November 1, 2013 at 3:43 PM
On October 31, 2013 a joint meeting was held with Unifor District 333 and GTAA management regarding the training of apprentices in the workplace. National skilled trade representative Pat Blackwood was on hand to offer his expertise and chair the meeting on behalf of the union.
Under the colleges of skilled trades, journeypersons have a responsibility to share their knowledge with apprentices; however, at the GTAA, millwright and plumbing specialists were responsible for training apprentices. The union had concerns that without the practical and hands on experience that qualified journeypersons delivered while on the job, apprentices could not learn the full capacity of the trade. As a result, a grievance was filed on February 26, 2013.
At the meeting yesterday, the grievance was withdrawn when it was agreed by both parties that a qualified journeyperson will again begin to train apprentices on the job. Discussion regarding the JEC (Job Evaluation Committee) process attached to the training component will continue when the union meets again with the company on November 27, 2013.