"As California's consumer watchdog, we applaud the California State Pipe Trades Council for its record of pro-consumer advocacy." - Richard Holober, Executive Director, Consumer Federation of Cailfornia
Apprentice Training
Jeff Brown
Jeff Brown, 26, of Stockton, graduated from the California State Pipe Trades Council's Local 442 apprenticeship program and is now a foreman for Sahargun Plumbing.
After graduating from high school in late 1996, Jeff became an apprentice with the non-union Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC)'s apprenticeship program.
From day one, the experience fell short of his expectations. There was no hands-on training and no equipment in the classroom to practice on. Instead of learning from their mistakes in a controlled learning environment, Jeff and his fellow apprentices had to learn on the job, by trial and error. Staffing on job sites was often stretched thin with only one or two experienced workers supervising an entire crew of poorly trained apprentices.
"When I was with PHCC, a non-union program, there was no concern for our training or development. We were there so employers could get public works jobs and pay us a lower wage."
- Jeff Brown
Because PHCC employed so many "apprentices" and paid them lower wages scaled to their experience, the company was able to bid lower for jobs and win them. "Without a doubt, as workers, we were there so our employers could get public works jobs and pay us a lower wage," Jeff says of his experience working with PHCC. "There was no concern for our training or development - which puts consumers at risk."
Eventually, Jeff left PHCC and joined the Pipe Trades' Stockton program. Jeff, who on top of his job, is currently attending paramedic school and volunteering as a firefighter, credits the Local 442 apprenticeship program for helping him get to where he is today. His job pays $32 per hour and provides full healthcare benefits for his wife and three kids.
