Published: Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Aerospace training: Spend $3 million?
Gov. Chris Gregoire and lawmakers want $3 million for aerospace and tech apprentice programs.
SEATTLE -- Gov. Chris Gregoire said Tuesday that she and state House and Senate leaders will try to add $3 million to this year's budget for aerospace and technology apprenticeship programs.
Speaking at a union hall packed with machinists, Gregoire said that during recent visits to suppliers in Eastern Washington, executives told her they're faced with a troubling shortage of skilled workers.
"Every one of them said we want to add more people," she said. "Some of them said we want to double our work force" but can't find people to fill the jobs.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the nationwide shortage of skilled workers could reach 8 million by 2010 and 14 million by 2020. The aerospace sector is particularly vulnerable because huge numbers of workers are nearing retirement.
Sandra Schroeder, president of the American Federation of Teachers' Washington branch, said the best way to tackle that shortage is with apprenticeship programs, which are expensive because of the equipment and software that has to be updated to keep pace with technological advances.
Gregoire didn't say how many apprenticeships she expects the $3 million to create, but she bragged that 14,500 people are now enrolled in such programs -- up from 8,500 when she took office in 2005.
The apprenticeship program is a late addition to the Legislature's budget negotiations, but enthusiastic endorsements from Gregoire and the Democratic leadership mean its chances of being funded are very good.
Despite the plan's relatively small price tag, the fact that it targets job growth is appealing for Gregoire and other Democrats running for re-election this fall.
The apprenticeship program wasn't included in the governor's requested budget, but Gregoire decided to push for it anyway after labor and business interests lobbied her for more training programs, aides said.
Gregoire pointed to the Boeing Co.'s use of composite materials on its new 787 jetliner -- and the skilled work force needed to supply those parts -- as a major reason to support more apprenticeship spending.
Robert Roach Jr., general vice president of transportation for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, got a standing ovation when he suggested that work Boeing has outsourced to suppliers might be to blame for a series of delays in the 787 program.
Boeing has blamed the 787's early production problems largely on complicated work that suppliers were supposed to, but did not, complete before sending parts for the first plane to the final assembly plant. The company said it is working with suppliers to get those problems fixed.
Speaking at a union hall packed with machinists, Gregoire said that during recent visits to suppliers in Eastern Washington, executives told her they're faced with a troubling shortage of skilled workers.
"Every one of them said we want to add more people," she said. "Some of them said we want to double our work force" but can't find people to fill the jobs.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the nationwide shortage of skilled workers could reach 8 million by 2010 and 14 million by 2020. The aerospace sector is particularly vulnerable because huge numbers of workers are nearing retirement.
Sandra Schroeder, president of the American Federation of Teachers' Washington branch, said the best way to tackle that shortage is with apprenticeship programs, which are expensive because of the equipment and software that has to be updated to keep pace with technological advances.
Gregoire didn't say how many apprenticeships she expects the $3 million to create, but she bragged that 14,500 people are now enrolled in such programs -- up from 8,500 when she took office in 2005.
The apprenticeship program is a late addition to the Legislature's budget negotiations, but enthusiastic endorsements from Gregoire and the Democratic leadership mean its chances of being funded are very good.
Despite the plan's relatively small price tag, the fact that it targets job growth is appealing for Gregoire and other Democrats running for re-election this fall.
The apprenticeship program wasn't included in the governor's requested budget, but Gregoire decided to push for it anyway after labor and business interests lobbied her for more training programs, aides said.
Gregoire pointed to the Boeing Co.'s use of composite materials on its new 787 jetliner -- and the skilled work force needed to supply those parts -- as a major reason to support more apprenticeship spending.
Robert Roach Jr., general vice president of transportation for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, got a standing ovation when he suggested that work Boeing has outsourced to suppliers might be to blame for a series of delays in the 787 program.
Boeing has blamed the 787's early production problems largely on complicated work that suppliers were supposed to, but did not, complete before sending parts for the first plane to the final assembly plant. The company said it is working with suppliers to get those problems fixed.
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