ANN ARBOR, MI — The United Association (UA) recently held its 49th annual Industry Day here in Ann Arbor at Washtenaw Community College. Industry Day, sponsored annually by the UA, caps a two-week instructor training program.

This year, close to 1,800 union instructors participated in a variety of courses including CAD design, HVACR fundamentals, orbital welding, and codes, in order to hone their teaching skills. There were also several skills development training courses, including a course on implementing distance learning and other computer-based instructional applications.

Several industry leaders were on hand for the event, including UA general president Martin Maddaloni, UA director of training George Bliss, president of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Bob FitzGerald, and Construction User Roundtable (CURT) executive vice president Greg Sizemore.

Industry representatives held an afternoon panel discussion to address issues affecting contractors and building owners. Maddaloni described the expanding training programs and services of the UA University, highlighting the regional training system and college credits in apprenticeship training.

FitzGerald commended the UA on its rapid employment of the training systems and stressed the flexibility of the collective bargaining system in allocating resources through the jointly administered International Training Fund.

Sizemore presented survey and performance assessment material prepared by Intel Corp., and commented on workforce performance issues noted by CURT members. He also reported on the pending reestablishment of tripartite relations among the Building Trades, employee organizations, and CURT owner representatives.

Publication date: 08/19/2002