The Utah Electrical Training Alliance

THE MISSION OF THE UTAH ELECTRICAL JOINT APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINING COMMITTEE

To provide training for the members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union 354, and the National Electrical Contractors Association, Intermountain Chapter; to provide the Utah Electrical Construction Industry with a highly trained and highly skilled workforce.

PROGRAMS

WHAT IS APPRENTICESHIP

The apprentice learns the skills of the trade through on the job training, working alongside an experienced journeyman who passes on the skills that he or she has learned over the years. In addition to the on the job training the apprentice receives related classroom instruction that produces competency and pride that leads to becoming a true craftsman.

Another true advantage to apprenticeship is you earn while you learn. Apprentices start earning a livable wage as soon as they start working. They receive pay advancements through out their apprenticeship based on performance.

The Utah Electrical Training Alliance offers apprenticeships in two highly rewarding fields:  Inside Wireman

INSIDE WIREMAN PAY AND COSTS

he Utah Electrical Training Alliance (formerly known as the Utah Electrical JATC) inside wireman apprenticeship program is part of a nationally recognized program developed by the Electrical Training Alliance, formerly known as the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. For more information regarding the Electrical Training Alliance, go to the following link, http://www.electricaltrainingalliance.org

Our apprenticeship program is registered with the Department of Labor Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training. Graduates of our program receive recognition from the Department of Labor as well as the Electrical Training Alliance. They are recognized across the United States as highly skilled and qualified craftsman.

The inside wireman apprenticeship program consists of 8,000 hours of on the job training and five years of related classroom instruction. In the State of Utah a licensed Apprentice may sit for the Journeyman’s exam after the 4th year of school and 8,000. The fifth year of our Apprenticeship is specialized training and more depth on topics related to advancement in the Journeyman status.

The apprentice starts the program at 50% of the current journeyman (also known as Qualified Electrical Worker) rate of pay , which is based on the current agreement between NECA and the IBEW Local Union # 354.  The apprentice obtains wage increases based on Minimum Accumulated On The Job Hours and Apprenticeship School Progress. The following table shows the periods of apprenticeship.

ABOUT US

ORGANIZATION

The Utah Electrical Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee, dba Utah Electrical Training Alliance, is a nonprofit organization that is jointly sponsored by the Intermountain Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association and Local Union 354 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

The joint apprenticeship and training committee is made up of eight members. Four members represent management and four members represent labor.

It is the responsibility of the Utah Electrical Training Alliance to provide training to the apprentices and journeymen in the organized electrical industry for the entire state of Utah.

HISTORY

In the fall of 1965 IBEW Local Union 354 and the Intermountain Chapter of NECA created a trust document and inserted language into the collective bargaining agreement to form the first Utah Electrical JATC. The committee registered the apprenticeship standards with the Federal Committee on Apprenticeship. In January 1966 contractors started making contributions to the JATC. The original name of the JATC was Salt Lake Joint Apprentice and Journeyman Training Committee. In September 1983 IBEW Local Unions 354 and 217 were merged giving Local Union 354 the entire state of Utah as its jurisdiction. When the two JATC’s were merged the name of the JATC became Utah Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. In 1998 the Utah Electrical JATC registered standards with the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training for our Telecommunications Installer Technician apprenticeship program. Currently at the JATC we have the privilege in offering two top of the line apprenticeship programs, Inside Wireman and Telecommunications Technician.

In 1969 when the first training director was hired, the JATC was located in an office at 2330 South Main, Salt Lake City. In 1995 the JATC was growing at a rate that required more office space. A decision was made to move the JATC to our present location in the new building that the Local Union had purchased at 2100 South 3400 West, Salt Lake City.

In June 1969 the committee decided to hire a full time training director. Interviews were held and Milton Ouzts was hired as the first director. Milt resigned his position in December 1970. Clark Cushing was hired as the director and started in January 1971. He continued as the director until he retired in March 1982. Richard Bogus was hired as director and started in March 1982. He continued as the director until he retired in December 1992. David Kingery was hired in December 1992 and continued as the director until he retired in December 2008. In 1997 the JATC had grown to a point where an assistant director was needed. Carl Brailsford was hired and served as the assistant director from March 1997 to December 2008. Carl Brailsford was hired in December 2008 as training director for the program. Michael Lanoue was hired as the assistant training director in November 2014.

The JATC has experienced many changes over the years going from as few as a dozen apprentices to over four hundred at our peak. Our schooling has evolved over the years from going to school two nights a week at the old Utah Vocational Institute in downtown Salt Lake (which has since been torn down) to going to school on Saturdays and then back to nights at the Salt Lake Community College, the Ogden Weber ATC and the Utah Valley State College. In 1999 the Utah Electrical JATC entered into negotiations with the Ogden Weber ATC to start a day school for our apprentices. Since then our Inside Wireman apprentices and Telecommunication apprentices have been attending day school here at the JATC classrooms in the Local Union building.

In July 2018, the Utah Electrical JATC rebranded by changing their name to Utah Electrical Training Alliance. The trust is still held under the Utah Electrical Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee. The Committee commissioned the construction of a new training facility located in the center of the Salt Lake Valley (approximately 7400 South Redwood Road) for the continued advancement of the programs. This new training facility will be able to provide more hands on training and room for continued growth in the electrical industry. The Utah Electrical Training Alliance staff moved into the new building, 7466 South Redwood Road West Jordan Utah 84084, on March 25th of 2019. The first class was held April 1st, 2019. The building consists of 8 lab rooms, 5 class rooms and office space.

The current Utah Electrical Training staff is made up of a training director, assistant training director, one full time executive assistant, a part time administrative assistant and four full time day school instructors.

Carl Brailsford was hired as the Training Director December 2008. Michael Lanoue was hired as the Assistant Training Director November 2014. Trinity Patten was hired as the executive assistant in October 2009. Wendy Johnson as an administrative assistant in August 2019. Gary Beckstrand has been a full time instructor since 1999. Adam Ace Shaheen has been a full time instructor since June 2014. John Kristensen has been a full time instructor since May 2016. Randall Nicholas Bryant has been a full time instructor July 2019. Josh Denys has been a full time instructor as of February 2020.

The current makeup of the committee is:

Steve Woodman (Business Agent of Local IBEW 354), Cody Lindsay (President of Local IBEW 354), Concetta Defa (Assistant Business Agent) and Anthony (Tony) Sorro (Organizer of Local IBEW 354) representing the IBEW Local Union #354.

Klaas DeBoer Jr. (Chapter Manager NECA), Seth Hansen (Cache Valley Electric), Josh Pettersson (Wasatch Electric) and Rhett Butler (Skyline Electric) representing NECA.

Steve Woodman is currently the chairman and Josh Pettersson is currently the secretary.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS JOB DESCRIPTION

 Work Performed

While the Inside Wireman is installing the conduit and power feeders on a project, the Installer Technician is working beside the Wireman, installing the network of low voltage cabling that is used for video, voice and data or other low voltage signaling.

While most installations are in buildings that are partially or fully enclosed to protect from sun, wind and rain; these installations are often installed before air conditioning, heat or permanent light fixtures have been installed in the buildings, Many jobs, however, are existing buildings or offices; and some work may be outside under varying weather conditions.

Backbone voice and data cables are routed between the entrance facility, where communication signals enter a building; to equipment rooms and telephone rooms. Voice and data horizontal cables are routed between telephone rooms or equipment rooms and individual work stations throughout the building.

Equipment rooms often contain energized equipment such as hubs, file servers or telephone switches. These devices are configured and connected to the communications network that serves the building and must not be interrupted as a result of work performed by unqualified workers or those only partially trained.

The Installer Technician installs voice and data outlets at work stations. In addition, they install punch down blocks and cross connects in telephone rooms. These may be wall mounted or rack mounted and must be grouped and identified according to specific installation standards. Whether the work is in new construction or in existing office or manufacturing space, the IBEW-NECA craftsman takes pride in the work that he or she has and can perform.

The Electrical Training Alliance trains to TIA/EIA and other industry standards. The Electrical Training Alliance also partners with the major manufacturers in the video, voice and data industry to assure training in the latest technologies including training for manufactures warranted installs.