For the first time in more than 15 years, Blue Mountain Community College will host a quarterly meeting of the Oregon State Apprenticeship and Training Council on Thursday, June 18.
The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries for Oregon will also attend the meeting, which begins at 10 a.m. in the Science and Technology Building, room 200.
The OSATC is comprised of eight governor-appointed members who have the statutory authority to oversee apprenticeship committees, programs and policies statewide. Four of the council members are from apprenticeable construction occupations, two are from other apprenticeable occupations, and two members are from the public. The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries serves as the chairperson for the Council, and the director of the Bureau’s Apprenticeship and Training Division serves as the secretary.
The OSATC reviews rules and policies, veterans programs, completion rates, compliance and standards for apprenticeship programs in the construction trades in Oregon.
Apprenticeships are occupational training opportunities that combine supervised on-the-job training experience with classroom instruction. Apprentices usually begin at half the salary of journey workers – those who have completed their training and have industry certification. Instead, apprentices receive pay increases as they learn to perform more complex tasks. When they become journey workers, they increase their chances of finding a well-paying job in industry and may become supervisors or go into business for themselves. Apprenticeship committees, made up of employee and employer representatives from the specific industries, operate apprenticeship programs. Both state and federal government have a role in regulating apprenticeship programs.
The OSATC meeting is open to the public. Go online for more information and to view an agenda.
