wpta ua-vip program -...

WPTA UA-VIP Program

2014 CVSOA Fall Conference

WPTA UA-VIP

• Terry Hayden• President – Wisconsin Pipe Trades Association• Business Manager – United Association Local 434

• Darrel Cappetta• Program & Policy Analyst for the Veterans in

Piping Program, Wisconsin DWD - BAS

UA-Veterans In Piping

UA-Veterans in Piping

• In an effort to expand the UA’s Veteran recruitment efforts, United Association General President William P. Hite established the UA VIP Program

• The UA continues to work with Helmets to Hardhats and other programs such as Hire a Hero to achieve our objective; to bring more Veterans into the UA

• UA Veterans In Piping (VIP) is the UA’s personal commitment to the men and women who serve our country, and is funded by UA members

• At the UA, Veterans and Military Personnel are “Very Important People” (VIP)

Veterans can help the UA grow

• Source of highly skilled talent

• Easy and plentiful pipeline of men and women who deserve a career opportunity

• Veterans possess hard to find intangible skills such as maturity, accountability, responsibility, drug free, and ‘timeliness’

• They are a highly trainable group of individuals

• Often have specialized training and skills that help Veterans directly enter into apprenticeship programs

• Our UA training complements their military training

UA-VIP History

• August 2008 – First UA VIP Class begins• Partnership with WA National Guard

• UA Local 26 Lacey Washington

• Reintegration from Military to Civilian World of Work created in WA for UA program

• 18 weeks training

• 16 students

• Received Statewide attention and Support of Governor

• Commitment was given by UA for second program

UA-VIP Lacey, WA

UA-VIP Camp Pendleton

• March 16, 2009 – UA VIP Camp Pendleton begins

• 2 UA Welding Trailers placed on base

• First time active-duty military personnel are paid while training for civilian apprenticeship

• Created Military Occupation Specialty for welding• MOS 1316

• Completed first two weeks of Reintegration from Military to Civilian World of Work

UA-VIP Camp Pendleton

UA-VIP Camp Williams

• UA Wisconsin VIP Class 1 begins January 2011

• Partnership between the UA, DWD Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards and WI National Guard

• 2 UA Welding Trailers placed at Camp Williams in Camp Douglas, WI

• 16 students were trained from all branches of service

• 13 VIPs graduate with 9 placed in WI and 4 placed out of state

• 20 weeks of training including the 2 weeks of Reintegration from Military to Civilian World of Work – Over 900 hours of total training time

UA-VIP Camp Williams

WI UA VIP Workgroup

• In early 2013 the WI-UA VIP program was suspended

• UA VIP expanded to 4 additional active duty bases to train “Active Duty” personnel that would soon be discharged

• WI program was costly due to geographic location• Recruitment Issues

• UA offered continued support for a WI program provided the WPTA would assume responsibility and some cost

• Fall 2013 – Spring 2014; an Industry Workgroup made up of Representatives from MCA, MCAW Contractors, WPTA Business Managers, and WI UA Training Coordinators who met a number of times and worked to develop a new model for a Wisconsin VIP Program

WI UA-VIP Workgroup

• Issues with the “Original” UA-VIP program in WI

• Breakdown in recruitment

• Financial hardship for Veterans attending 18-20 weeks of training with out wage compensation

• High costs of holding program on a WI military base not close to UA Training Center

• Program primarily focused on Welding

• Local JATC issues with providing advanced standing (1-yr)

• Expectation for Contractors to hire a VIP student “sight unseen” and start them as a 2nd year apprentice

WI UA-VIP Workgroup

• Reasons to continue VIP in Wisconsin

• Excellent resource for high quality apprentice candidates

• Ongoing UA-VIP Advertising during Packers and Brewers Games

• Governor Walker’s approval $300,000 in state budget to fund a full-time position to recruit for the WI VIP Program and provide financial support for the veterans while training

• During his address at the 2014 WI Apprenticeship Conference, Governor Walker called out our VIP program by name and called it a model for the State of Wisconsin

WPTA UA-VIP

• Over a series of meetings our Industry Workgroup, along with the UA, developed and rolled-out a hybrid program which we believe addresses the problems of the original VIP program in WI

• Our new WPTA - UA VIP Program has the support of the Mechanical Contractors Association of WI, all 8 WI Pipe Trades Local Unions, the United Association, and the State of Wisconsin

• The first WPTA–UA VIP class began on June 23rd, 2014

WPTA UA-VIP• Structure of the new WPTA UA-VIP Program

• 6 weeks of classroom training which moves between UA Training Centers in Locals 75, 118, 183, 400, 434, & 601

• Exposes VIP students to Plumbing, Sprinklerfitting, Steamfitting, Welding & HVAC/R Service

• Upon completing classroom training, VIPs are placed with sponsoring contractors for up to 12 weeks of OJT (pre-app)

• Upon successful completion of Classroom & OJT, VIPs begin apprenticeship at the 1st year level.

• UA-ITF Pays for Wages, Books and All Materials

• Local Training Funds provide facilities and pay the cost of instructor’s benefits

WPTA UA-VIP• Curriculum of the new WPTA UA-VIP Program

• Week 1 – UA History/Standard for Excellence/Pipe Trades Math I/OSHA 10/First Aid-CPR

• Week 2 – Use and Care of Tools/Pipe Trades Math II

• Week 3 – Pipe, Valves, Fittings & Supports/Pipe Joining I

• Week 4 – Pipe Joining II/Financial Tools for the Trades

• Week 5 – Basic Rigging and Crane Signaling

• Week 6 – Introduction to Welding & Oxy Fuel Cutting

• 12 Weeks of OJT – Work duties as prescribed by sponsoring contractors. VIP Student must complete weekly work record reports

WPTA UA-VIP

• Our WI VIP workgroup worked hard and has established a meaningful pathway for Veterans to enter into the unionized piping industry

• Class size is limited to 6-12 Veterans and our goal is to offer this training to 2-3 classes of veterans each year

• The measure of our success and future of this program will be determined by the number of Veterans who are sponsored and ultimately have meaningful careers as UA members working in the Plumbing & Pipefitting Industry

WPTA UA-VIP

“Our Veterans In Piping Programs have raised the awareness of the United Association, and that is a positive effect of the program, but the real emphasis is on welcoming our veterans and military home by offering them an opportunity at a positive and rewarding career. It’s the least we can do, and it’s the right thing to do.”

UA General President, William P. Hite

Lets Do the Right Thing!

Lets Do the Right Thing!

Terry Hayden

WI Pipe Trades Association President&

UA Local 434 Business Manager

www.uavip.orgwww.wipipetrades.org

WPTA UA-VIP

Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards

Veterans in Piping (VIP) Pre-Apprenticeship Program


What is Veterans in Piping (VIP) Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Voluntary Educational Program Sponsored by the United Association (UA), Bureau of

Apprenticeship Standards (BAS), and The Mechanical Contractors Association of Wisconsin (MCAW)

Up to 18 Weeks in Length (4 / 10 Hour Days) 6 Weeks Classroom Instruction – Non-Paid Training Up to 12 Weeks On the Job Training – Paid Related

Training No Cost for Training to Veteran Lodging provided by Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards VIP Candidates will be provided with Protective Clothing,

Glasses, Hard Hats, and Hearing Protection


Recruitment Processes

Attend WDVA Career Expo’s

Attend Veteran’s Job Fairs

Attend DWD/DET Job Fairs

Coordinate with DWD/DET Officials to Email out a VIP

Flyer to Job Center of Wisconsin Registered Veterans

Coordinate with WDVA to Email out the Flyers to all

Veteran’s Organizations

Work with Reserve Guard Unit


VIP Applicant Process• Speak with Applicant – Provide Information

about the VIP Program

• Gather Information about the Veteran, and Mail Out the VIP Packets to the Veterans.

• Receive the Completed Packets along with all the required documentation

• Screen applicants completed packets to ensure that all required documentation is received

• Schedule with the Locals for an Interview Date

• Send letters to qualified candidates for their Interview Date and Time. The letter contains the address and a map with directions


Inform Applicant of Basic Program Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age • Copy of DD-214 Reflecting Honorable Discharge• HS Diploma or equivalent/High School Transcripts• Accuplacer Test Results within 1 Year showing

– Basic Math, Algebra, and Reading Comprehension Scores• Copy of a Valid driver’s license • 5 Years of DMV Driver’s Abstract • Reliable transportation • Copy of Proof of Insurance• Eye Exam within the last 6 months


HOW CAN CVSO’S HELP Promote the Veteran’s in Piping Program to Veterans

Determine if the Veteran can qualify for the program by:

• Obtaining basic background information on Veteran

• Health (Physical Condition – Ability to Perform the Job Requirements)

• Criminal History (DUI, Felony, etc.)

Aid Veteran in Gathering Required Documentation

Ensure the Veteran knows and understands this is a Demanding and Rewarding Career that requires 100% participation

Direct Veteran to contact Darrel Cappetta


wisconsinapprenticeship.org

Thank You!Darrel CappettaProgram and Policy Analyst/Vets in Piping

CoordinatorDWD – Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards(608) 266-5373 or (608) [email protected] Area: Wisconsin

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