What is ICD?
The
Institute for Career Development, headquartered in
ICD
is a joint initiative, with labor and management working together to provide
educational services to Steelworkers.
What kind of
training does the Institute offer?
We
have a wide range of classes to meet any interest or skill level. Instruction
ranges from basic skills, such as GED preparation, to graduate-level college
courses. Steelworkers can also take personal enhancement courses, like photography
and foreign languages, and a variety of classes that teach technical skills,
such as plumbing, electrical wiring or small engine repair. The most popular
course offerings are computer-related, and many Steelworkers earn
certifications through the program.
The emphasis is on teaching
“portable” skills Steelworkers can use to enhance their existing careers or
take with them beyond the steel mills, rubber plants and iron mines should they
change jobs. Many Steelworkers have used the program to prepare for
pre-apprenticeship tests.
Approximately 80 percent of
the courses are “customized,” meaning that instructors are hired to design
classes specifically for Steelworkers. Most of these classes are taught in
learning centers on or near the plants and are offered twice a day – before and
after shift changes – to accommodate workers’ schedules. Access to other
courses is made available through a tuition assistance program which provides
up to $1,800 annually to each worker for tuition, books and fees at accredited
institutions.
How is the
program funded?
This
educational benefit was originally negotiated by the USW in contracts with
participating companies in 1989. Most recently, BF Goodrich joined in 2004,
Bridgestone Firestone in 2005 and Goodyear joined in 2006. The companies
set aside 15 cents for each hour worked by a Steelworker – or some other
contractually agreed-upon amount – to fund the program.
Each
site has a Local Joint Committee, or LJC, that oversees spending and
programming. The LJC is comprised of both union and company representatives. Budgets
at the sites vary depending on the size of the workforce at each plant.
What makes
the program unique?
Everything is geared toward making
learning comfortable and accessible for Steelworkers. Our learning centers are
conveniently located, usually on or near work sites or in a union hall. Classes
are offered before and after shift changes to accommodate workers’ schedules.
Each site offers classes under the
direction of the LJC. The LJC decides what courses to offer by documenting
workers’ needs and interests. They do this through surveys or by sending
program Learning Advocates to talk to workers on the shop floor. Each Career
Development Program is uniquely tailored for the Steelworkers at that location.
It’s a “bottom-up” philosophy that enables Steelworkers to drive the program.
Another important aspect of the program is learning
confidentiality. Only the Steelworker and the Career Development staff know
whether the Steelworker is there to brush up on basic skills or complete a
college-level course. Computer-aided instruction supplements traditional
classroom settings, small group sessions and one-on-one tutoring.
How can I get
more information about the Institute?
Feel
free to contact our national office at (219) 738-9029.
Our
staff can be a valuable resource for anyone who needs information on adult
education, workforce training, the future of joint labor/management training
programs and the importance of education in the labor movement.
Member
Companies
AK Steel Corp.
Allegheny-Ludlum
ALLVAC
ArcelorMittal USA
BF Goodrich
Bridgestone Firestone
Goodyear
Republic Engineered
Products
Titan Tire Corporation
United States Steel Corp.
USS-POSCO
Veyance Technologies
Wah Chang
(effective May 1, 2008)
WCI Steel, Inc.
Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel
Corp.
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