BAC in the Schools: A Formula for Success

Local 1 MD/VA/DC Field Representative Chuck Driscoll, left, and Local 1 apprentice Adam Collison.

Preparing young people for the realities of the working world is a critical component in building healthy communities and economies. BAC apprenticeship programs play a crucial role in helping youngsters develop the skills and work ethics they need to succeed in life. The apprenticeship initiatives of Local 1 Maryland/Virginia/District of Columbia in Baltimore focus on helping young apprentices become the best craftworkers and the best Union members they can be.

Adam Collison, an apprentice bricklayer from Pasadena, Maryland, is a good example of how the Union can make a difference. Collison met with Local 1 representatives at a high school career day and decided early in life that a career in the trowel trades would be a good way to go. The 18-year old was taught basic construction skills in a vocational training program offered by Anne Arundel County Schools and took to masonry quickly. Now at 85 percent of the Local’s journey-level wage rate, Collison is on the job with Baltimore Masonry at the Social Security Administration’s Metro West Façade Replacement project in Baltimore.

Although his time as a Local 1 member has been relatively short, Collison has become a staunch advocate for his Union. “The Union was interested in me right from the start. They showed me what they had to offer and made it clear what was required of me,” says Collison. The apprentice bricklayer also makes a point of promoting the Union. “I know guys who work non-union and I let them know that they’re missing out on the wages, benefits, and training only the Union can offer.

“Since joining BAC, I’ve worked on a hotel, at the University of Maryland’s Baltimore campus, and on a large job at a local bakery. I’ve worked with brick, block, stone, and precast. Thanks to the Union’s work with area schools, I’ve had the opportunity to work on these kinds of jobs and now I have a career.

“On top of my apprentice training, I’ve learned from some of the best foremen in town. People like Charlie Smith, Larry Owens, and Mike Channel have really helped me out. With a little luck, someday I’ll be running work and helping apprentices along their way. Right now, I get a lot of satisfaction from driving through town and showing my friends what I’ve built. It’s a great feeling,” says Collison.