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Kim has worked as an Industrial Electrician for 21 years. She works in the Trim and Hardware department at General Motors Canada in Oshawa. Her career began on the production line in 1979. Inspired toward her trade by a male friend lineworker who took a night-school course in electronics with her at Durham College, Kim started her four-year apprenticeship at General Motors in 1984 when the company hired 60 apprentices in Oshawa and 20 at the Scarborough Van Plant. She was one of two women among 60 apprentices, and scored highly on the points-system aptitude test that General Motors gives to prospective apprentices. (She also scored high on the YMCA's aptitude test for her trade.) Kim remembers three particular occasions from her apprenticeship training:
Kim works from Monday to Friday, inside all year round. Her day is demanding because of the amount of equipment and processes, and is predictable except when these break down. Like a technician on a computer, she works mainly with voltages below 600 volts and quite often with equipment that is not in an electrical panel. She only works directly with higher electrical power when troubleshooting. She carries a beeper and radio that are linked to the major pieces of equipment in the plant. Some days, the beeper, pager, radio, and alarms never seem to stop. Most problems relate to the process. A typical day involves taking calls to troubleshoot: a robot that has stopped; a robot that needs a path adjustment; an electric gun that is malfunctioning; a lift that has stopped; an AMS (Automated Momorail System) carrier that has stopped; an AGV (Automated Guidance Vehicle) that has stopped; an electric tester that has stopped; a light fixture that needs light tubes replaced. Every minute counts and co-operation is critical. Most tasks at General Motors are performed in work cells. These are enclosures housing an electrical panel, robot/s with controller/s, safety mats, a camera, a lock-out gate, and a light curtain as a safety measure to stop production people walking into danger during operation. A cell can have from one to ten robots. Robots are used for the mundane, heavy, or ergonomically unfeasible tasks. Kim works with two work cells. The Engineers program the robots. The production person puts the component (for example, glass) on a shuttle. The robot unloads it. The controller on the robot moves around on six axises. An auxiliary axis dispenses the fluids in a straight line on the glass and loads it into the vehicle. If the fluids are not distributed correctly, it is Kim's job to touch up the process. Some weekends, when the production workers are away, she adds to existing installation or does repairs. Kim works in a constant learning environment. In 2004, she had 160 hours of training on new systems, robots, and computer-oriented programming logic. General Motors' eight or nine in-house training instructors are constantly busy. As well, the CAW has a full Training Centre in Port Elgin where the employees may choose to attend annual 40-hour courses at the Union's expense. The employees receive monthly health and safety talks, and the company also offers pre-retirement classes. Kim loves being able to draw on her skills to fix something that will make the production workers' jobs easier. She enjoys the rapport she has with them. Her main challenge now is when non-routine problems arise. A slight challenge early in her apprenticeship was when a journeyperson suggested that she was hired for some reason other than merit, even 'though she had achieved an excellent score on the company's aptitude test. For safety on the job, Kim recommends that workers with strength issues take extra precaution and work with the assistive tools that are available. She acknowledges that workers can sometimes feel restricted by the protective clothing that is designed by the company. Kim's salary is negotiated by the union. An Industrial Electrician can earn up to $36 per hour, excluding overtime. She enjoys an attractive benefits package. General Motors' hourly employees get 104 hours' vacation after one year, increasing each year to a maximum of 240 hours after 20 years. After one year, an employee is entitled to two additional weeks off, called "spa weeks". Kim can retire in 2009 on a generous pension. Kim's advice to 'would-be' Industrial Electricians is: Take an active interest. You always need an edge. Ask questions and ask several times if you don't understand. Research what's involved in the job, for example you may not want shift work. In a big company, talk to the union. Local colleges often have open houses for trades and technology where you can see the robots in action. Attend an Introduction to Trades Week Workshop for Women. Take computer and electronics training. Computer-based courses rank high for points in General Motors' apprenticeship aptitude tests. For example, some qualifying distance education (home study) courses at George Brown College can be located at www.etcourse.com; www.emcourse.com; and www.plctechnician.com. Deal appropriately with any negative comments even as an apprentice because you will likely be moving around the company, (General Motors' apprentices move around every three or four months) and your reputation can precede you." Success in this trade requires: a keen mind to deal with advancing technology and learn new programs fast; aptitude for working with electronics, robots and computer-based technology, programming languages, and electricity for troubleshooting; comfort working indoors every day, sometimes in warm, stuffy and cramped areas; comfort walking a catwalk and climbing ladders on a platform or to a ceiling 30 ft or higher, for example, to repair a light; and comfort with people watching while you are fixing something. Kim sees a great future for her trade. As companies continue to incorporate ever-advancing technology, the demand for maintenance will keep pace. Kim removes her Electrician's hat when she leaves work. Her husband has not been able to persuade her to do any electrical work at home. Retirement will take her in the direction of acting classes. (Her speaking ability has already earned her an invitation to participate as a discussion leader when courses for trades were being offered at the CAW's Training Centre in Port Elgin.) She also plans to continue traveling widely with her husband, and do volunteer work and lots of reading. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
®1999 DURHAM REGION LOCAL TRAINING BOARD | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
