Legislature(2017 - 2018)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
01/31/2017 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentations: Opportunity & Voc-tech for Alaskans | |
| Department of Labor and Workforce Development | |
| Northern Industrial Training | |
| Associated Builders and Contractors of Alaska | |
| Maritime Works - Ketchikan Shipyard | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
January 31, 2017
1:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Mia Costello, Chair
Senator Shelley Hughes, Vice Chair
Senator Kevin Meyer
Senator Gary Stevens
Senator Berta Gardner
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATIONS: OPPORTUNITY & VOC-TECH FOR ALASKANS
Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Northern Industrial Training
Associated Builders and Contractors
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
HEIDI DRYGAS, Commissioner
Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on Alaska Department
of Labor and Workforce Development programs.
GREG CASHEN, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Reviewed the Alaska Construction Academy
Budgets for FY2008 through FY2018.
PALOMA HARBOUR, Director
Division of Administrative Services
Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to the Alaska
Vocational Technical (AVTEC) budget.
JOEY CRUM, President and CEO
Northern Industrial Training (NIT)
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information about vocational
education in Alaska.
AMY NIBERT, President and CEO
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information about ABC of Alaska
programs.
AMBER CARTIER, Director of Apprenticeship
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information about ABC's
apprenticeship completion rate.
DOUG WARD, Director of Shipyard Development
Ketchikan Shipyard
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information about vocational
training at the Ketchikan Shipyard.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:30:55 PM
CHAIR MIA COSTELLO called the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Gardner and Chair Costello. Senators
Stevens, Meyer and Hughes arrived soon thereafter.
^Presentations: Opportunity & Voc-Tech for Alaskans
Presentations: Opportunity & Voc-Tech for Alaskans
1:31:20 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO stated that the committee will hear about
opportunity and vocational education for Alaskans. She
summarized what the committee has learned in the last two weeks.
She noted that the state is in a recession and facing a
challenge, not a crisis.
^Department of Labor and Workforce Development
1:33:25 PM
HEIDI DRYGAS, Commissioner, Department of Labor and Workforce
Development (DOLWD), presented information on Alaska Department
of Labor and Workforce Development programs. She began with the
department's mission: Protect workers and advance opportunities
for employment. She said the department accomplishes this
through core services of protecting workers, developing workers
for jobs, and replacing income for injured or disabled workers.
She displayed a chart showing the FY2008 budget by core service.
Between FY2008 and FY2018 DOLWD's workforce development budget
decreased by $11.4 million. That was due, in large part, to the
recent elimination of multiple unrestricted general funds and
supportive grant programs, such as Alaska Youth First, oil and
gas training, career and technical education, as well as a
significant reduction to the Alaska Construction Academy
funding.
1:35:16 PM
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS addressed workforce development programs in
detail. She reviewed the Alaska Vocational and Technical Center
(AVTEC) in Seward, a post-secondary training institute whose
mission is to train a diverse and effective workforce that
supports economic growth and stability of Alaska. She showed a
graph of AVTEC's budget by fund source from FY2008 and FY2018.
Federal funds include Pell Grants and federal loans and other
state funds, including interagency receipts for training
provided to other state agencies and non-state grants and
contracts. Designated general funds include funding from the
Technical and Vocational Education Program (TVEP) and student
tuition and fee revenue. She noted that in FY2018, student
tuition and fees will increase 7.5 percent, the second year of a
two-year increase. She related that AVTEC has a new director and
the department will be working closely with her to develop a
strategic plan.
She addressed AVETC's two types of training programs, short-term
and long-term. Short-tern programs are less than six weeks, and
most are maritime related. Long-term programs include welding,
plumbing and heating, and culinary arts. The longest program is
10 months. The long-term program enrollment decline in FY2016
was a direct result of state budget pressures and resulted in
the closure of AVTEC's Allied Health Program.
She showed a graph of AVTEC's performance from FY2006 through
FY2016. She emphasized that AVTEC is a highly effective program
with an average graduation rate of 88 percent over the last five
years, and 89 percent of graduates were employed in their area
of training within one year.
1:37:57 PM
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS reviewed the State Training and Employment
Program (STEP) budget by fund source between FY2008 and FY2018.
She related that the purpose of STEP is to enhance the quality
and accessibility of job training and to provide re-employment
assistance to unemployed or under-employed workers. It is funded
by employee contributions to Unemployment Insurance. That
contribution is 0.1 percent. About 75 percent of STEP funds are
distributed by a competitive grant program and awarded to
training providers to train Alaskans. Grant applications are
reviewed by the department staff and Alaska Workforce Investment
Board members. The remaining 25 percent are distributed through
job centers for individual training accounts. STEP training is
limited to adults.
She displayed a line graph showing that STEP performance is on
an upward trajectory. The graph shows the number of Alaskans
that have exited the STEP program from FY2006 through FY2015 and
how many were employed within one year. Both are on a healthy
upward trajectory. The department implemented a division
consolidation in FY2016 which reduced administrative costs and
put an additional $1 million in STEP funds "out on the street"
as grants to train Alaskans.
1:39:32 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO recognized that Senators Meyer, Hughes, and
Stevens had joined the committee.
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS reviewed STEP graduate earnings over time.
Looking back 10 years shows that by 2014 trainees earned over
$62,000 annually and non-graduates earned about half that.
1:41:16 PM
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS reviewed the Technical and Vocational
Educational Program (TVEP) budget FY2008 through FY2018. The
purpose of TVEP is to enhance the quality and accessibility of
job training across the state. This training can include youth
and adults. It is funded similarly to STEP - with an employee
contribution to Unemployment Insurance of 0.16 percent. Funding
is distributed as authorized by statute. One of the department's
highest legislative priorities is re-authorization of this
distribution, which is scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2017.
TVEP funding has increased significantly since FY2008.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked if the 0.16 percent is a percentage of the
program or of the overall state budget.
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS clarified that this is the only funding the
program receives.
She continued to explain that TVEP reporting has only been in
place since FY2012 because recordkeeping before that was
unreliable. Success in TVEP gives students the skills and
confidence they need to enter employment or seek additional
training. Many students go from one training provider to another
to advance their skills.
She provided an example of a flier from Northwestern Alaska
Career and Technical Center (NACTEC) in Nome. The flier
encourages students to further their training.
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS concluded that a statewide network of
training providers is critical to developing an Alaskan
workforce for Alaska's jobs. That is what TVAP supports.
1:44:07 PM
GREG CASHEN, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Labor and
Workforce Development (DOLWD), reviewed the Alaska Construction
Academy (ACA) budget FY2008 through FY2018. He said the purpose
of ACA is to promote an understanding of the construction trade
and develop a strong, flexible workforce for the varied
industries that rely on construction. ACA training participants
used to include both youth and adults, but due to budget cuts as
of FY2017, there is no longer any funding for youth training. In
accordance with FY2017 legislative intent, the department
reduced the general fund authority supporting academies by
another $600,000 in unrestricted general fund in FY2018. The
remaining ACA funding totals $1.26 million in unrestricted
general fund. If the legislative intent language continues, the
program will be eliminated by FY2021.
He concluded that the department is concerned about eliminating
funding for ACA and believes it is short-sighted given the aging
construction work force. Failure to train Alaskans for jobs does
not mean the jobs are going to go away. It simply results in
jobs going to outsiders.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked if there are private-sector job training
opportunities in the construction industry.
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS said there are several union and nonunion
training apprenticeship programs. ACA is a feeder program for
the construction trades with many graduates going on to become
apprenticeships.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked Commissioner Drygas if she is aware of job
loss in the oil and gas and construction industries and if loss
of training opportunities in those areas is a factor, or whether
the overall economy is driving that.
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS stated that it is a complicated set of
factors. Those jobs are declining, but there is also an aging
construction workforce. She pointed out that the construction
workforce exists across industries. There are still significant
federal and military funds for construction jobs and it will do
a disservice to Alaska to stop training for those jobs.
Otherwise, they will be filled by workers from out of state.
SENATOR HUGHES said she believes the private sector will fill
the gap in jobs if there is no academy.
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS agreed that the private sector would, and
has, stepped up for years in the construction industry to train
Alaskans and that won't go away. They stepped up before the
academy was created. She stressed the importance of introducing
youth to the construction trades. She continues to believe that
the youth training program fills a critical need in Alaska.
1:50:35 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked for specific information on the aging
workforce.
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS agreed to provide the information.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked what other efforts the department is
undertaking to improve the business climate.
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS said Department of Commerce, Community and
Economic Development (DCCED) has been committed to improving the
business climate and is working on an economic development plan.
She noted that DOLWD has been part of those conversations.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked her to discuss changes to the mission of
DOLWD if DCCED is focused on jobs.
1:52:42 PM
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS said the mission hasn't changed and DCCED is
not tasked with creating jobs; that is the job of the Department
of Labor. The department is committed to working hard with
industry to meet its needs when it comes to job and workforce
development. She provided examples from the maritime, health
care, and aviation industries. She emphasized that DCCED and
DOLWF work hand in hand with job creation and job training.
MR. CASHEN reviewed the performance of the Alaska Construction
Academy from FY2012 through FY2015. He said 200 participants
entered the construction apprenticeship program, of which, 12
percent were female, and 21 percent of participants were Alaska
Native. Both groups saw a significantly higher percentage of
employment than the year before.
He reviewed the Vocational Rehabilitation Client Services
Program's budget FY2008-FY2018. The Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation is focused on delivering services to disabled
Alaskans, which is critical to the department's mission of
advancing employment opportunities for all Alaskans.
Unrestricted general fund in vocational rehabilitation component
represents a required state match. For every dollar of state
funding that is reduced, a dollar of federal funding is lost.
MR. CASHEN reported that the average wage of individuals exiting
the vocational rehabilitation program employed during FY2016 was
$14.38 per hour, which far exceeded the federal and Alaskan
minimum wage levels. The state's vocational rehabilitation
program is quite successful given that over 90 percent of the
individuals receiving services are significantly disabled. In
general, Alaska has a highly transient population. In 2016, over
80 percent of individuals who exited from the program without
employment did so because staff could no longer locate them.
MR. CASHEN reviewed individual training accounts (ITA). The
department supports ITAs with Federal Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (FWIOA) funding, which is distributed through
job center case managers statewide. They meet one-on-one with
participants to assess the needs and goals of clients, and
develop an individual employment plan.
1:58:06 PM
SENATOR HUGHES asked if federal funding from the [U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs] feeds into ITAs.
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS said she will confirm, but she doesn't
believe any funds come from that agency. Most of the funding for
ITAs comes from FWIOA - dislocated worker funding.
SENATOR HUGHES asked if the department has any "pass through"
from the [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs] for any workforce
training.
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS said no, but they have several programs to
train veterans. All the money comes through the U.S. Department
of Labor.
1:59:51 PM
At ease
2:00:14 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO reconvened the meeting.
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS discussed Registered Apprenticeship, a
national system that has been utilized to meet America's skilled
workforce needs for over 75 years. More than 90 percent of
Alaskans that graduate from a Registered Apprenticeship program
stay to work in Alaska. Apprenticeship is a unique training
system that combines job-related technical instruction with
structured on-the-job learning experience. This enables
employers to develop and apply industry standards to training
programs that increase productivity and improve retention. The
Registered Apprenticeship system effectively meets the needs of
both employers and workers. The progressive wage scale of the
Registered Apprentice system provides an opportunity for workers
seeking high-skilled, high-paying jobs to work their way up and
meets the needs of employers seeking to build a qualified
workforce.
Registered Apprenticeships thrive in the construction trades,
but also in emerging industries in Alaska - in 1,000 different
occupations. With some competitive federal grants, the
department has been able to coordinate efforts to expand
apprenticeships into health care, aviation, and maritime
industries. She named many of the partners the department works
with.
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS stated that across sectors, the department
is working to expand the number of veterans, women, and
minorities in apprenticeships. Job Center veteran
representatives help connect veterans with apprenticeships and
training. Alaska's construction apprenticeships have three times
the number of women per capita than the percentage of women in
the construction industry overall. Alaska Natives participate in
apprenticeships at rates that slightly exceed their proportion
of the overall state population. The department will continue to
work with Alaska Native partners.
2:03:12 PM
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS offered to answer questions.
SENATOR GARDNER asked if state and federal funding is correlated
due to matching funds.
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS deferred the question to Ms. Harbour.
SENATOR GARDNER clarified that she is referring to the AVTEC
budget by fund source.
2:05:05 PM
PALOMA HARBOUR, Director, Division of Administrative Services,
Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), answered
questions related to the Alaska Vocational Technical (AVTEC)
budget. She clarified that the federal funding Senator Gardner
is referring to is pass through funding to students for Pell
Grants and direct loans. She noted there was a federal change
that required federal direct loans to pass through the
institution that the student attends, which explains the
increase.
SENATOR GARDNER asked why there are dramatic fluctuations in
short-term enrollment in AVTEC.
COMMISSIONER DRYGAS responded that the department has been
partnering more effectively with private industry, especially in
the maritime industry, to provide training for existing
employees.
2:06:19 PM
At ease
2:07:43 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO reconvened the meeting.
^Northern Industrial Training
2:08:12 PM
JOEY CRUM, President and CEO, Northern Industrial Training
(NIT), presented information about vocational education in
Alaska. He explained that NIT is a privately-owned post-
secondary vocational training facility statewide. The program
has trained and/or tested over 22,000 students since inception
in 2003. They are a third party Commercial Driver's License
(CDL) site for the state.
He shared NIT's five foundational anchors: professionalism,
integrity, respect, consistency, and the will to succeed. He
said their programmatic accreditations include: National Center
for Construction Education Research, Professional Truck Driver
Institute, Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles, American Welding
Society, and Crane Institute Certification. He said that NIT
chose this programmatic accreditation path as a response to the
needs of industry. They tried to find relevant training programs
that provide national level certifications to expand
opportunities for Alaskans to seek employment. He explained that
NIT is currently a candidate for national accreditation through
the Council on Occupation Education. Their visit is scheduled
for September 2017. It will be an opportunity to gain
partnerships with higher education and to open pathways between
other states.
SENATOR HUGHES asked if they have been trying to connect with
the University of Alaska for 13 years.
MR. CRUM said yes. The conversations with the university never
got off the ground and he has not been given a reason. Credit
transfers are an issue.
MR. CRUM displayed long-term program enrollment data for 2013-
2015 for five programs: CDL, welding, heavy equipment, project
management & health, safety, and environmental technician
(HSET), carpentry & roustabout, and mechanics. The CDL increase
in enrollment is due to partnerships in the Lower 48.
2:15:39 PM
SENATOR GARDNER asked how confident he is that students will
return to Alaska after training.
MR. CRUM reported that in the last year less than 10 percent
have exited Alaska. It is a risk they face because there is
little market in Alaska.
He said in 2016 there were no courses in carpentry & roustabout.
In 2015 they predicted the market could bear few new carpentry
entries into the work force, so they didn't run any courses in
2016. They would rather fall short than train too many.
2:18:04 PM
SENATOR MEYER asked where most graduates go. He commented on the
lack of truck drivers and asked if they go to the North Slope.
MR. CRUM replied a significant portion used to work on the North
Slope. Many now work at slope companies and welders are employed
in Anchorage and at Vigor in Seward and Ketchikan. Project
management and HSET are employed in much smaller numbers.
SENATOR MEYER asked if there are enough CDLs in Alaska.
MR. CRUM replied that, currently, the need for truck drivers has
slowed. There are about 33,000 CDL holders in Alaska and the
number of truck drivers in the Alaska market has slowed in the
last year. None of the CDL programs they run are at capacity.
SENATOR MEYER said it appears that the CDL program is one of the
few that has experienced increased enrollment.
MR. CRUM agreed that was encouraging and he credits out-of-state
employers that are hiring Alaska drivers.
SENATOR HUGHES asked if there is duplication of programs with
AVTEC.
MR. CRUM replied that there is some overlap in welding and in a
few mechanic programs. The University of Alaska also offers
similar programing. He maintained that the NIT programs are more
rigorous.
SENATOR HUGHES asked if NIT could pick up the slack if some of
the state-funded programs went away.
MR. CRUM said yes.
SENATOR GARDNER asked if NIT is for profit.
MR. CRUM said they decided to organize as a for-profit company
as an internal and motivating decision. They do not receive any
funds from the state. They are eligible for the Alaska Student
Loan, VA benefits, individual training accounts, and they can
bid on step-competitive bid processes allowable for third-party
training providers. He said he doesn't know the costs of
programs, but he could provide that information.
SENATOR GARDNER asked for information on the cost of programs
compared to state programs and for the completion rates of
students.
MR. CRUM said the current enrollment slide shows graduation
rates.
2:26:09 PM
MR. CRUM displayed a bar graph showing short-term program
information for 2015 versus 2016. He said the number of
enrollments in 2015 was 2,688; in 2016 there were 1,224. The
number of certificates issued were 2,496 in 2015, and 1,081 in
2016.
2:27:49 PM
MR. CRUM turned to long-term program information. Enrollments
were 415 in 2015 and 376 in 2016; the number of certificates
issued in 2015 were 1,748 and 1,241 in 2016. There were 49
returning students in 2015 and in 2016 there were 32. NIT
focuses on the output and screens the input. They require a
physical and a drug test, which simulates the real work
environment. This helps with performance numbers. He said
workforce develop is about connecting students with potential
employers and allowing them a choice of the one that fits best.
2:29:40 PM
SENATOR GARDNER asked about automatic versus random enrollment.
Mr. Crum explained that federal law requires a drug test for CDL
drivers and the company must maintain records. As a driving
school, students are viewed as employees and must be enrolled in
random testing.
SENATOR GARDNER summarized that all students are treated as if
they were CDL-licensed and may be randomly tested.
MR. CRUM clarified that enrollment in CDL is dictated by federal
law, and the others are tested randomly.
CHAIR COSTELLO said they simulate the work environment in the
training as much as possible.
SENATOR HUGHES shared her experience visiting the NIT center and
expressed appreciation that they follow the state's employment
needs and focusing on graduate employment.
2:32:34 PM
SENATOR HUGHES asked if NIT is doing anything to let youth know
about the opportunities.
MR. CRUM said they have recruiting efforts statewide and
educational efforts, such as job fairs. They work with high
schools and support Skills USA, and travel around to do outreach
to Alaska youth.
CHAIR COSTELLO thanked Mr. Crum for the presentation.
2:35:28 PM
At ease
^Associated Builders and Contractors of Alaska
2:37:18 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO reconvened the meeting and welcomed Amy Nibert
and Amber Cartier.
2:37:25 PM
AMY NIBERT, President and CEO, Associated Builders and
Contractors (ABC) of Alaska, provided information about ABC of
Alaska programs. She reviewed the history of ABC and the Alaska
Chapter, noting the apprenticeship program started in 1999. The
Alaska Chapter has over 140 members, 70 of which use the
apprenticeship program. She related that the apprenticeship
program is member-funded and receives no state grants.
MS. NIBERT listed the trades they offer: carpentry, electrical,
glazier, HVAC, insulating, laborer, pipe-fitting, plumbing,
sheet metal, and sprinkler fitting. The primary ones are
electrical and plumbing and are accredited through the
Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD).
She stated that the mission of the apprenticeship program is to
provide an opportunity for interested and qualified applicants
to receive craft and safety training while working for
participating member employers. It offers individuals an
opportunity to receive an academic and vocational education
while working on the job for wages.
She reviewed the benefits of being an ABC apprentice: there is
one-on-one training with a journeyman, it qualifies the
apprentice for a higher level of pay, it exposes the apprentice
to the latest technology and building codes, and it offers life-
long job mobility.
She reviewed the eight-step apprenticeship progression chart.
She explained ABC's program details which begin with the ranking
of applicants, then member company interviews. Next the
apprentice is indentured into the program and works through the
program progression.
2:43:18 PM
In FY2014 ABC of Alaska received a grant from the Alaska
Workforce Investment Board to support training projects focused
on targeted occupations - oil and gas training and construction
jobs related to oil and gas. They were challenged that year with
more people in rural areas wanting to train as apprentices, but
without the opportunity to travel to Anchorage or Fairbanks. ABC
used the grant to bring the training to them via technology.
SENATOR GARDNER asked if the grant program was a victim of state
budget cuts.
MS. NIBERT explained that there were only two people to
administer the grant to 385 apprentices. It was overwhelming,
and they stepped back and hired more staff. This year they are
considering another grant for continuing education.
She reviewed a graph of ABC's apprenticeship enrollment numbers
from FY2013 through FY 2016., There were about 100 apprentices
five years ago, and today 309 apprentices are enrolled and
working today.
2:45:54 PM
AMBER CARTIER, Director of Apprenticeship, Associated Builders
and Contractors (ABC) of Alaska, provided information about
ABC's growing apprenticeship completion rate. She reviewed ABC's
apprenticeship completion rates by year.
CHAIR COSTELLO requested that she read the percentages of
completion by year.
MS. CARTIER reported that in 2013 the completion rate was 20
percent; in 2014 it was 30 percent; in 2015 it was 32 percent;
and in 2016 it was 33 percent.
SENATOR GARDNER asked what this says about people who completed
the program versus those who went on to do other things.
MS. CARTIER said the numbers are only representative of the 309
apprentices on the books last year.
CHAIR COSTELLO summarized that 32 percent of 309 graduated in
that year.
SENATOR GARDNER asked what 20 percent of 220 means in 2013.
MS. CARTIER said she does not have a five-year progression. It
represents the number that graduated in 2013.
CHAIR COSTELLO requested information on how many people, of the
people who entered the program, graduated.
MS. CARTIER said she would get that information.
2:48:54 PM
MS. NIBERT reviewed ABC's involvement in rural communities of
Alaska. She provided examples of ABC member companies' use of
the apprenticeship program.
As of 2017, 74 percent of apprenticeships are in electrical, 17
percent are in plumbing, and 9 percent are other trades. A
breakdown by region for 2016 shows that the Arctic Slope Region
has 62 apprentices, Southeast & Southwest have 9, Kenai has 40,
Mat-Su has 60, Anchorage has 80, and Fairbanks has 20. She noted
in 2014 the Arctic Slope Region has the most apprentices due to
oil jobs. Now the rates are more even due to projects returning
to the Mat-Su and Anchorage.
2:50:58 PM
MS. NIBERT showed a graph of equal opportunity enrollment by
trade. It shows women and minorities are highest in electrical
and plumbing. Veterans average about 10 percent.
2:51:29 PM
MS. NIBERT offered to send the apprentice statements later
because the video wasn't available today. She provided an
example of the success of an apprentice with no experience.
CHAIR COSTELLO said she would like that.
MS. NIBERT discussed how ABC stands apart from the union.
ABC's Apprenticeship Program is paid through
participating employers - no union dues
The Apprentice is not required to take time off work or
use unemployment for classroom study
ABC's open enrollment is available year-round - there's no
need to wait to apply
ABC utilizes standardized curricula that is recognized
nationwide (NCCER)
ABC maintains apprentice and applicant pools for employer
use, providing applicants with employment opportunities
throughout the industry
There are more employment opportunities when work is slow
Greater promotion/pay increase opportunities based on
performance
Free certification classes in OSHA 10, OSHA 30 and First
Aid/CPR, and others
2:54:36 PM
SENATOR GARDNER noted that AVTEC students pay tuition and have
employers that often are from industry. She said limitations are
that they pay tuition and can only come into a class at the
beginning of it, whereas ABC has open enrollment. She asked what
ABC costs and who pays for it, and how open enrollment works.
MS. CARTIER explained that there is a $50 application fee. Once
an apprentice is indentured, the employer starts to pay
$95/month. There are no classroom teachings, currently. The
courses are via correspondence, and the journeyman is the
mentor.
SENATOR GARDNER asked when they graduate or receive a
certification.
MS. CARTIER related that the licensed trades receive their
journeyman card if they decide to "journey out" through the
electrical or plumbing programs. Both licensed and non-licensed
trades receive a certificate to the U.S. Department of Labor
saying that they completed the ABC program.
SENATOR GARDNER asked what the completion rate is.
MS. CARTIER said they tried to represent that in the pie chart
and will follow up with the information.
SENATOR STEVENS asked for the ratio of on-the-job training
versus book work.
MS. CARTIER replied that there are 160 hours of book work per
level and 6,000 to 8,000 hours of on-the-job training.
SENATOR STEVENS asked how important the on-the-job training is.
MS. CARTIER said it is required.
2:59:16 PM
MS. NIBERT discussed future goals of the ABC program. One of the
goals in the next five years is to open a training center for
all apprentices to come in and have a hands-on learning and
training experience outside of the work environment using
virtual tools and the latest technology.
She said ABC chapters have national craft championships each
year for third and fourth year apprentices. ABC of Alaska is
proud to have had a national champion in 2012 and a second-place
finish in 2014 in plumbing.
CHAIR COSTELLO thanked Ms. Nibert and Ms. Cartier for the
presentation.
3:00:33 PM
At ease
^Maritime Works - Ketchikan Shipyard
3:02:11 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO reconvened the meeting and welcomed Doug Ward
from the Ketchikan Shipyard.
3:02:39 PM
DOUG WARD, Director of Shipyard Development, Ketchikan Shipyard,
provided information about vocational training at the Ketchikan
Shipyard. He said he has enjoyed being the director for the past
22 years. In that time, they learned how to build a world-class
shipyard and to build world-class ships. More recently they have
learned how to turn out Alaska-class ferries and Alaska-class
shipbuilders. He introduced Matt Alwood.
MR. WARD said they had a public rollout of a training initiative
called Advancing Alaskan Workers, supported by Maritime Works.
It is the first demonstration project of an employer-led, jobs-
driven training initiative that advances workers from middle
skills to advance skills.
3:06:09 PM
MR. WARD gave some background about VIGOR, which brings a strong
commitment to front-line workers to develop production skills
and be strong members of the community. He said that Alaska
Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) noted that
commitment when it reviewed the proposal to reopen the shipyard
in 2012. It is because of the emphasis on skill building that he
is here today. He related that VIGOR has a diverse line of
business that includes shipbuilding, ship repair, specialty
boats, and heavy, complex fabrications.
He discussed current employment at the shipyard. There are 180
direct jobs and 90 indirect jobs, paying over $14 million in
wages. Wages are 35 percent higher in Ketchikan than average
private sector wages. The workforce is young with an average age
of 38 years old.
3:11:32 PM
MR. WARD addressed the beginnings of Maritime Works. They became
involved with the National Ship Building Research Program funded
by the U.S. Navy to reduce the cost of building and repairing
warships. Out of this came cutting edge information about
building a commercial ship building industry. He described the
cyclical nature of ship building that is leveled out by having a
strong ship building workforce.
He described how in 2001 Maritime Works looked at the functional
industrial processes required to build ships and the key tasks
of each process to set skill standards.
3:16:23 PM
MR. WARD discussed Maritime Works' Alaska careers partnerships
that increased the number of Alaskans working in the skilled and
well-paying maritime occupations. They developed a responsive
workforce, enabling the maritime sector to remain a substantial
contributor to the state's economy. The partnerships guide
Alaska's workforce to discover and prepare for the wide range of
employment opportunities.
3:18:09 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO said it is not lost on me the comprehensive
process and significance of you drilling down into the skill
that is required to perform a given task. That is a significant
undertaking.
MR. WARD said there was significant debate about that. Having
ship production managers on the Workforce panel contributed
greatly to the discussions.
He reported that Maritime Works is a new organization and their
job is to implement the 2014 Alaska Maritime Workforce
Development Plan. Six individuals worked on it. He related that
Maritime Works was put into the Alaska Process Industry Career
Consortium (APICC) in Anchorage. They shared APICC's values of
partnerships, leadership, awareness and advocacy, and alignment.
He said it is an innovative training program aimed at developing
a highly productive, advanced manufacturing workforce comprised
of Alaska residents at the Ketchikan Shipyard. He gave an
example of one of the interns.
3:22:33 PM
He noted the importance of internships. They have two interns
from the Webb Institute working toward blue collar, high-dollar
maritime careers.
3:23:04 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO noted that Senator Stedman and Senator Bishop had
joined the committee.
3:23:30 PM
MR. WARD described the business metrics they use, such as
reportable accident rates, workforce retention, and cost and
schedule performance indexes. They apply business measures to
structured on-the-job training (SOJT) in Phase 1 to decide
whether they are competitive.
They use a safety application. In 2013 they had a reportable
incident rate of 15 and now it is 1.82. With the safety
application you can take a picture of the potential threat and
send it to the entire production team. In less than two years
they have seen improvement.
3:26:19 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO asked him to provide his information in writing.
SENATOR GARDNER said she collects phrases and she is adding his
statement that they are learning "how to design and build
Alaska-class shipbuilders."
MR. WARD said it was the most important job. The CEO of Vigor
said the Ketchikan Shipyard has become the heart and soul of
Vigor.
CHAIR COSTELLO thanked Mr. Ward and all the presenters for their
presentations.
3:27:59 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Costello adjourned the Labor & Commerce Standing Committee
meeting at 3:27 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 2017.01.31 - DOL&WD Presentation.pdf |
SL&C 1/31/2017 1:30:00 PM |
|
| 2017.01.31 - ABC of Alaska Presentation.pdf |
SL&C 1/31/2017 1:30:00 PM |
|
| 2017.01.31 - NIT Presentation.pdf |
SL&C 1/31/2017 1:30:00 PM |
|
| 2017.01.31 - Maritime Works Presentation.pdf |
SL&C 1/31/2017 1:30:00 PM |
|
| 2017.01.31 - Doug Ward Testimony.pdf |
SL&C 1/31/2017 1:30:00 PM |
|
| 2017.01.31 - Ketchikan's Maritime Economy Handout.pdf |
SL&C 1/31/2017 1:30:00 PM |