The Reno City Council is discussing a possible change to a city ordinance that would require electricians and plumbers to get an apprentice or journeyman certification. Not all workers are on board with the idea. Labor unions already have the requirement, but non-union companies do not have to have the certificate. Proponents say the regulations are important to improve work quality and safety on job sites.
"So, if an electrician is in your house, if a plumber is in your house, you know that they've tested, they know the code, and they're going to be providing quality work," Mac Bybee, Nevada Chapter President/CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.
Many small businesses have workers with years or decades of experience but they do not have a certificate. Chad Kay is the owner of High Voltage Electric. He says his employees should be judged on merit, not a certification. He fears that most of his workers would lose their jobs if the amendment passes.
"I think the crew would go from probably 90 to 25, overnight, and building in Reno would completely stop," Kay said.
Kay says the reason so many people would lose their jobs has nothing to do with their skills. One of the requirements to apply for an apprenticeship is a high school diploma or GED, which some don't have, including many legal immigrants.
"They could go down and take the test and pass it but if they don't have that, they can't enter an apprenticeship program," Kay said.
High Voltage Electric was founded by Kay's father, 42 years ago. His son, Cody, is following in the family business. He says the regulations are unnecessary.
"They're proposing a solution for a problem we don't necessarily have, right now," Cody Kay said.
Bybee says these regulations were in place for about 40 years but were removed, a few years ago. During that time, he says companies thrived, including during the housing boom about ten years ago.
"Requiring a certification like you would for many other professions, I don't think is really asking too much and it's really not going to impede business," Bybee said.
Bybee says workers that have the experience should not have any problems getting certified, which would require passing a test and paying a small fee.
"If their workforce is a quality, is as competent as they say it is, they should have no barriers to going down and getting a journeyman card," Bybee said.
The council chambers were full of workers, Monday morning. Some are for the amendment and others are opposed. One of those men has had his card since 1978, and says it is the electricians and plumbers duty to have the proper certificates.
"I think the people that are buying the houses, that these people are talking about, should have the right to make sure that qualified people build the darn things," he said.
Another man says the regulation does not change the work quality or safety elements.
"I've been in the trade since I was 15 years old," he said. "I learned from my father. There's no card that I could obtain that would change that, that would give me more experience than what I've learned from my peers."
Tesla and SWITCH are being built at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, and thousands of people are expected to move to the region. That would require tens of thousands of new homes. Critics say the regulations would slow down the growth in the construction industry, right as it is beginning to take off again. They say fewer electricians and plumbers would slow down all work for subcontractors because some of that work has to be completed before other work, like framing, dry wall, painting and roofing can happen.
The city council could vote on the amendment at Wednesday's meeting. Some council members say they are getting as much information as possible before making a decision.
"We want to make sure we have the safest product out there, at the same time, not doing something that negatively impacts the workers in our community," Councilwoman Neoma Jardon said.
