Malloy tours Wallingford bricklayers facility

Published: December 21, 2013 | Last Modified: December 21, 2013 01:30AM

By Eric Vo Record-Journal staff

WALLINGFORD Gov. Dannel P. Malloy spent Friday afternoon visiting an apprenticeship program that trains participants in bricklaying, masonry and tile work.

Malloy was invited to the 17 N. Plains Industrial Road site after he sent a letter recognizing the training program, said Gerald Marotti, president of the 1,700-member International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 1 Connecticut union.

I was elated, Marotti said of Malloys support. This wasnt a Governor, were in trouble and we need your help meeting. This was to let him look at what the taxpayer is paying for and if you like what youll see, we hope youll continue supporting us.

As Malloy walked around the facility, he learned about the different types of work members of the union do, as well as the training they receive. While talking with Marotti and Anthony Pacific, apprenticeship coordinator, the apprentices were laying down bricks as part of a test.

Im a big supporter of labor overall, Malloy said.

The training program is operated through labor-management trusts and can typically last three to five years. While the apprentices are learning, theyre also paid. Before becoming apprentices, they spend 12 weeks in apre-job training course to learn the basics, Pacific said.

In 2008, the program went on a hiatus, Marotti said, because competition began undercutting the union. During the hiatus, unemployment for union members reached 25 percent.

Its hard to track because the members can go out and get a job on their own, Marotti said.

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Malloy tours Wallingford bricklayers facility