Norwich ― As the $385 million school construction project gets underway, city officials are considering whether to enter a project labor agreement with local trade unions that would mandate a percenta.
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Connecticut officials have touted workforce development as key to the state s economic recovery from COVID-19, but some contractors say restrictions on apprenticeship hires is hurting their ability to bring on new employees, even as the industry faces a worker shortage.
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Chris Fryxell
The state Department of Consumer Protection imposes a so-called hiring ratio on contracting companies in electrical, plumbing and metal-working trades. The rule is a bit technical but it essentially requires contractors to have a certain number of licensed journeymen on staff for each apprentice they hire.
The ratio allows contractors to hire up to three apprentices on a 1:1 ratio. That means a company must have three licensed journeymen on staff if it wants three apprentices. It would need two journeymen for two apprentices.
The Connecticut Port Authority is negotiating a contract with Omaha-based Kiewit, a national construction, engineering and mining company, to serve as construction manager for the $157 million redevelopment project at State Pier in New London.
The authority’s board, facing some opposition from critics, approved the move on Tuesday and additionally voted to spend up to $2.8 million with Kiewit for preconstruction services that involve examination of the project’s design, budget, schedule and logistics.
The recommendation of Kiewit, one of two companies shortlisted for the job, came after review by representatives from the port authority and state Department of Administrative Services and Office of Policy and Management.