Spotlight on Training: John B. Scola Training Center

JOURNAL: ISSUE 3 - 2014

BAC Executive Board members – Secretary-Treasurer Henry Kramer and Executive Vice Presidents Gerard Scarano and Tim Driscoll – capped off a full day of BAC New York City jobsites visits on July 22nd with a tour of the John B. Scola Training Center in Long Island City, NY. Named after the late Training Director and longtime Local Union leader John (Bobby) Scola, the 18,000-square foot facility provides hands-on and classroom pre-job and continuing education training opportunities for Local 1 NY and Local 7 NY/NJ members. Its training programs cover all BAC crafts and all federal, state, and local safety certifications including bricklaying, restoration and retrofitting, stone setting, plastering, tile, marble, terrazzo, AWS Certified Welding, Respirator Fit test, Air Barrier/Vapor barrier training, Global Harmonized System, Grouting and Reinforced Masonry Certification, fall protection, JAHN, ABBA – Air Barrier Certification, ACT – Advanced Certification for Tile Installers.

The Center currently has 25 students in pre-job training and more than 500 apprentices. “Apprentice numbers were down in the last few years due to the economy but are picking up considerably,” says Dennis Holloway, the Center’s Training Director.

“In New York, all safety training courses must be renewed every four years and OSHA training courses must be renewed every five years,” Holloway said. “Each month we have several renewal classes in OSHA, Suspended Scaffold, Pipe Scaffold, Erector Dismantler, and Rigging Forman training. In September, related training will resume with 50 to 100 students per evening.”

BAC Secretary-Treasurer Kramer adds, “The past five years have been difficult for our members and Locals. With the economy gradually improving, now is the time to concentrate on getting our apprentice programs up and running again. It’s good to see facilities like the Scola Training Center busy and near capacity, working to bring our apprentice ratios back up to pre-recession levels.”  

BAC Executive Vice President Tim Driscoll, left, and Local 1 NY Field Representative Howard Carr discuss training programs at the Center.

BAC Executive Vice President Gerard Scarano, left, talks with Local 1 NY apprentice William Torres.

Local 7 NY/NJ marble apprentice Brandon Muniz, front, prepares to cut a marble slab with guidance from instructor Victor DeSalvo. Behind them, Local 7 NY/NJ Secretary-Treasurer Chris Guy, left, and President Tom Lane discuss shop renovations.

A third-generation bricklayer, apprentice Sean Scola is grand-nephew of the Center’s namesake, John Scola. Sean’s uncle, Stephen Scola, is also a Life Member of Local 1 NY.