Government of Yukon
Archives
FOR RELEASE #05-210
August 9, 2005
Apprentice Pipefitters Will Gain Valuable Work Experience
WHITEHORSE - The Yukon government will help eight new apprentice pipefitters with travel expenses so that they can take advantage of an apprenticeship opportunity in Fort McMurray.
"We have an excellent opportunity here to build on our local skilled labour workforce and give Yukoners an opportunity to gain experience in the field in which they were trained," Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Archie Lang said. "We are always looking at ways to help Yukoners get the skills and training they will need to support future projects such as the Alaska Highway pipeline."
The Yukon government will contribute up to $5,000 to the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 310, to assist eight members from Old Crow, Carmacks and Whitehorse with the initial travel to and from the Fort McMurray jobsite. There they will work as apprentices on the construction of a slurry pipeline.
"This is an excellent example of our commitment to building partnerships to further economic opportunities in the Yukon," Lang added. "Our government, the union and the employer have combined efforts to provide some valuable skills, training and experience to these Yukoners."
"We approached the government because we have a common goal of building a local workforce," Don Austin, business manager for the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 310 (U.A.) said. "We used contacts through our union network to find the jobs for Yukoners, but our financial structure and bylaws do not allow for the cost of sending our members to the job sites."
Local Union 310 is part of Northern Pipeline Projects which is an entity consisting of pipeline contractors and the four craft unions that build pipeline in Canada.
Apprentice pipefitters must complete four years and 1,500 hours of work experience before being eligible for their journeyman ticket.
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| Contact: | |
| Peter Carr | Tara O’Donovan |
| Cabinet Communications | Communications, Energy, Mines and Resources |
| (867) 667-8688 | (867) 667-5809 |
| peter.carr@gov.yk.ca | tara.odonovan@gov.yk.ca |
| Don Austin | |
| Business Manager | |
|
United Association of Plumbers |
|
| and Pipefitters Local Union 310 | |
| (867) 333-5408 | |
| donaustin@ualocal310.ca |