Gaeilge
Donegal ETB’s Further Education and Training (FET) service recently welcomed representatives from the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Canada to its Letterkenny Training Centre.
The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) Canada is linked to the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers, a diverse union representing workers throughout the United States and Canada in industrial construction, repair, and maintenance; manufacturing; shipbuilding and marine repair; railroads; mining and quarrying; cement kilns and related industries. The IBB began in the United States in 1893.
Over the last five years, Donegal ETB has developed links with the IBB Canada in order to expand international work experience opportunities for its welding learners.
Donegal ETB’s FET Service met with incoming IBB International Vice President Arnie Stadnick, IBB National Director of Health and Safety Jason McInnis, IBB Assistant National Programme Coordinator Jim Beauchamp and IBB European Representative Tom McEnroe, all of whom have previously visited Donegal ETB’s Letterkenny Training Centre.
Cathal McGee, Donegal ETB Welding Instructor, remarked, “We first linked with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Canada in 2013 to secure work for Irish welders and help them to address a shortage of welders in Canada. We’ve achieved this by enabling our learners to achieve the Canadian Red Seal in Welding which qualifies them to weld in Canadian oil refineries. This qualification provides those seeking work with flexibility, choice and freedom as they are in a position to pick and choose where they want to work, the projects they want, and how long they want to work for. The demand for qualified welders far exceeds the supply in the pharmaceutical, oil refinery and nuclear power sectors.”
Donegal ETB offers an extensive range of basic, intermediate, coded pipe and Engineering Operations training. IBB Canada representatives expressed their delight with the quality of the welding training being provided by Donegal ETB which has been recognised by the IBB Canada.
Cróna Gallagher, Director of FET, Donegal ETB stated, “We were delighted to welcome senior staff from the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers to hear about their work and the fantastic travel and work opportunities our learners can avail of in Canada, in addition to the opportunities available at home in Ireland.”
Following their visit, Tom McEnroe, IBB European Representative, said, “We very much appreciate you making time to meet with us and look forward to continued co-operation.”
Specific Skills Training is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.
