Oregon Advance Times_1968-02-15

February 15, 1968 The Oregon Advance TIMES Page 3 Few Non-Whites in Apprentice Plan But More Due The man to see for your by Beverly Nicholson State Labor Commissioner Norman Nilsen is currently working on a program designed to get more non– whites into apprenticeship training programs. On May 10 last year Nilsen asked for reports from state union representatives for the total number of non-whites involved in apprenticeship programs at that time. Reports showed there were only 18 non-whites out of a total of 2,000 in apprentice– ship training. The term non-white in– cludes blacks, Mexican Amer– icans, and Orientals so actu– ally the number of blacks was much smaller than 18. Recently the commissioner asked that another report be submitted on the total of non– whites in the apprenticeship training. The January, 1968 report shows a total of 42, indicating an increase of 24 non-whites over a period of seven months. Nilsen said of this, ''Some progress has been made, but not enough." The electrical unions, steam fitters union, plumbers and sheet metal workers wel– ' come applications from non– whites who are qualified. Generally the qualifications require a high school gradu– ate or equivalent. However, high school dropouts are still qualified for some trades. Army Captain Wins Award Capt. James E. Robinson was awarded an Army Com– mendation Medal with oak leaf cluster forexceptionallymer– itorious performance of duty as a reserve advisor during the period Aug. 24, 1966 to March 1, 1968. A report was given which said Capt. Robinson demon– strated "unique problem solv– ing ability and a tho rough knowledge of reserve admin– istrative procedures" in suc– cessfully guiding every unit he advised to higher standards of operational excellence. The report continued to say that regularly exceeding what is normally conside red duty hours, he gained the respect and admiration of all who knew him for his professional competence and since re concern for the problems of his reserve units and the pe r– sonnel assigned thereto. Capt. Robinson and his family reside in Po rtland at 4520 N. E. 14th Place. They have been residents of Albina for the past 16 months. Mr s. Robinson is employed as a clerk-typist for the Bureau of Sports, Fisheries and Wild– life, Department of the In– t e r i or. They have three children. Each trade has different quali– fications depending on its work. For instance, an elec– trician must have excellent vision and be able to distin– guish colors. The law states then an ap– prenticeship trainee must be 16 years or older; some trades stipulate that trainees must be 18 or over. Though the unions have been fairly cooperative, they have not exerted any extra effort to recruit non-whites into various apprenticeship pro– grams. One of the main problems of non-whites attempting to get into the programs is that there is no effective communi– cation system for them to learn of new opporrunities for places in them. The State Bureau of Labor has available to the public a list of completions and term- inations, listing the employer, trade and location. Nilson said, "There are at present openings for lathers and plasterers." Traditionally the wages paid to an apprentice are com– mensurate with the ability to produce. This allows the apprentice, as well as the employer, to benefit from this arrangement. The pay also varies with the particualr skills involved and the job classification. Nilsen said, "The future in the construction industry looks very favorable. This is a peak year for construction in Oregon, both in public and private construction.'' However, the commissioner added, "This is contingent to some .extent upon the Viet– nam and Korean situations.'' The State Bureau of Labor hopes to expand apprentice– ship training in the service industries, those that imme– diately serve the consumer, and in the manufacturing and production industries. "The biggest thrust in major production and manu– facturing areas," Nilsen said, "will be in the lumber industry, wood factories, pulp and paper plants and in con– tainer type manufacturing." The commissioner in- dicated also that there would be a concerted effort made to expand training in Civil Service occupations dealing with state, county and city departments. Ninety-two percent of the unions ai-e involved in this joint effort by the state to employ more non-whites in apprenticeship training pro– grams. 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