United States. A major union representing technicians and installers of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (CVAC/R) equipment has given its approval for an industry-supported training program that seeks to increase the number of workers trained in this segment. reported the AHRI (Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute).
After the event, the pronouncements were not long in coming. Stephen Yurek, president of the institute, expressed his satisfaction and commented: "We are very happy to share work with the unions in terms of technical training and certifications." He added that "we are very pleased by the fact that these rigorous certification and training programs supported by the industry are being recognized by workers as the key element in increasing the degree of qualification."
It is worth saying that in Latin America there are several regional associations for this industry, which in turn develop important education programs. However, the markets are too wide and it is often not possible to summon them to the great totality of the installation mass, which, sometimes, throws weighty consequences in terms of the quality of the installation and maintenance process, something that in turn translates into economic losses, operational falls and emissions of gases harmful to the environment. However, it is important to note that such problems have also been detected in so-called developed markets.
The agreement was signed during the last version of AHR Expo, in NY, by Yurek; NATE -Technical Excellence of North America-; PAHRA – Society for Accreditation in Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration-; and the UA Training Director – Association of Officers and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Plumbing Industries of the United States and Canada.
As part of the agreement, the latter entity agreed to provide qualified technicians with advanced classification credits to start the apprenticeship programs of the local CVAC/R unions. To obtain such credits, they would allow applicants to begin the labor union program as a second year of apprenticeship.
It is important to mention that each of the related associations enjoy enormous prestige within the North American markets as training and certification providers.
Latin America, given the movement that its market is presenting, is in an unbeatable position to begin to promote the formation of these unions, and what is better, the meeting of all technicians and installers to evaluate their professional skills and develop academic programs tailored to these.
