By Joe Lanane A new training course guarantees piping apprenticeships to participating Wisconsin veterans, and that’s a promise minority contractors say should be extended to everyone. Thomas Burse, president of the Wisconsin chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors, ...

Tagged with: apprentice BIG STEP Department of Workforce Development DWD

By James Briggs Changes coming to the administration of a 5-year-old executive order from Gov. Jim Doyle could cause problems for contractors as early as next month. Executive Order 108, which took effect in January 2006, requires contractors to use ...

Tagged with: AGC apprentice Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin Boullion Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards Department of Workforce Development Dipko Doyle DWD

By Paul Snyder Madison Gas & Electric’s reluctance to pay nearly three times the going rate for wind farm electricity could kill an estimated $20 million project planned for Springfield. Sun Prairie-based Wave Wind LLC wants to build a six-turbine ...

Tagged with: apprentice IBEW International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 159 Madison Gas & Electric renewable wind farm

By Sean Ryan There is no substitute for experience, according to builders who are skeptical of letting apprentices test out of training. “We like it right the way it is, and we’re not in favor of changing it,” said Tim ...

Tagged with: apprentice apprenticeship CG Schmidt Department of Labor Schmitt trade training

By Sean Ryan Those fighting for more minorities in construction apprenticeships are split over whether it will take a heavy or a helping hand to get the job done. Paul Blackman, who last year complained to the U.S. Department of ...

Tagged with: apprentice DWD Jones minority U.S. Department of Labor Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership/Big Step

By Sean Ryan A former union president is joining the chorus of criticism of state-certified apprenticeship programs and prompting a federal investigation of minority recruitment and retention. Paul Blackman, retired president of Steelworkers Federal Union No. 19806 in Milwaukee, said ...

Tagged with: apprentice Fed Jones U.S. Department of Labor union Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development WRTP/Big Step

Sean Ryan and Paul Snyder sean.ryan@dailyreporter.com paul.snyder@dailyreporter.com Wisconsin lawmakers are investigating the state’s enforcement of apprenticeship laws for women and minorities after fielding complaints that contractors are taking advantage of the system. “The economic downturn is one thing,” said state ...

Tagged with: apprentice minorities Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development women