Myths and Realities of Deconstruction Training

Myth #1 – No one can make a living wage as a deconstruction worker.
This is an argument I've been hearing since we started TRP in 1993. Our workers earn a wage that is 25 to 35 percent higher than the California minimum and 35 to 50 percent higher than the federal. Can it keep a family of four housed, fed and clothed? No, but then most of our workers are young and just starting out in life -- and don't yet have families. Our crew chiefs are paid 30 to 50 percent more than the average deconstruction worker and our deconstruction managers receive 50 percent more than the crew chiefs. As workers gain proficiency and skill at handling tools and materials, we expect them to be hired by for-profit companies that can afford to pay more. The more people we lose to better paying jobs, the better job we've done training them.

Myth #2 - There are no jobs available for people trained in construction, let alone deconstruction. 
This is a very difficult economic period -- not much different from the late 1970's when unemployment was running in the low double digits. However, when conditions improve (and they will) we will experience a boom similar to that of the 1980's and 90's. 
Because of the nature of our business, TRI training focuses on deconstruction and building-materials salvage. However, many important skills are immediately transferable to other jobs. Examples are safety practices, teamwork, verbal and written communication, familiarity with hand and power tools, basic math (for bid calculations), productivity forecasting, and job planning.
In cities with high unemployment rates like Detroit, Cleveland, Dayton, Hartford and Baltimore, TRI is not only training unemployed workers, it is also offering them a chance at employment with local TRP-certified deconstruction contractors. I know of no other company that trains both potential employees and employers. I witnessed the benefits of this dual-approach following our 14-day training course in Muncie, Indiana.
Muncie is a small town in the middle of Indiana that was once the home of Ball Manufacturing, Hemingway Glass and the Durant Company, big manufacturing-industry players. At its peak the population approached 100,000 but has fallen to approximately 66,000 today. Now the city is struggling to convert from a manufacturing to a predominantly healthcare, education and service economy. We were hired by the City of Muncie and the Delaware County Department of Community Corrections to train a group of people trying to qualify for mainstream employment. Two Muncie residents, Tyler Kelsey of Closed Loop Development and Brook Linton of Solid State Carpentry, agreed to join TRP as area managers in Indiana. They also assisted me with the training.
After we completed the training, the City asked Tyler and Brook to bid on planned deconstruction projects. When asked who they would hire for their crews, Brook immediately responded that they would recruit first from recent TRI training participants. At least three were hired within a week of graduation.
Over the past year I have written several e-letters on TRI and deconstruction training. However, thanks to Muncie, this time I witnessed the confluence of several important elements of our business model:

1. TRP hired and trained area managers.
2. TRP area managers trained local contractors to be TRP-certified deconstruction contractors.
3. Unemployed workers were trained by TRP.
4. Trained workers were hired by local TRP-certified deconstruction contractors.
5. Salvaged doors, windows and fixtures were donated to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
6. Salvaged old-growth yellow pine was shipped to a local furniture craftsman.

Many, many thanks to: Gretchen Cheesman, Administrator, Unsafe Building Authority, City of Muncie; June Kramer, Executive Director, Delaware County Community Corrections; Rusty Love and Greg Maynard, Delaware County Community Corrections; Bill Koen, Director, Habitat for Humanity ReStore; Brook Linton and Tyler Kelsey, TRP Area Managers and TRP-certified deconstruction contractors.
 For a closer look at the Muncie training, go to: http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20091005/NEWS01/910050303/0/NEWS06/L...