A local pipe trades union is looking to branch out with an apprenticeship training program in Tempe as demand for both the program and more workers has increased in the growing region.
The Arizona State Building and Construction Trades Council wants to expand one of its apprenticeship training facilities in Phoenix into Tempe, sharing its vision for the campus at a recent council committee meeting.
City staff received a presentation during the June 17 Sustainability and Economic Vitality Council Committee meeting about the potential expansion of the Arizona Pipe Trades Apprenticeship Program’s training facility into Tempe.
Led by Councilors Arlene Chin and Jennifer Adams, the committee is responsible for exploring topics of sustainable initiatives and economic vitality in Tempe.
This committee does not take formal votes or make decisions about city programs, policies or budgets but does provide recommendations to the city council.
Solomon Galyon from the Arizona State Building and Construction Trades Council, the body representing the interests of all 14 union building trades in the state, spoke about the Arizona Pipe Trades Apprenticeship Program’s desire to expand its campus into the East Valley.
According to the Pipe Trades website, this program is a five-year, state-registered plumbing and pipefitting apprenticeship program open to people 18 and up with a high school diploma or GED.
Galyon mentioned the Torres Law Group previously reached out to the city to discuss the program’s potential expansion into the city, but he came to the meeting to ensure council was informed about the project.
“I don’t know how much the council knows about union apprenticeships, but it is the gold standard in trades training,” Galyon said.
Union apprenticeships use an “earn-as-you-learn” method of education that allows apprentices to learn while being employed and also allows apprentices to work with multiple employers.
Galyon noted the Pipe Trades Apprenticeship Program has fourth-year apprentices — who also don’t pay for the education — making six figures while working in the program.
At the program’s campus, located at 2950 W. Thomas Road, apprentices are taught everything from the basics of installing pipes to advanced welding techniques. Galyon highlighted that the campus represents the HVAC trade in Arizona and is the predominant workforce at both Intel Corp. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
“In my mind, the benefit to Tempe in bringing in an apprenticeship to Tempe is the increase in investment from our contractors as well as our ability to grow our workforce on this side of the Phoenix metro,” Galyon said.
Demand for workers
Going into the potential campus expansion, Galyon discussed how the 6-acre Phoenix campus is no longer able to accommodate the amount of apprentices they have, and they expect the number to continue to grow.
Historically, the Pipe Trades program has brought in 300 to 500 apprentices, according to him, but with the current demand for trade skills, this range is expanding.
“Because of the boom of work across the state, we have jumped in the last year and a half to 1,200 apprentices,” he said.
Solomon Galyon of the Arizona State Building and Construction Trades Council spoke at a June 17 Tempe council committee meeting.
Courtesy City of Tempe/YouTube
(Courtesy City of Tempe/YouTube)
Of the existing 6-acre campus in Phoenix, Galyon said they’ve outgrown this facility, and they expect with increased contracting trends, there’s potential to grow by another 600 apprentices.
Originally, the Pipe Trades program was considering rebuilding its existing campus and expanding capacity there, but ultimately that plan was deemed shortsighted and probably less effective than expected.
Galyon said after deciding against the rebuild, the organization began to consider the possibility of an East Valley.
The 300-500 apprentices from the Pipe Trades program has helped the council to sustain 3,500 union members for the last 30 years throughout the state, Galyon said.
But with the program’s recent growth, the number of union members has grown to just under 5,000. Galyon noted to accommodate the boom in industry, they’ll need to grow that number by another 2,500.
Speaking to council members, he said this would be a great benefit to Tempe, as it would create good paying jobs for residents.
“You’re not investing in people who are already wealthy who tend to hold on to their money, you’re investing in people who spend their money on the economy and grow the economy around them,” Galyon said.
Not only would this expansion be a benefit to the apprenticeship program and the Trades Council, but he stated that a campus in Tempe would be a major contribution to the way that the city is already growing economically.
Galyon extended an invitation to council to visit the current training facility to get a better idea about what they do and how the apprenticeship works.
“I think it’s a great idea to have something on the east side, and Tempe is of course the best place to be on the east side,” Adams said.
Reporter Caroline Yu can be reached at cyu@iniusa.org. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Caroline Caroline Yu joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2020 as a summer intern covering Scottsdale. As an intern, she continued her coverage of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Tempe. After graduating in 2022, Caroline became a full-time reporter for Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. She is currently reporting for the Tempe market.
Community: She is a supporter of the environment and tries to get involved with related community events.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications, with a minor in French.
Random Fact: She used to be a ballet dancer for 10 years.
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