All bidders for county government construction projects in Ulster that are valued above $750,000 now will have to have an accredited apprenticeship program with a proven annual graduation rate for the previous five years of above 30%.
Labor leaders, apprentices and elected officials joined Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger in Kingston on Sept. 6 as she signed into law legislation on apprenticeships that had been passed by the County Legislature in May.
By setting higher graduation requirements in this law, we’re ensuring that our workers have the hands-on training, skills and job opportunities that they deserve,” Metzger said.
Daniel Ortega of Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative 825 told the Business Journal that he believes the law will help boost local employment, improve safety and the quality of work on projects, and make the bidding process more competitive.
He described the new law as “very important for our local workforce, communities and economy. This will ensure government agencies have access to a larger pool of skilled local contractors, and that young people receive proper training and have access to good-paying jobs locally.”
Ortega said that as construction activity continues to expand in Ulster County and other parts of the Hudson Valley apprenticeship programs will play an even greater role in helping ensure there is an adequate supply of skilled workers.
Back in 2020, Ulster passed a law adjusting the threshold for required apprenticeship programs. It expanded the requirement to have an apprenticeship program to apply to firms bidding for county contracts with a value exceeding $350,000. That was a change from the $500,000 threshold in an apprenticeship law dating from 2015. The previous laws did not have the minimum graduation rate that is specified in the new law that Metzger signed this month.
