President's Message
I hope this message finds you and yours well and in good health
I wonder, what we can do to get young people to want to choose roles in Building Operations. The average age of a Building Operator has improved some-what over the last few years from 53 to 49 but it still is too high. We need to attract new young people into our roles. It seems to me that there are training programs in public schools that students take that can prepare them for entry into the work force. Programs such as Carpentry, Auto Mechanics, Electrical for both Construction as well as Technical. It exposes and prepares students that would want to enter the workforce under the trade’s programs and gives them an idea of what the job would be like. I would like to say that there could be a selection for students to take the 5th class course in school and with some exposure to the variety of aspects of careers in Property Management. From Technical Operations to Building Sciences as well Property Administration.
The advantages to a Red Seal program are the salaries are set, based on percentages of the Journeyperson. The time spent as an apprentice is a paid education through all the years. Now even the time spent in school is paid. That the wages are set and the career path can be followed with the trades is why in schools it can be promoted. In building Operations, we need to do the same. But before the career can be acknowledged by the school system certain conditions must be met. The career path must be established for the students to be able to follow. There needs to be a salary attached to each stage. The salaries should have a band and each roll needs the salary band next to it. I have seen on the Hays report on Salaries, and we could use that as a basis to present to the educational system to have the course entered in the school system.
The role of the Building Operator is much the same as the journeyperson program, only to become certified, is much quicker than the 4-year Red Seal program. The 5th or the 4th class certificate of competency are stand alone certificates and don’t require the person to have to go further. Not to have to apprentice for four years. To take and pass an approved course and apply 6 months experience as a Heating Plant Operator will place that person in a building, as an entry level Building Operator, Class 5. The wages of an experienced Building Operator are sufficient to earn a living. The opportunity to expand the role from entry level is varied and could satisfy all types of persons. We just need for young people to investigate the roles in Real Property Management and let them see the wonderful and diverse life that is in Building Operations.
