Daren McMillian
“I am currently an Apprentice in the NYC Iron Workers union as well as a member of the US Army National Guard and I honestly believe, along with many other workers that I’ve come across in my year in the trade, that these Apprenticeship training programs around the city help families and are a huge benefit to the city and its workers and are a fundamental part of having a SAFE and effective work environment.
It’s been cited to us by many of our instructors that “safety and knowledge of our trade” are huge priorities in getting a project done safely and efficiently. OSHA 10 by itself is simply a small portion of what it takes to be an effective worker within certain trades of construction.
Just like any other profession, whether it be a police officer, a nurse, or a pilot, proper training is a requirement and it’s important for the sake of people’s safety and mortality that contractors and the city not cut corners when it comes to proper training. Ordinary people may not be concerned with concerns within construction, but people can die, if they are not well trained and if corners are cut. This message comes from a place of ethics and principle and not monetary benefit. With this said we, hope that you make your decision based on people’s lives and safety and not exclusively on profits.
Please express this support of the 1447 Apprentice Bill with your colleagues and help make New York a SAFE place to work.” – Daren McMillian
