Skip to main content

Golden Challenges Administration Proposal that Undermines Union Apprenticeship Programs

July 31, 2019

In spite of programs’ success, Department of Labor plan could weaken requirements, enforcement for many apprenticeship programs

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) wrote to Acting Labor Secretary Patrick Pizzella to raise concerns with the Department of Labor's proposed changes to Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs). The agency's proposed rule would likely weaken standards for apprenticeship programs and lead to rushed, dangerous, and less valuable apprenticeships for both workers and employers.

"Our country's long standing registered apprenticeship system has a strong record of success. Registered apprenticeship sponsors — particularly labor unions and their industry partners — invest billions of dollars annually in these apprenticeships because they pay significant returns to both businesses and workers. Businesses gain a skilled, reliable labor force that efficiently and safely performs high-quality work," Congressman Golden wrote.

"Along with directly impacting labor unions representing thousands of workers in my district, [the Department's proposed] rule could destroy the registered apprenticeship system that has long been established by those unions as a pathway to successful careers," continued Golden. "The proposed IRAPs rule could lead to quick, cheap, dangerous, and low-quality apprenticeships... I agree that we need to grow the number of apprenticeships in our country and expand them into emerging fields. Letting businesses run cheaper, weaker apprenticeship programs would be penny wise and pound foolish. I respectfully urge you to reject the IRAPs rule as currently proposed."

For decades, unions and industry partners have invested billions in successful registered apprenticeship programs that meet rigorous, verified standards for minimum hours of classroom instruction and on-the-job training, safe facilities and equipment, and steadily increasing wages over the course of the apprenticeship. The standards are enforced by neutral, qualified third parties to ensure compliance. As a result, apprentices earn a nationally-recognized credential and employers are assured they're hiring qualified, well-trained workers. Workers who go through recognized apprenticeship programs earn approximately $300,000 more during their career than non-apprenticeship workers.

In contrast, the IRAPs programs laid out in the Department of Labor's proposed rule would allow individual businesses to enforce standards on their own apprenticeship programs. Without an impartial watchdog, some businesses could choose to cut corners to boost profits, leading to shorter, less rigorous, and less valuable apprenticeships.

You can read the full letter here.