Changes to IBEW Local 683 apprenticeship readies Local for work boom

Business Manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 683, Patrick Hook, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the updates to the Local 683 apprenticeship program and the new training methods taught at the training center to address the transition to green energy.

IBEW Local 683 is located in Columbus, Ohio covers eight counties in Central Ohio. The Local’s membership consists of about 2,500 active members and 500 retirees. 

As Columbus remains in the midst of a building boom, Hook talked about the changes made to the structure of the Local's apprenticeship program. With the new schedule, and extra work, some apprentices could graduate from the program early in four years, but most will graduate after five years, he said.

Along with the current workload increase in Central Ohio, even more workers are needed for years to come. Hook spoke about the different outreach programs at local schools that Local 683 is partnering with to help meet the need for skilled workers. One program, a student-partner program, has students working with contractors through their final year of high school. This program allows students who participate to gain hands-on experience, and when they graduate high school, they can enter the apprenticeship program as a second-year apprentice.

Local 683 is heavily involved with the construction of datacenters in Central Ohio. While these structures are not any different from their normal work, there are more installations being done at one time than ever before. While datacenter work is plentiful, the JATC had to make changes to teach members how to expertly install electric vehicle charging stations and solar panels. With the different installation requirements from these two parts of the green energy transition, the apprenticeship at the Local adapted its instruction and added courses directly related to the new needs.

For more from Hook on Local 683, listen to the episode above.