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Front Page News
Posted on
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
As we close 2012, we look forward to opportunities that the New Year will bring. In fact, the past few years have presented us with many obstacles beyond our control - Recession, Elections, minimal construction financing, and the like have all contributed to limited work opportunities. So the question is…what can we do as Tradespeople that will help us individually and as a Brotherhood?
Knowledge, experience, and attitude are things within our control. By making the most of these traits, we make the most of the opportunities that are available. However, as our various industries move further toward specialization - where manufacturers tout how unique their products are from all of the others on the market - there is a growing need to add certification as a fourth element to the recipe for success.
End Users want to know the products in their projects will meet life expectancies. Architects want to know the products they specify will work in a way that meets their design goals. In the middle are our General and Specialty/ Sub-Contractors who are tasked with providing the resources to make it all work. When there is a need for manpower, Contractors are asking for workers who have various certifications with more frequency.
Some of the certifications that have had a dramatic increase in demand are Scaffolding; Welding (especially MODOT certification); INSTALL, CTEF (Ceramic Tile Education Foundation) certifications for flooring; and GE Turbine for Millwrights are just a few. Also, while not truly certifications, the Carpenters’ Training Centers offer many Safety Courses including OSHA 10 as well as Best Practices in Health Care, Foreman Training, and many other skill and knowledge enhancing opportunities.
When we make an investment of our time to attend evening or weekend classes, we put ourselves in to an opportunity to expand our knowledge. There are new tools, new products, and new procedures hitting the market every day. Even if a Member has been doing something for 20 years, there is a high probability that new or different materials and tools have changed significantly during those 20 years. The advent of powder actuated nailers, radio wave seam irons, and the use of lasers for equipment alignment are proof of our evolving industries. The knowledge and experience you gain cannot be taken away from you. If you can earn a Certification, you will have a way to make yourself more desirable to your current or potential Employer.
While there are a few licenses required in most every aspect of our jurisdiction, there are certifications working their way into our lives, and we should embrace them! Certifications show that we, as Craftspeople, have demonstrated our competencies and that, Brothers and Sisters, increases our value to the market over our less trained, less productive competition.
In the New Year, let us focus on what we can do to increase our opportunities, our profession, and our Union.
#02/2013
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