10 New Brunswick welding graduates will start training next month as part of a new apprenticeship pilot project, launched in an effort to help avoid a labour shortage in the industry.
It’s called the Regional Education Welder Apprentice Retention and Development, or REWARD, program and apprentices will work about 2000 hours a year on Irving Oil projects. David Simon or Irving Oil says they’re concerned about a shortage of skilled tradespeople in the future.
“We see a large number of senior, experienced welders retiring in the next five to 10 years, and we need to have a strong program in place that’s going to replace them with skilled workers,” says Simon.
The REWARD program apprentices will also take part in training at the UA Local 213 training centre once a week. But what about what happens aftewards?
“Once they complete their apprenticeship and have their Red Seal, they’re free to travel and work wherever work is available but we always have work available at the refinery so we’re hopeful that when they receive this training that they’ll continue to work for us,” says Simon.
The program was created and launched by UA Canada, Irving Oil, and the National Association of Union Schools and Colleges.
