Tile Setters Advance to International Apprentice Contest
August 22, 2003

FORT RITCHIE—Seven BAC tile setter apprentices have earned a chance to compete at the inaugural BAC/IMI International Apprentice Contest, to be held in Washington, D.C at the National Building Museum on October 18, 2003.

The contest involves four levels of competition, beginning with local and regional contests held earlier this year. The semifinal contests are taking place in August and September at the International Masonry Institute’s (IMI) National Training Center at Fort Ritchie, MD. The contest includes hands-on competitions in the respective crafts, plus a written test. Judges include prominent construction experts.

BAC apprentices receive their training through local union and BAC/IMI programs. “This contest gives young craftworkers an opportunity to show everyone how serious they are about their careers,” says BAC President and IMI Co-Chair John J. Flynn. “And it presents a healthy future for the industry.”

October 18th also marks the opening of an exhibition at the National Building Museum, “Masonry Variations,”and a Family Masonry Mania Day.

The five tile setter finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

Gustavo Ayala, BAC Local 18 CA
Thomas Leith, BAC Local 3 CA
Israel Ortiz, BAC Local 3 CA
Roman Perez, BAC Local 1 HI
David Scott, BAC Local 18 CA

The two alternates are:

Thomas Margitish BAC Local 32 MI
Viktor Stepchuk BAC Local 1 WA

IMI is a joint labor-management cooperative program of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) and the contractors who employ its members. Its core programs are quality craft training and technical assistance to the design and building communities  The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers represents 100,000 skilled masonry workers in the United States and Canada.  It is the oldest construction union in North America. For information on BAC go to www.bacweb.org for IMI or International Apprentice Contest participants, go to www.imiweb.org.

The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers represents 100,000 skilled masonry workers in the United States and Canada. It is the oldest continuously operating construction union in North America.