IMI Training Increases Job Opportunities

JOURNAL: ISSUE 1 - 2012

In 2011, several members of Local 1 Michigan attended the refractory training at the Flynn Center with a particular interest in connection work training. Recently, the same members were assigned as lead masons on a complex connection project at a local steel mill, a job that typically had been performed by traveling members. Their superintendent commented, “Not only was it the best looking connection I’ve ever seen, we made good money on it.” He added, with regard to the IMI training, “Thank you very much, it made a big difference, and we were able to use our members.”

From left, Anthony Herring of 15 MO/KS, Jonathan Roberts of 1 PA/DE and Michael Miller of 1 MI work on a refractory dome at the Flynn Center as part of a Refractory Familiarization class.

Jamie Zielinski of 2 NY receives direction from instructor Kevin Hare.

Refractory is a good example of specialty training that is expanding job opportunities for BAC members. Bricklayers who already know how to work with the tools come to the Flynn Center for two weeks of intense training on the technical side by instructors who have spent their entire careers in the refractory industry. The training they receive typically allows them to gain employment in a segment of the industry that pays very well and usually involves a great deal of overtime.

Jim Lillis of Local 15 Missouri/Kansas completed the refractory class in 2004, and later completed MSHA Train-the-Trainer, New Miner Training, OSHA 500 and OSHA 30 at the Flynn Center.

“Since attending the IMI refractory class in 2004, I have worked steadily, switching between red brick and refractory before settling into all refractory work. I took advantage of all the refractory-related safety classes that IMI has to offer at the Flynn Center and I am now the safety instructor for J.T. Thorpe as well as their manpower coordinator, helping to put Union members to work in the refractory industry all over the world.” He added, “With seven children, I have to work steady.”

Training, whether it is a new skill or it involves acquiring or renewing an essential safety credential, means jobs. It is not surprising, therefore, that the majority of IMI’s funding goes into training, including offering continuing education classes for IMI instructors and supporting the employment of more than 150 local instructors across the U.S. and Canada.

Other popular courses involve segments within the industry that are seeing a surge and looking for upgrade training to fill expanded job opportunities. JAHN training for restoration work is one of these areas where a product certification that members may obtain after a week’s worth of upgrade training provides a skill that ensures job options. JAHN, as well as other proprietary materials, are often specified on a job and require certifications for those employees working with the material. IMI has an agreement with Cathedral Stone, manufacturers of the JAHN material, to certify BAC members at no cost to them.

“Since coming to the Flynn Center for training in February 2010, I have been working at least 1300 hours per year,” says Jamie Zielinski of Local 2 New York. “I was working on cell towers prior to coming to IMI and now I am married with twin daughters and own a new home. I have been back to the Flynn Center for brick and stone cross-craft training as well as JAHN training and plan on coming back for more training whenever I can.”

Tim Ritter of Local 5 Pennsylvania agrees. “Joining Local 5 PA was the best decision I ever made and since doing that and coming to the Flynn Center for training, I have been making over 1500 hours a year since. Coming to the Flynn Center for brick cross-craft training to add to my PCC work has enabled me to own my own home.”

Many of the IMI courses at the local and national level concentrate on safety, whether it’s OSHA and/or state and local requirements. These safety regulations continue to increase and are essential for workers to even gain access to jobsites.

The need for PCC training has increased with the additional restoration and maintenance work being done in most of the key markets. The Flynn Center offers ongoing PCC training as it does in all BAC crafts as needed. Many Locals/ADCs request customized PCC training modules depending on the projects that are being bid in their area.

Grout certification is another area where IMI has developed a course to match skills with the push to increase the structural masonry market. Members spend several hours reviewing grouting procedures, building codes and doing hands-on demonstrations. In some areas, IMI has been able to incorporate language into job specifications requiring “IMI-certified grout mechanics or equivalent” which gives architects and owners the assurance that their job will be properly constructed. Flashing upgrade training is another popular program that reinforces best practices in masonry cavity wall drainage systems.

The Supervisor Certification Program (SCP) provides members with the skills to move from worker to foreman. In a recent session in Terre Haute, Indiana, Local 4 Indiana/Kentucky members spent two days reviewed supervisory skills, leadership, decision-making, problem-solving, productivity issues, budgeting and a whole range of issues involved in bringing in a successful project. These SCP sessions are being conducted in several states and offer the promise of a continuing supply of skilled foremen for our industry.

In some cases, it is the acknowledgement of our training that can help deliver jobs, as is the case with tile and the recent Tile Council of North America (TCNA) Handbook agreement that will list BAC members as highly skilled based on their having competed a registered apprenticeship program. The TCNA Handbook is based on the ANSI Standards for tile installation and provides details and setting information to the design and construction community. The Flynn Center also offers tilesetters the opportunity to cross-train in terrazzo which has recently shown increased demand in several areas, thereby expanding their skill base and potential job options.

These are just a few of the training opportunities underway at the Flynn Center and local training centers. An expanded Flynn Center training schedule can be found at www.imiweb.org but other options may be available in your local area as well. For more information on the Flynn Center options, contact ebellucci@imiweb.org.