Together With

Ted Ramsdell reflects on the meaning of Labor Day, the value of skilled trades, and why local workers should have a voice in the communities they help build

“It takes classes, it takes education,” Ramsdell said. “That all takes time and takes money and takes resources.”

That is where apprenticeship programs such as the one operated by Local 36 Sheet Metal Union come in.

Local 36’s St. Louis Apprenticeship and Training Center promotes a tuition free, earn while you learn model that combines hands on training with employment. The program also has health care and retirement benefits among the advantages available to members.

The Local 36 apprenticeship is a long-term commitment to learning the trade, combining thousands of hours of hands-on experience with classroom instruction over several years.

That training prepares workers for a wide range of careers throughout the construction industry, including HVAC systems, architectural metal, industrial work, fabrication, and system testing and balancing. Local 36’s training program also provides continuing education for experienced members, helping workers build new skills as technology and industry standards change.

Ramsdell said people who have never seen a union apprenticeship program firsthand are sometimes surprised by the amount of training involved.

He recalled inviting a public official who had been skeptical of organized labor to tour the Local 36 training facility. According to Ramsdell, seeing the classrooms, instructors, equipment, and training structure changed the conversation.

“Somebody comes down and actually sees it. They understand it,” Ramsdell said. “Then it’s a different story.”

The impression apparently lasted beyond the tour. Ramsdell said the official’s son later filled out an application for the apprenticeship program.

For young adults who may not want a traditional four year college path, Ramsdell sees apprenticeship as another route toward a career that provides training while allowing a person to earn a living wage.

Keeping Local Work Local

Ramsdell also sees organized labor as an economic development issue.

When new schools, public buildings, commercial projects, and industrial facilities are built in Jefferson County, he wants the people doing that work to include the people who live here.

“That’s the people living in your area working to build their own community,” Ramsdell said.

The impact goes beyond simply keeping paychecks in the local economy. Union training also creates a level of consistency in the way workers are taught to approach their trade.

When apprentices and experienced workers are trained to the same industry standards, contractors know what level of knowledge, safety, and workmanship they can expect on a job. That consistency can be especially important on public projects, where taxpayers ultimately carry the cost of work that has to be repaired or redone.

For Ramsdell, there is value in having established contractors and trained workers who understand those standards and remain connected to a project long after construction is complete.

“The cheapest number isn’t always the best price,” Ramsdell said.

A lower bid may save money upfront, he argued, but those savings can disappear quickly if poor workmanship leads to repairs, additional construction, or problems that must be corrected later. Consistent training, experienced contractors, and recognized industry standards can help ensure a project is built correctly the first time.

Part of his work as a business representative, Ramsdell said, is helping keep Local 36 members and union contractors working on projects within the communities where those workers live.

“My number one key goal is to keep our people and our contractors working in our communities,” he said.

A Place for Workers to Get Involved

That same focus on local issues carries into Ramsdell’s work with the Jefferson County Labor Club.

The organization gives union members a place to meet public officials, candidates, and other people involved in decisions affecting Jefferson County.

Ramsdell said much of the club’s monthly meeting is spent talking directly with officeholders and candidates, discussing upcoming projects, and learning more about what is happening with local governments and schools.

“If you’re interested in who’s working on your school or who’s on your school board, those are where you would meet your people and have those conversations,” Ramsdell said.

And those conversations are not limited to a small circle.

“Anybody’s welcome to come and see what we’ve got,” Ramsdell said.

The Jefferson County Labor Club meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Mississippi River Eagles Club, 330 Bailey Road in Crystal City. The club’s executive committee meets at 6 p.m.

Labor Day is not simply an opportunity to look back at the workers who came before. It is a reminder of the courage it took to win many of the protections working people now depend on, and of the responsibility to continue defending them.

For Ramsdell, honoring that history means continuing to stand up for safe workplaces, fair treatment, strong training, and careers that allow people to provide for their families. It also means keeping good jobs close to home whenever possible, so parents can spend less time traveling for work and more time in the communities where their families live, learn, worship, and grow.

“It’s all about being involved and knowing what’s going on in your own community,” Ramsdell said.

For the apprentices learning a trade through Local 36 and the longtime workers participating in the Jefferson County Labor Club, that involvement is part of carrying the legacy of organized labor forward. The sacrifices of earlier generations helped establish safer workplaces and greater dignity for working people. Continuing to protect those standards, strengthen local careers, and give workers a voice is one way of honoring the bravery it took to achieve them.