By Sean Delaney
Toronto’s Labour Day Parade returns Monday, September 7, carrying a tradition that began with workers marching through the city in 1872. I plan to walk in this year’s parade, but the day should be more than a celebration of labour’s past. It is also an opportunity to point Emery students, new graduates and adults considering a career change toward the skilled trades.
A union apprenticeship offers a different route into working life. Instead of separating education from employment, apprentices learn a trade through classroom instruction, safety training and supervised job-site experience. They can earn while they learn, build recognized skills and progress toward journeyperson certification.
LiUNA Local 506 provides a nearby example. Its Training Centre offers apprenticeship and skills programs connected to construction craft work, concrete finishing, precast concrete erection and other sectors. Local 506 says apprenticeships begin at a percentage of a journeyperson’s wage and increase as training and work terms are completed. The union also highlights health and dental coverage, retirement savings, continuing education and workplace representation among the advantages available to members.
Carmen Principato, Local 506’s longtime business manager, has spent decades connecting training with stable employment. The union says its training facility serves thousands of people and works with employers, government and community partners to keep skills and safety instruction current.
A trade is not an easy shortcut. Construction careers can require early mornings, physical work, changing job sites and a serious commitment to safety. Applicants should compare programs, entry requirements, fees, work conditions and current job prospects. They should also ask how apprenticeship hours are documented and what supports exist when work slows.
For the right person, however, the combination of practical skill, structured training, wages, benefits and pension potential can form the basis of a strong career. This Labour Day, Emery residents looking ahead should consider not only where they want to work, but what they want to learn, build and contribute.