Tampa Electric?s lineman training facility received a visit from the U.S. labor secretary, Thomas Perez, on Thursday. The labor secretary claimed that the apprenticeship program, which has about 10 apprentices enrolled at any given time, a model for the entire nation. Mr. Perez emphasized the apprenticeship program as a pathway to a middle class life. Upon graduation from the apprentice program, linemen can expect to earn about $70,000 plus overtime. The program has produced about 80% of the linemen currently employed by Tampa Electric, which is the state?s third-largest investor-owned utility company.
See "Tampa Electric?s apprentice lineman program catches eye of U.S. labor secretary", Ivan Penn, Tampa Bay Times, November 14, 2013