Randy Welsh - UTA Maintenance Training Administrator
Randy Welsh considers working with a government sponsored apprenticeship program to be an "investment in training up front for a big return." According to Randy "it creates a career ladder so that when someone comes in an organization they can see how they can progress into a program." There is an opportunity for continued advancement. You can get your journeymen card, move up to supervisor, and even become a manager or general manager. Randy calls the environment that the apprenticeship program creates a "career culture."

Jay Moser is the Manager of the Service Support Division at UTA. He runs the body shop and the bus component rebuilds (engines, transmissions, starters, alternators, air compressors, pumps, valves). He has been involved in the program since 1998. Potential apprentices get started in training by taking a written test. From that written test, they are ranked. There are ten modules. Modules not passed require specific classroom and on the job training and competency verification. Developing the training program allows for the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). In other words, teach it in training and put it in a format that is more efficient. For example, Jay mentioned that a manual was developed for the steps to go through the troubleshooting and fixing of transmissions. As a result, transmissions don't have to rebuilt as much.

For those employers considering the apprenticeship program, but fear working with the federal government, Jay said he has had "no problems with the federal government. No fear at all." Randy commented that "there are registration requirements that we have met. I think our programs exceed their requirements so we haven't had a problem whatsoever with the federal government. As a matter of fact, the Department of Labor of the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training has been really responsive when we send in completion documents. Within a couple of days we have a response from them. They are very efficient in the way they operate their business.The Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training really is there to help us succeed in business. They are easy to work with and respond well. They are an extremely good partner."

Randy also referred to the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) which is made up of three people from management and three from the union. Instead of causing conflict, he believes the committee and the apprenticeship program "fosters communicating and working together. It has really done that."