Bill No. A3666 was signed by Governor Murphy on January 3, 2019 and went into effect on May 1, 2019. The bill requires workers who are subject to “The Public Works Contractor Registration Act” to have completed or be actively participating in a registered apprenticeship program; an apprenticeship program that is registered with and approved by the United States Department of Labor and provides the trainee with combined classroom and on-the–job training in an occupation recognized as a trade and meets the program standards of enrolment and graduation under the Code of Federal Regulations.
Many of the states’ 10,000 plus registered contractors do not currently participate in a Department of Labor approved apprenticeship program. These contractors will not be able to obtain and/or renew their public works contractor registration certificates unless they are able to certify participation in an approved program. Contractors that want to remain eligible for prevailing wage work have several options; team up with an association or industry group that maintains participation in a Department of Labor approved apprenticeship program, create their own Department of Labor approved apprenticeship program, or sign with the building trades unions for those trades that they employ.
All Contractors Signatory to a Collective Bargaining Agreement for all trades employed are already compliant with this new requirement. Masonry Contractors of New Jersey Contractor Members employ apprentices from the New Jersey Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers and the New Jersey Building and Construction Laborers Registered Apprenticeship Programs.
Registered Apprenticeship Programs continue to ensure more highly qualified and skilled workers that are dedicated to their apprenticeship, as well as their craft. The programs our Contractor Members are signatory to, are well regarded by workers, contractors, vendors and designers, and:
- Offer a great and affordable career path to good jobs and careers for men and women
- Apprentices are assured of clearly defined scheduled raises as their skills progress
- Keep pace with new materials, technologies and innovations in training
- Nationally recognized credentials
The new requirement is nothing new to Union Contractors! They have always built beautiful, sustainable, structurally safe and sound buildings safely with skilled Journeymen working side by side with Apprentices from a U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprentice Program.
* Masonry Contractors of New Jersey supported this legislation.