Shane Wolfe, Business Manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 317, appeared on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about the Local’s new training center and how it is already benefiting his members.
Situated in Huntington, W.Va., IBEW Local 317 recently opened a new $4 million training center. Wolfe called the training center a big investment, but one that is already paying off. He explained the type of training performed at the facility, such as outside construction, traffic signalization and lights, low voltage, hilltop rescue, transformer and more.
Before the new facility was built, Wolfe said outside wiremen had to travel roughly six hours to Medway, Ohio, which is near Dayton, Ohio, for training. Now, thanks to the new training center located in Huntington, those members' drive times have been cut in half, he added.
Wolfe said the work outlook in his jurisdiction is good, as signatory contractors have picked up a lot of telecommunications work to bring high-speed internet to all of West Virginia. Thanks to a busy workload, the union has increased its membership to 1,500 members. Part of this growth, he explained, was due to new apprentices. Wolfe said there is a steady flow of individuals who pick up applications to join one of the many trades they offer.
For more from Wolfe, listen to the show above.