PAGE 12, WEDNESDAY. JULY 31, 1985, WIIITBY FREE PRESS Laborers'union sets up newWhitby training centre By JAN DODGE Free Press Staff Local 597 of the Laborers International Union hopes to move its office from Oshawa to Whitby tomorrow. The old B & R Tran- sport Building at 400 Hopkins St. is the new home for the union of- fice as well as its new training and rehabilitation centre. The three-acre property purchased from union dues at a cost of $250,000 consists of the 4,000 square foot main building which will be used for training and rehabilitation plus 2,600 square feet of of- fice space. "The B & R Building is just what we were looking for and our union office will fit in too," said Bill Fairser- vice, business manager for Local 597. "The purpose of the training centre is primarily to train young people in the basics of the trade. Most young people today don't get a chance to work with their hands so someone must train them. Also a lot of older members are retiring and need to 7 Mile Island Resort ""°RE= -Businessmen's Lunches Daily "W'VA -Candlelight Dinners Nightly ,O PEARY For reservations call985-99490 ASPHALT%94 " PAVING/1 ýINDUSTRIAL - COMMERCIAL - RESIDENTIAL/I be replaced. "The training centre will also be used to upgrade people that we have. "The rehabilitation program will retrain people coming off workmen's compen- sation to do things other than heavy labor," he said. The employer will find the training centre beneficial as well. When the basic rate including benefits in Durham Region is just over $18 per hour, con- tractors are reluctant to take people and spé-nd three weeks training then before they're any good," Fairservice said. Although the renovation of the main building is not scheduled until Septem- ber, two four-week training courses have already been run. The first course in- cluded blue print reading and how to use a laser to lay sewer pipe. "The day when the laborer is hired to move a pile of sand is long gone," Fairservice said. In the second course, the trainees learned a lot about concrete, in- cluding how to estimate quantities needed, and the training centre got new parking slabs. To pay for the training course the union collects five-cents per hour from every working member. Instructors come from similar training courses at sister locals in Toronto as well as the Laborer's International Union of North America which has mobile training units. Fairservice said the A MINI-METRICS 4 .5 L. is about a gallon. IN YOUR OWN A ý Stretch out and R.E-L-A-X in soothing bubbling water. A complete line of Spa's, Hot Tubs, Whirlpools, Chemicals and Accessories Dependable Service & Quality ProdLucts From $2195 and up installation included pver20 ye THE SPA SHOPPE 579-2623 A DIVISION OF S.S. SWIM POOLS LIMITED 22 Ritson Rd. S., Oshawa instructors will usually be superintendants from construction com- panies, who are off in the winter. "Construction techno- logy is changing all the time," he said, hence training courses will be knowledge plus the in- carried out centive to stay off simultaneously. unemployment. To do this the union There are not a lot of hopes to get a Section 38 requirements for grant from the gover- laborers, Fairservice nment. The union will said. "Ail you need is a hire people currently on little common sense and Work is in progress for renovation of the offices for Local 597 of the Laborers International Union at their new location on Hopkins Street. Here, John Michael, Local 397 of the carpenters union, works on the drop- ped ceiling his union was contracted to install. Free Press Staff Photo the need for instructors who are currently in the business, and know what's happening. "The courses are taught in construction terms by construction people so anyone can understand." The renovation of the main building and the unemployment insuran- ce, train them and get the work done at the same time. The gover- nment will pay a set allottment instead of unemployment, and the union will pay for such things as transpor- tation. The trainees will gain some basic a willingness to work although the better educated have a better chance of improving themselves." Do these training courses work? "Of the 24 trainees we've had so far, all have been placed," Fairservice said. CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF WHITBY TOWN OF WHITBY PUBLIC SWIMMING INFORMATION Anne Ottenbrite (Indoor) Pool 668-7765 Kinsmen (Outdoor) Pool 666-2131 •BUY NEW & USED *SELL *RENT OFFICE FURNITURE *LEASE SHELVING L'DE FILES FILING CABINETS