BAC Apprentices Shine During National Apprenticeship Week

Across North America, educators and building tradespeople celebrate National Apprenticeship Week from November 17–23. This year, the International Union spoke with a half-dozen BAC apprentices to share their stories. Each apprentice’s journey to the union was different, but all are proud to be a union member on the road to their journey card.

“BAC members know how great the benefits are. However, many workers in non-union employment miss out on key benefits offered,” according to Coy Seeger, a third-generation mason and 3rd-year apprentice bricklayer, about to journey out, from Local 1 OR/WA/ID/ MT. “It was a life-changing experience for me, going from non-union to union work. I am making more money, I have good healthcare and good retirement benefits. My 18-year-old son is getting ready to join the union.”

For some members, the union represents opportunities for success and equality not just for them, but for those closest to them. “Before I joined the union, I worked for a non-union employer and wasn’t paid well. Now I get equal pay and benefits as a woman,” said Sydni Tomsic, a first-year tile setter apprentice based out of Local 9 Pennsylvania. Once Tomsic joined the BAC, she immediately saw the benefits of being organized with other skilled craftworkers. “After seeing how great the benefits were for me, I convinced my brother to join the union after he graduated from high school. We both went to the union’s open house and met with the organizers, and they got us into the work.”

The union is also a place where people can come master a challenging trade. Jesus Angulo, a 3rd-year tile setter apprentice from Local 3 California, took his first steps in the trade working non-union with his father, but wanted to learn more and work on bigger projects. His father encouraged him to join the BAC. “I didn’t know anyone there when I first called the union, so it was intimidating,” Angelo recalled. “But when I showed up at the local so many people made me feel welcome and helped me see the bigger picture as a union tile setter.”

“There were a lot of times that I failed, but my instructors were always there to get me to try again and become better,” Angelo said. “When I competed in the Western States Apprentice contest this year, I felt I was representing my instructors, mentor, and my union with pride. I hope I’ve made them proud.”

“This new generation is very diverse, and is coming from many different backgrounds,” said IMTEF Director Tony DiPerna while spotlighting BAC apprenticeships on the November 20 episode of the America’s Work Force Union podcast. DiPerna spoke to the ability BAC apprenticeships have to bring workers out of poverty “by giving [aspiring craftworkers] the education they need, and paying them while they are doing it, by putting them to work. They see how that paycheck will change their life.”