WBFAA UATC

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   WBFAA UATC FALL 2011

December 12, 2011

ALL APPRENTICE COURSES PAST DUE

Final Exam Semesters 4, 5: December 17

December OJTS ARE DUE: January 5

Final Exam Semesters 1-3: COMPLETE

REGISTER NEW APPRENTICES WITH THE WBFAA SO THEY CAN BE ENROLLED IN THE SPRING 2012 SEMESTER

 All of your technicians should be registered with WBFAA UATC.

If you have questions determining whether they should be an Apprentice or Journeymen please call 800-809-0280

Journeymen Continued Education Benefits

WBFAA Offers 72hrs of Online Continued Education

WBFAA certifies 3^rd party manufacturers training with the State of California      WBFAA Offers State Certification Preparation material 

Send Job postings to admin@wbfaa.net and we will send it out to our list of qualified unemployed technicians

Required forms can be found in the “FORMS” section of www.wbfaa.net  or you may call our office for more information 800-809-0280

This E-Bulletin contains the following categories:

Journeymen & Certification

Apprentice News

Public Works

Member Company General Information

JOURNEYMEN & CERTIFICATION

(Information for journeymen enrolled in the WBFAA UATC. 

This information is also sent to journeymen and their employers.)

Journeymen Registration

All Fire Life Safety Technicians should be registered with the WBFAA. Benefits include;

1. Online Continued Education access with a personalized codes sent to Journeymen
2. Certification from 3^rd party continued education
3. Access to Prep-Materials for Certification Test

If you are not sure if your Journeymen are registered with the WBFAA, you can view your monthly billing roster and make sure there is not any PENDING information on the Billing report. I.e. Certification numbers, Exp. Dates, E-mail address, other contact information, etc. Please provide any missing or updated changes to the WBFAA office so that we can keep our files up to date.

Certification Prep Material

New Certification Prep material is available to member companies with Journeymen that are taking the state certification exam.  For this information, please e-mail admin@wbfaa.net with the Subject, “WBFAA UATC – REQUEST FOR CERTIFICATION PREP MATERIAL.”

2011 Candidate Information Bulletin

For information about the State Certification exam, see the Candidate Information Bulletin (“CERTIFICATION” at www.wbfaa.net).   This bulletin will give you information on how to schedule an appointment to take the exam and is an additional information guide for testing.

Journeyman Continuing Education

All Journeymen enrolled in the WBFAA UATC should submit a Journeyman Registration form, found in the “FORMS” section of www.wbfaa.net.  Within 24 hours of receipt by the WBFAA UATC, Journeyman will receive log-in information for continuing access with the TEAM Portal.  These classes can be applied toward a Journeyman’s 32 hours of continuing education required for recertification.

Submitting Non-WBCEH Continued Education Training for WBFAA UATC Approval

The State of California DIR accepts continuing education training from state-approved apprenticeship programs.  The WBFAA UATC approves non-WBCEH training as valid fire/life safety continued education training on an ongoing basis for technicians who are employed by a WBFAA UATC member company and are enrolled in the WBFAA UATC Journeyman or Apprenticeship Program.

When reporting non-WBCEH training for Continued Education approval, the following material must be submitted to the WBFAA UATC: a Copy of the Certificate / Letter of Completion including the Course Title, Provider, Class Date and Hours.

List of Certified Electricians in California

The State of California DIR/DAS publishes a list of all certified electricians in California http://www.dir.ca.gov/DAS/CA_Electricians_Certified.pdf.  Included in the listing are the individual’s certification number, residential zip code and expiration date of certification.  This link is also provided in the “CERTIFICATION” tab on the WBFAA UATC website (www.wbfaa.net).

APPRENTICE NEWS

(Information for apprentices enrolled in the WBFAA UATC.  This information is also sent to apprentice’s employers.)

Apprentices are required to comply with the standards and regulations set forth by the WBFAA UATC.

The following listing contains items for apprentices to complete throughout the semester:

Past Due (If an apprentice has not completed any these items, they are not in compliance with the WBFAA UATC standards and need to contact the WBFAA UATC office immediately.)

1. On the Job Training Hours (OJTs): OJTs Should be sent to the WBFAA UATC Training Office by the 5th of the month and no later than the 10^th to be compliant.  When your hours are received, you will receive an e-mail confirmation.  Total hours reported should be approximately 160 hours per month.  If your reporting hours for the month are less than 140, please state the reason (i.e. vacation, illness, no work, etc.).  Your instructor will contact you on the 5^th and your employer will be notified on the 10^th if your hours have not been submitted.

2.  Course Progress: Progress should consist of approximately one course completion per week.

                                                            Fall 2011

3. Text Book Ordering:  Text book order forms are attached to this E-Bulletin. You are required to inform the WBFAA UATC administrative office if you are ordering, sharing or reusing your textbook. Please call us at 800-809-0280 IF YOU HAVE NOT YET CALLED ABOUT YOUR BOOK ORDER.

4.  Chabot Enrollment:   Each new apprentice must enroll into Chabot-Las Positas Community College District by completing the application at the following website: http://www.cccapply.org/Applications/California_Community_College/apply/Chabot_College.html Once the apprentice has enrolled in CLPCCD, please notify the WBFAA UATC administrative office immediately by forwarding the confirmation e-mail to info@wbfaa.net or by calling (800) 809-0280.

5.  Phone Orientations (First Semester ONLY):  Please contact the WBFAA training office for your Welcome to the Program phone Orientation if you have not yet done so - (800) 809-0280.

6.  Mileage Reimbursement: To confirm your reimbursement for your attendance at a final lab, please contact the WBFAA UATC at (800) 809-0280.   (Apprentices may be reimbursed $0.40/mile after the first 80 miles roundtrip.)

WBFAA UATC POLICY

UNEMPLOYED APPRENTICE

·        When an apprentice becomes unemployed, except for cause, he/she shall be placed on the “Inactive Apprentice List.”

·        The unemployed apprentice shall communicate monthly, in writing, with the Program Administrator indicating his/her intention to remain in the program.  Failure to comply with this requirement shall cause the Program Administrator to initiate procedures to drop the apprentice from the program.

·        The unemployed apprentice shall be retained on the “Inactive Apprentice List” for a period of one year from his/her date of layoff.

·        In the event the apprentice on the “Inactive Apprentice List” is rehired or finds employment with another assented WBFAA UATC employer, he/she shall be placed on the “Active Apprentice List.”

·        An unemployed apprentice on the “Inactive Apprentice List” shall NOT be allowed to attend any Related and Supplemental Instruction classes.

New Policy Approved April 27, 2011

PUBLIC WORKS

Trust Contributions for Public Works

Any member company who performs on a Public Works job may make the required Training Trust Contribution to the WBFAA UATC.  A $0.15/hour credit for any technician (apprentice; journeyman) enrolled in the WBFAA UATC may be applied to the hourly contribution rate established for the classification/county in which the work is being performed in.  This credit may only be applied by member companies making a training trust contribution to the WBFAA UATC.  For more information regarding Training Trust Fund requirements, please visit the DAS Public Works FAQ on the WBFAA UATC website (www.wbfaa.net).

New Apprentice Hires on Public Works Jobs

A technician is not considered an apprentice until his/her DAS 1 (Apprentice Agreement) has been approved by the State of California Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS).  In addition, the technician may not be used as an apprentice on Public Works jobs until they have been approved by the DAS.  For more information regarding rules and regulations on Public Works jobs, please visit the “PUBLIC WORKS” tab on the WBFAA UATC website (www.wbfaa.net).

You may check the status of a pending apprentice by visiting the DIR/DAS website http://www.dir.ca.gov/DAS/appcertpw/AppCertSearch.asp.

Updated Forms

The most updated forms for the WBFAA UATC can be found at www.wbfaa.net in the “FORMS” section.  Updated forms include:

Maintaining Contact Information

All apprentices are required to maintain their current home address, cell phone number, and e-mail address with the WBFAA UATC Training Office.  Please contact the office at (800) 809-0280 or info@wbfaa.net if your contact information changes.

1. Academic Instructors: Please contact your instructors for academic assistance; they are available to assist you at any time throughout the semester during a reasonable time frame.

1^st Semester – Pam McKean – pmckean@sonitrolsecurity.com – (925) 989-0654

2^nd Semester – John Hopper – jhopper@sentryalarm.com – (408) 386-7301

3^rd Semester – Andrew Miguel – amiguel@tri-signal.com – (559) 347-8967

4^th Semester – Andrew Miguel – amiguel@tri-signal.com – (559) 347-8967

5^th Semester – John Hopper – jhopper@sentryalarm.com – (408) 386-7301

2. TEAM Portal Technical Support: Ryan Williams is the primary contact for any technical assistance.

Hours: 5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

(502) 254-1506 or support@wbfaatraining.net

3. WBFAA UATC Training Office: Please contact with any questions.

Jerry Lenander, Training Director – jlenander@netvip.com

Daniel Van Hart – admin@wbfaa.net

MEMBER COMPANY GENERAL INFORMATION

NEW! CSLB Zero-Tolerance Policy Enforcement Bulletin

SACRAMENTO - The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) established a zero-tolerance enforcement policy in 2010 and now issues legal action against any C-10 Electrical contractor who willfully employs an uncertified electrician to perform work as an electrician. CSLB is legally required to open an investigation and initiate disciplinary action against the contractor (which may include license suspension or revocation) within 60 days of receipt of a referral or complaint from the Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS).

Labor Code Section 3099.2 stipulates that anyone who performs work as an electrician for C-10 Electrical contractors shall hold an electrical certification card issued by DAS; DAS is required by Labor Code Section 3099.2 to report violations to CSLB.

Electricians are defined as those who engage in the connection of electrical devices for C-10 contractors. It is CSLB’s position that electrical work must be performed by either a state-licensed or a certified electrician. An indentured apprentice or state-registered electrician trainee may also perform electrical work if supervised by a state-certified electrician. Trenching, concrete, framing, and other work that does not involve connecting electrical devices may be performed by noncertified workers.

Learn more about electrician certification by visiting the Division of Apprenticeship Standards website (http://www.dir.ca.gov/DAS/ElectricalTrade.htm).

Searching for Technicians?

If your company has openings and you would like your information to be sent to a list of prospective technicians, please send your notification to the WBFAA UATC for distribution.

Updated Forms

The most updated forms for the WBFAA UATC can be found at www.wbfaa.net in the “FORMS” section.  Updated forms include:

New Apprentices: SPRING 2011 Semester

Any apprentices registered with the WBFAA UATC from now until the Spring semester begins will submit OJT hours to the WBFAA UATC from their indenture date forward and be placed in the upcoming first semester.  Spring 2011 classes will begin Wednesday, January 18, 2012.

Apprentice/Journeyman Ratio: Review Your Roster

Under Article XV in the Standards for the WBFAA UATC (also outlined in the WBFAA UATC Employer Handbook), there must be at least one regularly employed journeyman per one apprentice.  Each apprentice must be supervised when on the job at all times by a journeyman.  An apprentice in their sixth step is eligible to work on the job unsupervised (Employer Handbook; Policy A-6).  The WBFAA UATC cannot accept apprentice paperwork for a new hire if this ratio is not reflected on the member company roster.

The roster of active technicians must reflect one regularly employed journeyman per one apprentice at all times to affirm the ratio is being adhered to.

WBFAA UATC Training Office

Jerry Lenander, Training Director – jlenander@netvip.com

Daniel Van Hart – admin@wbfaa.net

WBFAA Unilateral Apprenticeship & Training Committee

333 Washington Blvd. #433 • Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

Phone: (800) 809-0280 • Fax: (800) 809-0281

info@wbfaa.net • www.wbfaa.net

The E-Bulletin is a weekly source of information for WBFAA UATC apprentices, journeymen and employers.