Sheet Metal Licensing in Mass. What are some of the issues?

Here is a rundown on some of the issues ACCA has brought to light in its monitoring of the recent meetings of the newly-formed Sheet Metal Board of Examiners.  ACCA is working in concert with the Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts and building a coalition of other industry groups to take a stand on this issue.  The coalition is fundraising and pursuing various methods of recourse to address these concerns including legal action and a public relations effort.

Under proposal, the Sheet Metal Board would force open shop contractors to operate by union standards.

3 : 1  journeyman to apprentice ratio for commercial work, unlike in other trades

Forcing the open shop to adopt union training models. Open shop contractors routinely tailor training techniques to the needs of their businesses.

Unrealistic training requirements designed to limit competition by making it extremely difficult to get a license

Up to six years of training and 900 classroom hours to become a journeyman

Proposals would result in a dramatic increase in consumer costs.

Journeyman sheet metal worker earns about $61/hour; apprentice starts at around $24

Recommendation to extend the licensing (and ratios) to those who handle, distribute and transport sheet metal, which would add more costs.

Overall consumer costs could rise by 30%

Passing the increased costs on to consumers during a recession will further depress the industry

The higher costs would result in substantial additional job losses.

Fewer companies would compete for commercial jobs (resulting in higher prices)

Complying with the ratios would force companies to lay off apprentices (not going to hire more journeymen to comply with ratios in this economy)

Once adopted, the new regulations will govern the state sheet metal industry during good times and bad. Though times are tough now, the long-term forecast is for a shortage of skilled construction workers.

Regulations that make it unnecessarily difficult to break into the industry would likely have a disproportional impact on women and minorities.

They would also make it difficult for the industry to ramp up when the economy improves by making it so difficult to achieve journeyman status

The new seven-person Board of Examiners of Sheet Metal Workers appears to have a union bias, and several Gov. Patrick’s appointments don’t appear to meet the requirements set out in statute.

Two members of the board are state employees, Five appointed by the Governor

Rather than appointing two wage-earning sheet metal workers and a “representative of the public” as required in the law, Gov. Patrick has appointed three union officials and two executives from union contractors

Neither the open shop nor the residential sectors are represented on the Sheet Metal Board

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AWARENESS   *    INVOLVEMENT  *   SUPPORT
ACCA will continue to monitor this issue and working to make sure we have a voice in this process and that the interests of the whole industry are protected.  With ABC, ACCA supports licensing, and has published a position paper on this issue (view here).   As part of its mission, ACCA will continue to share with our members and others the vital information on this issue.  Once the regulations are put into force, ACCA will be holding meetings to explain what it all means to you… from the process of getting a license in the “grandfathering” period to what the future holds.

What can you do?  Awareness, involvement, and support are needed on behalf of the whole industry.  Stay aware by reading the ACCA emails, visiting our website, and attending our meetings.  And make sure others are aware… share this info with them.   Get involved by attending the meetings of the sheet metal board of examiners, plus any public hearings as they are announced, and talk to an ACCA representative if you would like to volunteer to do more.

Your support is more vital than ever.  ACCA can only stay on top of this issue and ‘fight the good fight’ through the backing of our membership… if you are not yet an ACCA member, now is the time to make that happen and stand behind YOUR industry group.  Membership info here. .. Contact ACCA.

And to pledge your support to the Sheet Metal Defense Fund, click here for the form.