a Cornell University trainer to understand win-win negotiations. A non-union CVPS employee, Ross Schifo, served as facilitator. Union members suggested Schifo to moderate the discussions between negotiators.
"I think that speaks volumes about how far we've come in the past several years," CVPS President Bob Young said. "The union and management worked side by side to create an agreement that serves employees, the company and our customers. It provides employees with a fair package of benefits, while helping control costs for our customers."
The four-year contract is the longest in company history, the third reached through interest-based negotiating, and the third straight contract approved on the first vote of the union. Prior to the first use of the technique six years ago, negotiations were often filled with rancor, and every contract was rejected at least once.
The contract provides an annual 3.5 percent pay increase from 2005 through 2008, with some additional adjustments starting in 2006 for a few specific jobs, based on comparable utilities' wages. The parties also agreed to increase the company's match for 401K contributions from 4 to 4.25 percent in 2007, and to increase employee health care contributions, co-pays and prescription drug charges.
Contact:
CVPS
Steve Costello, 802-747-5427
802-742-3062 (pager)
or
IBEW
George Clain, 888-423-9300 ex. 13
Source: CVPS
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Local 347 (Des Moines) Helps Students with Holiday Gifts
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041230/NEWS02/412300317/1004
Union hopes gifts keep students warm
IBEW Local 347 gives King kids Target gift cards for winter clothes
By LAURA PIEPER, REGISTER STAFF WRITER
December 30, 2004
"How many of you believe in Santa Claus?" King Elementary School Principal Thomas Simmons asked the students assembled in the gymnasium Dec. 17. Most of them raised their hands.
"Santa Claus has a lot of people who help him out," Simmons said. "We have two of those individuals here today."
He introduced Garry Granberg and Jeff Rose, members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 347. The children watched curiously as the men approached the microphone. This was the students' weekly Character Counts assembly, and they wondered if the men were going to talk about citizenship, the pillar of character the kids were studying.
Granberg, the union's business manager, made the children giggle as he talked about how he had to wear warm clothes in all of the jobs he's had since he was a child. He donned a pink hat each time he spoke about a new job, reminding the children to dress warmly during the winter months.
Then he dropped the bombshell. Each student would receive a $25 gift card to Target to buy winter clothing.
The gymnasium erupted with gasps and cheers.
The IBEW Local 347 donated 400 gift cards to the school, 1849 Forest Ave. Granberg said the union searched for a community service project and spoke to Simmons, who told them many King students did not have boots and could not play outside in the snow. The union contacted a regional Target manager and originally planned to purchase boots for all of the students.
"We tried to buy that many (400) snow boots. That's not an easy task," Rose said.
The union decided to donate the gift cards to let the children make their own choices.
"I think it's great for our kids," Simmons said. He estimated 75 percent of King students are on the free and reduced-price lunch program.
"No question about it, we have kids that need this," he said. "This is an excellent gift for the kids at this time. This is something that will brighten up their Christmas a bit more."
While the intent was to have the children buy clothing, many of them wanted to use their cards selflessly to buy presents for their families.
Second-grader Khallid Edwards , 7, was overwhelmed by the gift.
"I've never got to do this before," he said. "I'm getting me some stuff and for my family and teacher, too."
His classmate Marlana Robinson, 7, could not decide what she wanted to buy. She thought she would get some presents for her mother and brother, and, "I might get my friend something," she said.
King counselor Heidi Guse was excited about the gift cards, particularly since they went to every student in the building.
"Oh my gosh, it's amazing," Guse said. "We just think it's awesome, a very generous gift. It's wonderful because sometimes only certain kids get things, but this time it's the whole school."
Union hopes gifts keep students warm
IBEW Local 347 gives King kids Target gift cards for winter clothes
By LAURA PIEPER, REGISTER STAFF WRITER
December 30, 2004
"How many of you believe in Santa Claus?" King Elementary School Principal Thomas Simmons asked the students assembled in the gymnasium Dec. 17. Most of them raised their hands.
"Santa Claus has a lot of people who help him out," Simmons said. "We have two of those individuals here today."
He introduced Garry Granberg and Jeff Rose, members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 347. The children watched curiously as the men approached the microphone. This was the students' weekly Character Counts assembly, and they wondered if the men were going to talk about citizenship, the pillar of character the kids were studying.
Granberg, the union's business manager, made the children giggle as he talked about how he had to wear warm clothes in all of the jobs he's had since he was a child. He donned a pink hat each time he spoke about a new job, reminding the children to dress warmly during the winter months.
Then he dropped the bombshell. Each student would receive a $25 gift card to Target to buy winter clothing.
The gymnasium erupted with gasps and cheers.
The IBEW Local 347 donated 400 gift cards to the school, 1849 Forest Ave. Granberg said the union searched for a community service project and spoke to Simmons, who told them many King students did not have boots and could not play outside in the snow. The union contacted a regional Target manager and originally planned to purchase boots for all of the students.
"We tried to buy that many (400) snow boots. That's not an easy task," Rose said.
The union decided to donate the gift cards to let the children make their own choices.
"I think it's great for our kids," Simmons said. He estimated 75 percent of King students are on the free and reduced-price lunch program.
"No question about it, we have kids that need this," he said. "This is an excellent gift for the kids at this time. This is something that will brighten up their Christmas a bit more."
While the intent was to have the children buy clothing, many of them wanted to use their cards selflessly to buy presents for their families.
Second-grader Khallid Edwards , 7, was overwhelmed by the gift.
"I've never got to do this before," he said. "I'm getting me some stuff and for my family and teacher, too."
His classmate Marlana Robinson, 7, could not decide what she wanted to buy. She thought she would get some presents for her mother and brother, and, "I might get my friend something," she said.
King counselor Heidi Guse was excited about the gift cards, particularly since they went to every student in the building.
"Oh my gosh, it's amazing," Guse said. "We just think it's awesome, a very generous gift. It's wonderful because sometimes only certain kids get things, but this time it's the whole school."
Local 474 (Memphis) Brings Holidays to Students
http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/eastmemphis_appeal/article/0,1426,MCA_15701_3430515,00.html
Sharp and Sharpe edges a natural fit
GOOD NEIGHBORS
By Steve O'Dell,
December 30, 2004
Sharp was the word of the day at Sharpe Elementary School.
The place was filled with Christmas boxes donated by one its adopters, Sharp Manufacturing.
Each year Sharp brings boxes filled with food and toys for the school's needy families, said Sharpe principal Gary Zimmerman. "The teachers identify one child from each classroom who is in need," he added.
Employees from Sharp including David Bennett, Kenny Ingram, Kim Weatherspoon, Stephanie Shaw, Terry Howard and John Tate brought 25 boxes to be distributed before school closed for the holiday break.
"The IBEW (Local 474) really does all the work. The company and the IBEW donate the money," said Bennett.
"The union donates money and the company and the employees. We have boxes out at the plant to donate food and toys," said Ingram, a representative of IBEW Local 474.
"Kenny (Ingram) picked all the turkeys up this morning bright and early," said Bennett.
"It has been 12 years for basket donations," said Shaw.
"I come here every time we come here," said Tate. "I remember delivering TVs here."
Sharp, who has been an adopter for Sharpe Elementary for 20 years, donated graphic organizers to each teacher, said principal Zimmerman.
Sharpe Elementary's other adopters are Bank of Bartlett and Temple of Christ Baptist Church.
.
Sharp and Sharpe edges a natural fit
GOOD NEIGHBORS
By Steve O'Dell,
December 30, 2004
Sharp was the word of the day at Sharpe Elementary School.
The place was filled with Christmas boxes donated by one its adopters, Sharp Manufacturing.
Each year Sharp brings boxes filled with food and toys for the school's needy families, said Sharpe principal Gary Zimmerman. "The teachers identify one child from each classroom who is in need," he added.
Employees from Sharp including David Bennett, Kenny Ingram, Kim Weatherspoon, Stephanie Shaw, Terry Howard and John Tate brought 25 boxes to be distributed before school closed for the holiday break.
"The IBEW (Local 474) really does all the work. The company and the IBEW donate the money," said Bennett.
"The union donates money and the company and the employees. We have boxes out at the plant to donate food and toys," said Ingram, a representative of IBEW Local 474.
"Kenny (Ingram) picked all the turkeys up this morning bright and early," said Bennett.
"It has been 12 years for basket donations," said Shaw.
"I come here every time we come here," said Tate. "I remember delivering TVs here."
Sharp, who has been an adopter for Sharpe Elementary for 20 years, donated graphic organizers to each teacher, said principal Zimmerman.
Sharpe Elementary's other adopters are Bank of Bartlett and Temple of Christ Baptist Church.
.
Local 1547 (Anchorage) hosts early-evening New Year's Eve Party with a light show
Town Square celebration "New Year's Eve Fire and Ice," 4:30-6:30 p.m., Town Square; free, hosted by NECA/IBEW and the Anchorage Downtown Partnership, with fireworks starting at 6:15 p.m. Includes free ice skating at the new Town Square ice rink, live music, a light show, illuminated ice sculptures and fire jugglers. (279-5650)
(From the Anchorage Daily News)
(From the Anchorage Daily News)
Sunday, December 26, 2004
IBEW Local 369 (Louisville) Acts to protect non-union electricians from fraud and unapproved "education" programs
By Mark Pitsch
mpitsch@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
By Michael Hayman, The C-J
Keith Hagan of Sellersburg, Ind., who left the Decker College program, said, "From the get-go it was nothing but lies."
By Michael Clevenger, The C-J
The Kentucky Board for Proprietary Education, which licenses trade schools, has launched an investigation of Decker College.
Watch for Top Jobs coming to this space soon.
Keith Hagan quit a steady job in March and borrowed $6,000 to enter Decker College's new electrician training program, which the school promised would deliver "the highest level of proficiency" in the field.
Now Hagan has left school and is working two jobs to support his wife and toddler after learning that the program is not approved for state licensing of electricians.
"I feel sometimes I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown," said Hagan, 27, of Sellersburg, Ind. "From the get-go it was nothing but lies."
Other students who are military veterans say the for-profit Louisville college, which opened in 1989, misled them into believing they could use Department of Veterans Affairs benefits for the 10-month electrical program.
Gerald Woodcox, Decker's president, said there was "some misinterpretation" of recruitment materials by students, but he acknowledged some "reasonable complaints."
The Kentucky Board for Proprietary Education, which licenses trade schools, has launched an investigation of Decker and this month turned the case over to the state attorney general's office.
The Better Business Bureau is looking into complaints by Decker students.
Charlie Mattingly, president of the Better Business Bureau covering Louisville, Western Kentucky and Southern Indiana, said he has concerns "that some students and prospective students are being misled, perhaps."
A Decker brochure says graduates of its electrical training are "highly skilled employee(s) certified and accredited in the shortest time possible." The brochure does not say the program is approved for the training needed to get a Kentucky electrician's license.
TO FILE A COMPLAINT
Kentucky State Board for Proprietary Education
P.O. Box 1360
Frankfort, KY 40602
Phone: (502) 564-3296, Ext. 227
Web: www.state.ky.us/
agencies/finance/
occupations/proprietaryed/
complaintform.pdf
Better Business Bureau
844 S. Fourth St.
Louisville, KY 40203
Phone: (502) 583-6546
Web: www.ky-in.bbb.org
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
CRC-240
Washington, D.C. 20580
Phone: (877) 382-4357
Web: https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/
dod/wsolcq$.startup?
Z_ORG_CODE=PU01
Decker claims in a lawsuit that former instructor Brian Vandenburg, a member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 369, intentionally encouraged 20 students to break their school contracts.
"Decker has a reasonable expectation of economic gain from the continued tuition payment of its students," the suit says, putting losses attributable to student withdrawals at $109,000.
But Vandenburg denied the allegations, saying, "If I felt everything was on the up and up, I would've just worked there."
Woodcox said he is willing to refund the $10,700 tuition for students who enrolled in March and April, when the electrical training program was launched. He said the school already has resolved some complaints, but he would not go into detail.
The program is still enrolling students.
New state law
Since 2003, more than 600 students have enrolled in Decker electrical programs in Indianapolis, Atlanta and Jacksonville, said Woodcox. He owns Decker with his brother, Jeffrey Woodcox of Louisville, and the New York investment firm of former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld.
In 2003, the Kentucky legislature passed a law requiring for the first time that electricians have a state license, said Frank Dempsey, legal counsel for the Kentucky Office of Housing, Buildings and Construction, which regulates construction codes.
Unlicensed assistants can work in the trade but must be supervised by licensed electricians who are ultimately responsible for the safety of the wiring, he said.
The state law requires electricians to pass a national test, have four years of supervised on-the-job training, and to either have an additional two years of on-the-job training or have passed a training program approved by the construction office to get a license, he said.
Decker's program is not approved and has not yet applied to the state, Dempsey said.
Students said that without state approval, the Decker program left them no closer to state licenses than they were before they enrolled.
"They just charged $10,000 for a nine-month program you didn't get nothing out of," said Randy Clark, 21, of New Castle, Ky.
Woodcox said Decker's program provides electrical training to those who don't want to go through the licensing process, and he is not sure if it will seek state approval.
"Our program is not so that you will in four years become a licensed electrician," he said.
Training
According to students and a Decker catalog, its electrical program holds classes every weekday for four weeks.
Then students are placed with an electrical company to get hands-on experience during the week for nine months while returning to the classroom on Saturdays.
Students said Decker's classroom work was hurried and that not all students were placed with an electrical company after four weeks.
"They rush everything and give you an open-book test and tell you what to highlight in the book that's on the test and where to even look in the book," said former student Jamie Blackburn, 27, of Elizabethtown, Ky.
"You learn a lot, but you learn at such a fast pace that you can't remember once you're working," said Daniel Hill, 20, of Custer, Ky., another former student.
Woodcox defended the instruction, saying it was sufficient to get aspiring electricians into the field.
Don Whyte, president of the National Center for Construction Education and Research, a Gainesville, Fla.-based group that promotes educational curricula for construction trades, said the Decker training model is emerging as an alternative to traditional apprenticeships. It shifts the cost of the instruction to students from employers, he said.
But union and nonunion construction officials — who operate multiyear apprenticeships approved by the state and the U.S. Department of Labor — questioned Decker's accelerated approach.
"The idea that you could train an electrician in nine months is ludicrous," said Scotty Pulliam of IBEW Local 369. "Bad wiring kills people."
Mary Jo Morton, education director for Associated Builders and Contractors of Kentuckiana Inc., said that Decker approached the group as a partner for its electrical program before starting it.
"We wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole," she said, saying the program offers only basics and doesn't prepare students for a career as an electrician.
Veterans complain
A seven-year Army veteran, Blackburn said he enrolled with Decker after school officials said he could pay for the electrical program with VA benefits. School promotional materials said Decker and its programs are approved by the VA.
But Blackburn said the VA denied his request, and state and federal VA officials said Decker's electrical program isn't approved. "They made it sound like it was a golden egg just waiting for you to take it," Blackburn said.
Woodcox acknowledged that promotional material mentioning VA approval "might have been confusing" to students. He urged Blackburn and other veterans to contact him directly if they have complaints.
"There is always the potential for a misunderstanding," he said. "And what we stand by is that we will work through those misunderstandings on a case-by-case basis."
mpitsch@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
By Michael Hayman, The C-J
Keith Hagan of Sellersburg, Ind., who left the Decker College program, said, "From the get-go it was nothing but lies."
By Michael Clevenger, The C-J
The Kentucky Board for Proprietary Education, which licenses trade schools, has launched an investigation of Decker College.
Watch for Top Jobs coming to this space soon.
Keith Hagan quit a steady job in March and borrowed $6,000 to enter Decker College's new electrician training program, which the school promised would deliver "the highest level of proficiency" in the field.
Now Hagan has left school and is working two jobs to support his wife and toddler after learning that the program is not approved for state licensing of electricians.
"I feel sometimes I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown," said Hagan, 27, of Sellersburg, Ind. "From the get-go it was nothing but lies."
Other students who are military veterans say the for-profit Louisville college, which opened in 1989, misled them into believing they could use Department of Veterans Affairs benefits for the 10-month electrical program.
Gerald Woodcox, Decker's president, said there was "some misinterpretation" of recruitment materials by students, but he acknowledged some "reasonable complaints."
The Kentucky Board for Proprietary Education, which licenses trade schools, has launched an investigation of Decker and this month turned the case over to the state attorney general's office.
The Better Business Bureau is looking into complaints by Decker students.
Charlie Mattingly, president of the Better Business Bureau covering Louisville, Western Kentucky and Southern Indiana, said he has concerns "that some students and prospective students are being misled, perhaps."
A Decker brochure says graduates of its electrical training are "highly skilled employee(s) certified and accredited in the shortest time possible." The brochure does not say the program is approved for the training needed to get a Kentucky electrician's license.
TO FILE A COMPLAINT
Kentucky State Board for Proprietary Education
P.O. Box 1360
Frankfort, KY 40602
Phone: (502) 564-3296, Ext. 227
Web: www.state.ky.us/
agencies/finance/
occupations/proprietaryed/
complaintform.pdf
Better Business Bureau
844 S. Fourth St.
Louisville, KY 40203
Phone: (502) 583-6546
Web: www.ky-in.bbb.org
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
CRC-240
Washington, D.C. 20580
Phone: (877) 382-4357
Web: https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/
dod/wsolcq$.startup?
Z_ORG_CODE=PU01
Decker claims in a lawsuit that former instructor Brian Vandenburg, a member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 369, intentionally encouraged 20 students to break their school contracts.
"Decker has a reasonable expectation of economic gain from the continued tuition payment of its students," the suit says, putting losses attributable to student withdrawals at $109,000.
But Vandenburg denied the allegations, saying, "If I felt everything was on the up and up, I would've just worked there."
Woodcox said he is willing to refund the $10,700 tuition for students who enrolled in March and April, when the electrical training program was launched. He said the school already has resolved some complaints, but he would not go into detail.
The program is still enrolling students.
New state law
Since 2003, more than 600 students have enrolled in Decker electrical programs in Indianapolis, Atlanta and Jacksonville, said Woodcox. He owns Decker with his brother, Jeffrey Woodcox of Louisville, and the New York investment firm of former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld.
In 2003, the Kentucky legislature passed a law requiring for the first time that electricians have a state license, said Frank Dempsey, legal counsel for the Kentucky Office of Housing, Buildings and Construction, which regulates construction codes.
Unlicensed assistants can work in the trade but must be supervised by licensed electricians who are ultimately responsible for the safety of the wiring, he said.
The state law requires electricians to pass a national test, have four years of supervised on-the-job training, and to either have an additional two years of on-the-job training or have passed a training program approved by the construction office to get a license, he said.
Decker's program is not approved and has not yet applied to the state, Dempsey said.
Students said that without state approval, the Decker program left them no closer to state licenses than they were before they enrolled.
"They just charged $10,000 for a nine-month program you didn't get nothing out of," said Randy Clark, 21, of New Castle, Ky.
Woodcox said Decker's program provides electrical training to those who don't want to go through the licensing process, and he is not sure if it will seek state approval.
"Our program is not so that you will in four years become a licensed electrician," he said.
Training
According to students and a Decker catalog, its electrical program holds classes every weekday for four weeks.
Then students are placed with an electrical company to get hands-on experience during the week for nine months while returning to the classroom on Saturdays.
Students said Decker's classroom work was hurried and that not all students were placed with an electrical company after four weeks.
"They rush everything and give you an open-book test and tell you what to highlight in the book that's on the test and where to even look in the book," said former student Jamie Blackburn, 27, of Elizabethtown, Ky.
"You learn a lot, but you learn at such a fast pace that you can't remember once you're working," said Daniel Hill, 20, of Custer, Ky., another former student.
Woodcox defended the instruction, saying it was sufficient to get aspiring electricians into the field.
Don Whyte, president of the National Center for Construction Education and Research, a Gainesville, Fla.-based group that promotes educational curricula for construction trades, said the Decker training model is emerging as an alternative to traditional apprenticeships. It shifts the cost of the instruction to students from employers, he said.
But union and nonunion construction officials — who operate multiyear apprenticeships approved by the state and the U.S. Department of Labor — questioned Decker's accelerated approach.
"The idea that you could train an electrician in nine months is ludicrous," said Scotty Pulliam of IBEW Local 369. "Bad wiring kills people."
Mary Jo Morton, education director for Associated Builders and Contractors of Kentuckiana Inc., said that Decker approached the group as a partner for its electrical program before starting it.
"We wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole," she said, saying the program offers only basics and doesn't prepare students for a career as an electrician.
Veterans complain
A seven-year Army veteran, Blackburn said he enrolled with Decker after school officials said he could pay for the electrical program with VA benefits. School promotional materials said Decker and its programs are approved by the VA.
But Blackburn said the VA denied his request, and state and federal VA officials said Decker's electrical program isn't approved. "They made it sound like it was a golden egg just waiting for you to take it," Blackburn said.
Woodcox acknowledged that promotional material mentioning VA approval "might have been confusing" to students. He urged Blackburn and other veterans to contact him directly if they have complaints.
"There is always the potential for a misunderstanding," he said. "And what we stand by is that we will work through those misunderstandings on a case-by-case basis."
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