Privately Funded Training Shores Up Declining Skilled Labor Force

[Omaha Steve]

http://post-journal.com/articles.asp?articleID=27038

4/27/2008 - KENNEDY — Scott Holmberg of Kennedy recently became one of 13,000 professional floor-layers in the United States and Canada to graduate from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters International Standards and Training Alliance floor-layers’ training program.

INSTALL is a privately funded cooperative effort between the UBC and floor-covering manufacturers like Armstrong, Pergo and Johnsonite. This endeavor is in response to the growing shortage of skilled floor-layers and resulting concern of the manufacturers’ inability to honor product guarantees because of improper product installation.

Bruce Newbrough, Manager of Technical Services for ARDEX Inc. commented, ‘‘INSTALL provides the kind of training the flooring industry needs to ensure that the job is installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.’’

To qualify to attend, INSTALL students must first successfully complete a four-year apprenticeship program approved by the New York State Department of Education or pass four different written and skills assessment examinations. To graduate from INSTALL they must demonstrate core-installer skills, graduated levels of skill competence and experience, written proof of theoretical knowledge and hands-on skill testing.

Holmberg now joins the floor-laying professionals who have received manufacturer certifications in the theory and practice of proper floor preparation, installation, and finishing procedures for carpet, linoleum, vinyl, and other resilients as well as hardwood, laminate, tile, stone, artificial and turf sports surfaces, and other accessories. These graduates will now receive career-long skills training, including additional manufacturer specialty certifications, keeping them current on all technological advances within the floor-laying industry.

[angstlessk]

1. I think the industry that benefits from the labor SHOULD train..when was it different???

there has NEVER been a public 'school of floor laying' EVAH!!! this is just another way to trash public education and not even a very good one!