What needs to change in the current laws: The Regulations added to the California Business and Professions Code that make up the Electricians Certification Program need to be amended. The larger question is how? There are certain major problems with the regulations as they stand now.  | Unionization of the Industry. Although lightly amended with the passage of AB-1087, there will only be one way into the Electrical Industry after January 1, 2005, is Apprenticeship. And, Apprenticeship is now tied to Prevailing Wage requirements in these regulations. AB-931 eliminated any other form of entry into the Electrical Industry. The California Apprenticeship Council is Union dominated, and were nearly "decertified" by the Federal Apprenticeship Bureau due to the passage of AB-931, because they originally would only accept Union Apprenticeships. AB-1087, allows for other Apprenticeship Programs, but those outlets are few, far between, and for the most part, un-available to most people in the State. Not un-like the JATC Programs run by the IBEW. The bottom line is that the IBEW will have near monopoly control of entry to the Trade. A method of informal "On the Job Training" needs to be included for entry to the Electrical Trade after January 1, 2007. |
| Organization, and authority of the Electrician Certification Program needs to wrested from the control of the DIR, DAS, and CAC. Outside of the fact that they are Union dominated bureaus of the Government, and have obvious conflict of interest, they have very little contact with the Electrical Industry as a whole. As more than 60% of Electrical Contractors in the State are non-Union, "Owner Operated and / or Small Businesses". These Contractors, and the employees of these Contractors constitute nearly 70% of workers in the Electrical Trade. Control of this Program would be better suited for the California Contractors State License Board. An organization having direct contact with, and governing all aspects of the Construction Industry. And also, already have testing facilities, and licensing procedures in place to accommodate this type of program. |
| The Continuing Education requirements of the regulations are vague, and so far totally un-enforced because the CAC is left to self-regulate itself on the aspects of developing a curriculum. Although it is required by Law to have done so already, it has only done so partially. And, have not done very well at that. Take a look. Also, where and how will these courses be available to the average Electrical worker for these required 32 hours of continuing education. Maybe this requirement should be completely eliminated, as most of the safety aspects of this curriculum, are covered in required Employer organized safety meetings mandated by Cal OSHA, and the CSLB. The technical Trade aspects of this requirement are currently maintained by Industry standards, and enforced by Building Inspectors State-wide. And, the understanding of Electrical Codes is covered in Certification itself. So, why not eliminate these requirements altogether? As it will save you the trip to the IBEW to take these courses, another Unionization issue. |
What can I do about it? |
