American Indian Apprenticeship Initiative, Job Fair.

Quintin Morales, JATC Coordinator had the honor of representing the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 105 Apprenticeship, at the Owens Valley Career Development Center, American Indian Apprenticeship Initiative, Job Fair. We always look forward to help encourage those interested in construction to look towards the Union Trades as the best option to get started in the construction industry.

We offer high wages and excellent benefits. We also offer college credit for the training we provide, with no college loans, tuition or charges for the training we give to our apprentices. “Earn As You Learn”.

“LASER WELDER”

In January 2024 our Welding Teacher Joaquain Stallworth, along with the JATC Coordinator Quintin Morales completed the Laser Welding Safety Training, and the Laser Welding Training., through the International Training Institute. (ITI) It was a great week with a great team and instructors.

We now have understanding of the safety precautions associated with laser welders, along with the setup and operation of the IPG LightWeld handheld laser welding systems. We can now introduce this technology to our JATC.

It’s amazing what can be done with these welders. And exciting to know we are ahead of the curve with this technology that will change the welding industry.

We will be building the Laser Welding Booth so we can start teaching this new technology to our apprentices.

Photos are of the project we completed during training. Mixed metal welding, and pull test.

2023 National Apprenticeship Week

National Apprenticeship Week, Women In the Trades Day.

The Women in trades workshop’s purpose is to inform the central valley high school and college age women about potential construction and building trades employment opportunities.

The Kern and Northern Los Angeles Counties AC & SMW JATC was out in force today showing the opportunities that the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 105 have to offer. It was a great day, with a great turn out. Thanks to the Kern Community College District.

The Kern JATC Has Received Platinum Accreditation Through the ITI

The Kern and Northern Los Angeles Counties Air Conditioning and Sheet Metal Workers Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee receives its Curriculum, Training and Support through the International Training Institution.

They offer an accreditation so our JATC can receive training equipment, books, and grants to help our JATC continue giving our Apprentices, and Journeymen the support they need in receiving the best training and skills, along with the most up to date equipment, and technology we have to offer.

It has been a long road, and the efforts have finally paid off. We have the highest accreditation that the ITI has to offer, Platinum!

Congratulations to the 2023 Sheet Metal Workers Apprenticeship Graduates. They are now, Journeymen!!

On October 15, 2022 we had our graduation ceremony, at the Disneyland Hotel. All our graduates were treated with the utmost honor and respect for their hard work and dedication.

They have dedicated their lives to learning a career that they can use anywhere. Taking time away from family, events, friends, in order to attend school, while working.

They have done this with the goal in mind, of having a great life for them and their families moving forward.

Hard work and dedication is what got them here. As a graduation gift from our JATC/LMCT are the Jackets with the Sheet Metal Workers Emblem.

2022 Graduation-Congratulations to our new Journeymen!!

Congratulations to the 2022 Sheet Metal Workers Apprenticeship Graduates. They are now, Journeymen!!

On October 15, 2022 we had our graduation ceremony, at the Disneyland Hotel. All our graduates were treated with the utmost honor and respect for their hard work and dedication.

Over the last five years they have experienced times that none of us were ready for, experiences some of us had never had. They have continually worked through these rough times, and made a life and a living, while contributing to society, and making sure their actions helped others in the process. It has not been an easy journey, attending school while working full time, making sure their school work and grades have been on track in order to pass their classes, and meet all the requirements needed to journey out.

They have dedicated their lives to learning a career that they can use anywhere. Taking time away from family, events, friends, in order to attend school, while working. They have done this with the goal in mind, of having a great life for them and their families moving forward.

Our Teachers and Staff here at the Bakersfield Training Center are dedicated to teach our apprentices and introduce them to the many avenues of the Sheet Metal Trade. We are very proud of all our graduates, and we will continue to be a recourse for them.

The skills and knowledge they have acquired over the last five years is only the start to their career as a Sheet Metal Worker.

Sheet Metal Local Union 105 History

This Video was created in 2017, however, it has great information and give great insight to the beginning of Local Union 105.

A Three Part Series – UC Berkeley Labor Studies on the Union Effect.

The first study, Wages, Benefits, and Use of Public Safety Net Programs,

The second study, Gains for Women, Workers of Color, and Immigrants,

The third study, A Voice for Workers in Public Policy

http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/a-three-part-series-the-union-effect-in-california/

Kern County National Apprenticeship Week Event Is A Big Hit With Students!

For the 2nd year running the Kern County Community College District hosted a 2-day series of workshops and lectures to over 300 Kern County High School students, well as their teachers and guidance counselors that coincided with the celebration of National Apprenticeship Week last November.

National Apprenticeship Week National (NAW) is a National Celebration that began in 2016 which offers leaders in business, labor, education, and other critical partners a chance to express their support for Apprenticeship. NAW also gives apprenticeship sponsors the opportunity to showcase their programs, facilities and apprentices in their community. The weekly events highlight the benefits of Apprenticeship in preparing a highly-skilled workforce to meet the talent needs of employers across diverse industries.

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Apprenticeship Works!

Apprentices from the Bakersfield Sheet Metal Workers Training Center participated in the US Department of Labor’s National Apprenticeship Week by helping to expose the advantages that apprenticeship have over for-profit technical schools and colleges to Kern County high school students. Speaking in terms of the tuition, student debt, and earning power as one progresses through their education; Apprenticeship programs have a reputation as being a well kept secret among professionals in the construction industry.

Not since the 1980’s has construction been discussed as a viable career option to graduating high school students. Over the past few decades most high school districts have systematically dismantled shop classes, opting instead to concentrate their efforts and resources in favor of getting every senior college bound.

There’s no denying that the strategy has had some unforeseen negative consequences.

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