FindYourTrade “Learn The Lingo” Definitions

Apprenticeship: A specialized training program for skilled trades, typically including a combination of classroom and on-the-job experience.

JATC: Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee, a group made up of both labor and management that is in charge of administering apprenticeship programs, including staying up-to-date on the most recent safety standards, technology, etc.

Journeyman: A skilled tradesperson who has completed an apprenticeship program and is working in the field. A term that originates from the middle ages and is still in use to this day.

Contractor: A business that takes on agreements or contracts to perform a specific job or complete a particular project. In the construction industry, there are a variety of types of contractors, such as general (GC), mechanical, and finishing, all of which employee skilled tradespeople.

Trade Union: An organization created and managed by workers of a given craft to advocate for their members, including negotiating wages and benefits, setting standards for craftsmanship training, and safety, just to name a few.

Local Union: A union organized and led by members in a certain geographic location, such as a city, county, or region.  Local unions can be found in every part of the country in nearly every industry.

Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA): An agreement between a local union and contractor(s) on a variety of work-related items such as wages, schedules, health care benefits, and many others. These documents set the expectations for both workers and employers.

Prevailing Wage: A rate of hourly pay for each trade and type of work in a certain area, such as a county or state. Governments and other publicly funded organizations must typically pay the area’s prevailing wage on all construction and maintenance projects.