Council wants more apprentice labor

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, March 1, 2006

The Snohomish County Council approved legislation on Wednesday to require apprentice labor on county projects costing more than $1 million, including roadwork.

Up to 20 percent of a project’s work hours could come from apprentice labor, officials said.

“As baby boomers begin to leave the construction trades, we will be faced with a critical shortage of workers unless we act to train workers now,” said Dave Gossett, council vice chairman.

To qualify, apprentices must be enrolled in training programs approved or recognized by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council.

The vote was 4-1. Councilman Gary Nelson was the lone “no” vote, saying he objected to the inclusion of roadwork.

“It will be a major administrative nightmare on transportation corridors, and was never discussed,” Nelson said.

He added that roadwork often crosses city boundaries, and apprentice requirements can complicate agreements.

County Executive Aaron Reardon proposed the rules to encourage more workers to enter the building trades. The concept was tested on construction of the county campus, where 17 percent of labor hours were through apprentices.

Reardon initially excluded roadwork because most model programs exclude roadwork, said Donna Ambrose, Reardon’s spokeswoman. But he worked with the council to add roadwork and plans to sign the final legislation, she said.

Coincidentally, the state Legislature opened the door Wednesday to requiring more apprentice labor in state transportation projects. A bill approved in the Senate and House would require 10 percent of transportation labor to be through apprenticeship programs on projects costing more than $5 million starting in summer 2007.

More ambitious targets would be phased in requiring apprentices do 12 percent of the state transportation work on projects costing at least $3 million in 2008, and 15 percent of the work of projects costing $2 million or more in 2009.

Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.