BOSTON — Representatives of building trades unions and construction industry groups told the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development on Oct. 14 that while apprenticeship training is critical, they disagree on how the state should require apprenticeship participation for public construction bids.

Joe O’Brien, political and legislative director for the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, testified in support of House Bill 2148 and Senate Bill 3375, which would require contractors bidding on public projects to participate in state‑certified apprenticeship programs and register apprentices for the trades they employ.

“Registered apprenticeship is critically important,” O’Brien said, noting previous committee site visits to training centers and apprentices the committee had met.

Contractor representatives from Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) said they support training but urged changes to any mandate. Greg Beeman, an ABC representative, said the bill’s requirement that contractors use registered apprenticeship ratios could be more restrictive than current state licensing ratios — for example, plumbing licensing allows one apprentice per journeyperson while some registered‑apprenticeship rules call for lower apprentice ratios in practice. ABC recommended aligning apprenticeship ratios with existing state licensing rules to avoid limiting hiring capacity.

Witnesses said several apprenticeship bills are being negotiated to produce consensus language and expected a consolidated bill within days. The committee heard that apprenticeship requirements and ratios are technical details that significantly affect contractor capacity and the pace of bringing new workers into the trades.

No formal committee action occurred during the hearing.