--- title: Building a solid apprenticeship program is the key to a strong union description: The America’s Work Force Union Podcast is the nation’s premier daily labor program. Brett Large from the Insulators Local 19 joined us on today’s show. image: https://awf.labortools.com/hubfs/AWF-blog-image-template_local19_blue.jpg --- 1 min read Season 4, Episode 132 # Building a solid apprenticeship program is the key to a strong union [ awfblog ](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/author/awfblog) July 5, 2023 [Apprenticeship Recruitment](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/apprenticeship-recruitment) [Education](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/education) [Labor Issues](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/labor-issues) [General Recruitment](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/general-recruitment) [Insulators Union](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/insulators-union) [America's Work Force Union Podcast](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/americas-work-force-union-podcast) [Jobs](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/jobs) [AWF](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/awf) [Labor-Management](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/labor-management) [Community Involvement](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/community-involvement) [Union Responsibilities](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/union-responsibilities) [Union Issues](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/union-issues) ![AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_local19](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_local19.jpg?width=400&height=400&name=AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_local19.jpg)   Guest Name: --- Brett Large Guest Website: --- [https://www.insulators19.com/](https://www.insulators19.com/)  Guest Social Media: --- [ Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/InsulatorsLocal19/) [ Twitter](https://twitter.com/insulatorsunion) [ YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/insulatorsunion) [ LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/insulatorsunion/) Supportive Documents: --- Brett Large, the [Heat and Frost Insulators Local 19](https://www.insulators19.com/) business manager, joined the America’s Work Force Union podcast and discussed the new methods his Local uses to grow their apprenticeship program. Large also talked about the first “Senior Signing Day” and the Local’s first female apprentice to compete in the Insulators Master Apprenticeship Competition later this month in Houston.  Like many unions, recruitment was difficult during the pandemic for Local 19. With a change in their approach, Large and his Local were able to turn things around. The apprenticeship program has begun growing by showing students a viable option after high school. The trick, Large said, was showing the students the impact of their work on the environment and proving there is a guaranteed job with benefits waiting for them after completing the apprenticeship program.  Local 19 held its first-ever Senior Signing Day to highlight the apprentices’ hard work. Three graduating apprentices participated in the inaugural event that resembled high school sports signing ceremonies. Large said they were able to bring contractors and families in to celebrate the graduates, even getting Milwaukee Power Tools to sponsor the event. Large plans will be to grow the number of graduates involved in the future. Continuing to highlight the Local 19 apprenticeship program, Large talked about their first female competitor for the Insulators Master Apprentice Competition in Houston. Aleana Tucholka comes from a family of Insulators, including a younger brother who just joined the apprenticeship program. Tucholka won the Midwest States Competition and is not only the first female from Local 19 to compete but also the second competitor in a row to compete at the Master Apprentice Competition from the Local. Her knowledge and hard work have helped to inspire more female interest in joining the Insulators around the Milwaukee area where Local 19 operates, and Large hopes to see her excel at the international competition. Listen to the entire episode to learn more. [![EYEMED000323_Savethe70sbanner_615x244](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EYEMED000323_Savethe70sbanner_615x244.png?width=615&height=244&name=EYEMED000323_Savethe70sbanner_615x244.png)](https://www.eyemedunion.com/?utm_content=2023_save_the_70s&utm_source=americas_work_force_union_podcast&utm_medium=onlinedisplay_sitedirect_banner&utm_term=eyemed000323_savethe70sbanner_615x244) --- America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues. America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ##### SUBSCRIBE ON: --- [![Group 342](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png?width=171&name=Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/id1511224946) [![Group 341](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Spotify%20Button-Dark.png?width=100&name=Spotify%20Button-Dark.png)](https://open.spotify.com/show/0GzkHxFSBxiXvuX0lZpQBn) [![Group 343](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20343.png?width=135&name=Group%20343.png)](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast-62567752/) [![Group 339](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20339.png?width=110&name=Group%20339.png)](https://www.pandora.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/PC:47979) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20397.png?width=125&name=Group%20397.png)](https://americasworkforceradiopodcast.podbean.com/) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/YouTube_button.png?width=125&name=YouTube_button.png)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQo1PAtRAel1_tS7-PQOkA)   #### [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/brotherhood-of-railroad-signalmen-on-the-union-pacific-merger-threat) : July 6, 2026 # Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat Brandon Elvey, Secretary-Treasurer of the [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen](https://www.brs.org/),... 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