High schoolers go to see the real ‘apprentice’ show

Kevin Skalsky could be the next apprentice, but not of the Donald Trump variety.

Skalsky was checking apprenticeship opportunities on the first day of the area's largest apprenticeship expo at Hawkeye Downs.

“My mom wanted me to be in the union because they can get great benefits, and you can work yourself up,” said Skalsky, 18. He said his mom also wants him to find an occupation he likes.

There were 15 different trades to check out, although some indicated they aren't admitting as many new apprenticeships as they have in years past because of the slow construction economy.

“Our goal is to let people know what we're about,” said Russ Gunderson, co-chair of apprenticeship coordination for the council. “For a lot of people, it's as good as a college degree.”

Applicants for apprenticeships must typically be at least 18 years old and have a high school degree.

Labels can be misleading when it comes to union apprenticeships. An apprenticeship with the Laborers International Union of North America may sound, well… laborious.

“They look at the money first and then they want to know what we do,” said Russ Pickard, training director for the Laborers Union. He's come to expect and deal with some knee-jerk reactions to the proposition of working as a laborer, so he's careful about the words he chooses.

“You mention a jackhammer and it scares them,” Pickard said. “But you mention demolition work and they get excited.”

Pickard said laborers increasingly learn skills for the green economy, such as fall protection measures for work in the wind power industry, and how to separate waste in the environmentally correct manner for disposal LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building project.

Students and graduates cruised the booths, finding out what the pay and job opportunities were like. They could try a virtual welding training simulator at the Lincoln Electric booth, or check out the latest new Milwaukee power tools at the Campbell Supply booth.

Trevor Johnson, 17, of Cedar Rapids, knew he'd better make a stop at the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 125 booth. His dad is a pipefitter.

Mike Machula, who oversees Local 125's apprenticeship program, said the number of new apprenticeships taken in last year was relatively low because of the slow construction economy. He said everybody is watching to see when the many public projects still waiting in the pipeline will be awarded to contractors.

“I'm really, really hoping this year it's going to go crazy,” said Machula, who would like to start 40 or 50 new apprentices in a regular year to take care of normal attrition.

The expo continues through Friday, April 8.