International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Great Lakes Training is a joint labor-management partnership that was established in July 2003 to create a more diverse workforce, prepare individuals to enter the field of outside utility construction and provide safety and upgrade training to meet the career development needs of local unions.
Today, the outside utility construction industry is facing a labor shortage, and with the retirement of baby boomers, the shortage stands to worsen.
As a proactive response to the labor shortage, IBEW Great Lakes Training Inc. launched a pilot program in February to pique middle school students’ interests in the industry. The program, “Taking Charge: Careers in Utility Construction,” included 50 students from both Walker and Samuel Morse middle schools in Milwaukee.
The program hosted six workshops that emphasized active student participation and hands-on exploration.
John Griffin, a journeyman lineman from We Energies Inc., began familiarizing students with the variety of occupations in the field at the first workshop in mid-February.
A journeyman lineman installs, maintains and repairs overhead and underground high voltage power lines and systems for the distribution and transmission of electrical power. The title of journeyman lineman is bestowed upon the completion of a 7,000-hour apprenticeship program, which is a combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
The program was funded by We Energies.
“It’s essential to reach middle school kids to provide them with information about what they need to do in their teens to ensure that a future in the trades is a possibility,” said Sharon Crowe, director of training at IBEW Great Lakes Training.
Students in middle school can be positively influenced, Crowe said.
“Their perspectives, values and interests are in the process of being formed,” she said. “They are open to new ideas, eager to explore possibilities and willing, for instance, to try on various career options, even non-traditional ones such as those in the utility construction trades, for size.”
Since launching its pilot program, IBEW Great Lakes Training will be working with Wisconsin Public Service Corp. and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College to present a three-day summer utility camp at the NWTC Green Bay campus July 17-19.
This fall, Alliant Energy will sponsor the middle school program in another school.
Address: W137 N5557 Williams Place, Menomonee Falls
Web Site: www.ibewgreatlakestraining.org
Industry: Outside utility construction
Innovations: Created training program to recruit students
