High Marks for Local 49's Training Facility

Hinckley, Minn.— In highlighting its continuing education initiative, Local 49 invited Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Alice Seagren to tour its main training facility in Hinckley, MN.  Because Local 49’s Operating Engineers took advantage of the union’s training program in record numbers this year, a well-trained pool of workers stand ready to rebuild our regions roads, highways and bridges now that President Obama has signed the economic stimulus package into law.

“This June, Forty-niners will be equipped to tackle the shovel-ready projects in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota,” said Local 49’s Business Manager Glen Johnson, who’s been a strong advocate of expanding the training and apprenticeship programs. Those efforts could be a huge benefit to the Operating Engineers’ 300 apprentices, as federal stimulus projects require apprentices to be hired for jobs.

“I’m proud of our workers. Many used the last several months of downtime wisely, taking refresher courses, learning how to operate different pieces of equipment or getting certified in an advanced field through our training program.”

After touring Local 49's Hinckley Training facility, Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Alice Seagren was so impressed she pledged to help connect the state's public educators with the union's training program.  Her first step in making this a reality is to list Local 49's apprenticeship opportunities on a state education website.

"We can connect students in Minnesota with really wonderful career opportunities," said Commissioner Seagren.  "I'd love to get classes of kids out here from all over the state."

Derek Asrouch is one of those 49ers.  After helping rebuild the I-35W bridge and working on I-494, he spent much of the last year out of work.

“I can’t control the economy, but I can improve my skill set,” says Asrouch, who’s logged nearly 450 training hours, becoming proficient in operating several different pieces of equipment. “With the help of this training program and its instructors, I feel that I’ve put myself in a good position for when contractors start hiring this spring.”

Local 49 has invested a lot of time and resources expanding its training program for apprentices, journeymen and members looking for certification in areas, such as crane operation and hazardous materials. The program now has more than a dozen instructors and offers 31 courses, recently adding programs in GPS, welding, asbestos certification, confined space entry and crane operations for apprentices.  In addition to its main campus in Hinckley—a 384-acre facility equipped with hands-on learning—there are 9 other training sites that serve members throughout the three-state region.

“In an era when the cost of education is rapidly increasing, this facility is a terrific example of how unions can better train the state’s organized labor force at no direct cost to taxpayers,” Johnson explained to Commissioner Seagren.

“It’s a great program,” says Local 49 apprentice Nick Franzen, “It’s great that we have this available to upgrade our skills and prepare us for the work ahead.”