DOL Apprenticeship Rule: Member Resource Page

July 3 2019

Read TAUC's Official Comments on DOL's Proposed Apprenticeship Rule

Welcome to TAUC's special resource page to keep members updated on the Department of Labor's proposed apprenticeship rule. Please bookmark it (www.tauc.org/irap) and check back often for updates.

>>>UPDATE: TAUC FILES COMMENTS WITH DOL! CLICK HERE TO READ THEM NOW

WHAT'S HAPPENING

On June 25, The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) designed to encourage the creation of new apprentice training programs across a wide variety of industry sectors. These programs are known as Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs, or IRAPs. READ THE PROPOSED RULE
 

WHY TAUC IS CONCERNED

Expanding the apprenticeship training model to other industries sounds great. But TAUC plans to carefully examine any government proposal, no matter how well-intentioned, that could potentially weaken the effectiveness of our privately funded, registered apprenticeship programs (RAP) and lower training and safety standards across the entire construction industry.

In its proposal, DOL says it has no plans to recognize construction IRAPs that would compete with our privately funded system — AT LEAST FOR NOW. This, along with other language in the proposed rule, could provide the opening our non-union competitors have been waiting for. Allowing IRAPS in our industry would create confusion and reward those who have avoided the costs and effort needed to train and develop first-rate apprentices and journey people across the construction industry. If this diluted and disjointed apprentice system were permitted in the construction industry, our first-rate programs could become synonymous with second-rate alternatives in the eyes of owners, general contractors and the government. It would also undercut the level playing field currently protected by prevailing wage laws.
 

READ TAUC's OFFICIAL COMMENTS ON THE RULE

On August 26, TAUC filed comments with the DOL on the proposed apprenticeship rule. READ OUR COMMENTS HERE

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

• The final rulemaking should make the construction exemption permanent.
• Construction should be defined to include industrial maintenance.
• If the exemption is not made permanent, the final rulemaking should preclude recognition of Industry Program participants as apprentices for purposes of meeting Davis-Bacon Act wage requirements.
   

RESOURCES

DOL Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

DOL Press Release

TAUC Press Release

ENR Article on the Proposed Rule (including quote from TAUC)

BACKGROUND MATERIALS

TAUC Letter to DOL Sec. Acosta RE: Apprenticeships, Feb. 12, 2018

TAUC Letter to Senate Labor Committee on Modernizing Apprenticeship Programs, Aug. 2, 2018