Md. Code Regs. 09.12.42.04

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 22, November 1, 2024

Section 09.12.42.04 - Affirmative Action Plans

A. Adoption of Affirmative Action Plans. A sponsor's commitment to equal opportunity in recruitment, selection, employment, and training of apprentices shall include the adoption of a written affirmative action plan.

B. Definition of Affirmative Action. Affirmative action is not mere passive nondiscrimination. It includes procedures, methods, and programs for the identification, positive recruitment, training, and motivation of present and potential minority and female (minority and nonminority) apprentices including the establishment of goals and timetables. It is action which will equalize opportunity in apprenticeships so as to allow full use of the work potential of minorities and women. The overall result to be sought is equal opportunity in apprenticeships for all individuals participating in or seeking entrance to the State labor force.

C. Outreach and Positive Recruitment.

(1) An acceptable affirmative action plan shall also include adequate provision for outreach and positive recruitment that would reasonably be expected to increase minority and female participation in apprenticeship by expanding the opportunity for minorities and women to become eligible for apprenticeship selection. To achieve these objectives, sponsors shall undertake activities such as those listed below. It is not contemplated that each sponsor necessarily will include all of the listed activities in its affirmative action program. The scope of the affirmative action program will depend on all the circumstances including the size and type of the program and its resources. However, the sponsor will be required to undertake a significant number of appropriate activities in order to enable it to meet its obligations under these regulations. The affirmative action plan shall set forth the specific steps the sponsor intends to take in the areas listed below. Whenever special circumstances warrant, the Council may provide the assistance it deems necessary to implement the requirements of this section.

(2) Activities for Acceptable Affirmative Action Plan.

(a) Dissemination of information concerning the nature of the apprenticeship, requirements for admission to apprenticeship, availability of apprenticeship opportunities, sources of apprenticeship applications, and the equal opportunity policy of the sponsor. For programs accepting applications only at specified intervals, the information shall be disseminated at least 30 days in advance of the earliest date for application at each interval. For programs customarily receiving applications throughout the year, the information shall be regularly disseminated but not less than semiannually. The information shall be given to the Council, local schools, employment service offices, women's centers, outreach programs and community organizations which can effectively reach minorities and women, and shall be published in newspapers which are circulated in the minority community and among women, as well as in the general areas in which the program sponsor operates.

(b) Participation in annual workshops conducted by employment service agencies for the purpose of familiarizing school, employment service, and other appropriate personnel with the apprenticeship system and current opportunities therein.

(c) Cooperation with local school boards and vocational education systems to develop programs for preparing students to meet the standards and criteria required to qualify for entry into apprenticeship programs.

(d) Internal communication of the sponsor's equal opportunity policy in such a manner as to foster understanding, acceptance, and support among the sponsor's various officers, supervisors, employees, and members, and to encourage these persons to take the necessary action to aid the sponsor in meeting its obligations under these regulations.

(e) Engaging in programs such as outreach for the positive recruitment and preparation of potential applicants for apprenticeships. When appropriate and feasible, these programs shall provide for pretesting experience and training. If no such programs are in existence the sponsor shall seek to initiate these programs, or, when available, to obtain financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor. In initiating and conducting these programs the sponsor may be required to work with other sponsors and appropriate community organizations. The sponsor shall also initiate programs to prepare women and encourage women to enter traditionally male programs.

(f) To encourage the establishment and utilization of programs of preapprenticeship, preparatory trade training, or others designed to afford related work experience or to prepare candidates for apprenticeship, a sponsor shall make appropriate provision in its affirmative action plan to assure that those who complete these programs are afforded full and equal opportunity for admission into the apprenticeship program.

(g) Utilization of journeypersons to assist in the implementation of the sponsor's affirmative action program.

(h) Granting advanced standing or credit on the basis of previously acquired experience, training, skills, or aptitude for all applicants equally.

(i) Other appropriate action to ensure that the recruitment, selection, employment, and training of apprentices during apprenticeship shall be without discrimination based on political or religious opinion or affiliation, marital status, race, color, creed, national origin, sex, or age, unless sex or age constitutes a bona fide occupational qualification, or the physical or mental disability of a qualified individual with a disability (for example, general publication of apprenticeship opportunities and advantages in advertisements, industry reports, articles; use of present minority and female apprentices and journeypersons as recruiters; career counseling; periodic auditing of affirmative action programs and activities; and development of reasonable procedures between the sponsor and employers of apprentices to ensure that equal opportunity is being granted, including reporting systems, on-site reviews, briefing sessions). The affirmative action program shall set forth specific steps the sponsor intends to take, in the above areas under this section. Whenever special circumstances warrant, the Council may provide the assistance it deems necessary to implement the above requirements.

D. Goals and Timetables.

(1) A sponsor adopting a selection method under Regulation .05B(1) or (2) of this chapter, which determines on the basis of the analysis described in §E of this regulation that it has deficiencies in terms of under-utilization of minorities or women (minority and nonminority) in the craft or crafts represented by the program, shall include in its affirmative action plan percentage goals and timetables for the admission of minority or female (minority and nonminority) applicants, as applicable, into the eligibility pool.

(2) A sponsor adopting a selection method under Regulation .05B(3) or (4) of this chapter, which determines on the basis of the analysis described in §E of this regulation that it has deficiencies in terms of the under-utilization of minorities or women in the craft or crafts represented by the program, shall include in its affirmative action plan percentage goals and timetables for the selection of minority or female (minority and nonminority) applicants, as applicable, for the apprenticeship program.

(3) "Under-utilization" as used in this section refers to the situation where there are fewer minorities or women (minority and nonminority) in the particular craft or crafts represented by the program than would reasonably be expected in view of an analysis of the specific factors in §E(1)-----(5) of this regulation. When, on the basis of the analysis, the sponsor determines that it has no deficiencies, no goals or timetables need be established. However, if no goals and timetables are established, the affirmative action plan shall include a detailed explanation of why no goals and timetables have been established.

(4) If the sponsor fails to submit goals and timetables as part of its affirmative action plan or submits goals and timetables which are unacceptable, and the Council determines that the sponsor has deficiencies in terms of under-utilization of minorities or women (minority and nonminority) within the meaning of this section, the Council shall establish goals and timetables applicable to the sponsor for the admission of minority and female (minority and nonminority) applicants into the eligibility pool or selection of apprentices, as appropriate. The sponsor shall make good-faith efforts to attain these goals and timetables in accordance with the requirements of this section.

E. Analysis to Determine Whether Deficiencies Exist. The sponsor's determination as to whether goals and timetables shall be established shall be based on an analysis of at least the following factors, which analysis shall be set forth in writing as part of the affirmative action plan:

(1) The size of the working age minority and female (minority and nonminority) population in the program sponsor's labor market area;

(2) The size of the minority and female (minority and nonminority) labor force in the program sponsor's labor market area;

(3) The percentage of minority and female (minority and nonminority) participation as apprentices in the particular craft as compared with the percentage of minorities and women (minority and nonminority) in the labor force in the program sponsor's labor market area;

(4) The percentage of minority and female (minority and nonminority) participation as journeypersons employed by the employer or employers participating in the program as compared with the percentage of minorities and women (minority and nonminority) in the sponsor's labor market area and the extent to which the sponsor should be expected to correct any deficiencies through the achievement of goals and timetables for the selection of apprentices; and

(5) The general availability of minorities and women (minority and nonminority) with present or potential capacity for apprenticeships in the program sponsor's labor market area.

F. Establishment and Attainment of Goals and Timetables.

(1) The goals and timetables shall be established on the basis of the sponsor's analysis of its under-utilization of minorities and women and its entire affirmative action program. A single goal for minorities and a separate single goal for women is acceptable unless a particular group is employed in a substantially disparate manner in which case separate goals shall be established for the group. Separate goals would be required, for example, if a specific minority group of women were under-utilized even though the sponsor had achieved its standards for women generally.

(2) In establishing the goals, the sponsor should consider the results which could be reasonably expected from its good faith efforts to make its overall affirmative action program work. Compliance with these requirements shall be determined by whether the sponsor has met its goals within its timetable, or failing that, whether it has made good-faith efforts to meet its goals and timetables. Its good-faith efforts shall be judged by whether it is following its affirmative action program and attempting to make it work, including evaluation and changes in its program when necessary to obtain the maximum effectiveness toward the attainment of its goals.

(3) However, in order to deal fairly with program sponsors, and with women who are entitled to protection under the goals and timetables requirements, during the first 12 months after the effective date of these regulations, the program sponsor would generally be expected to set a goal for women for the entering year class at a rate which is not less than 50 percent of the proportion women are of the workforce in the program sponsor's labor market area and set a percentage goal for women in each class beyond the entering class which is not less than the participation rate of women currently in the preceding class. At the end of the first 12 months after the effective date of these regulations, sponsors are expected to make appropriate adjustment in goal levels. (See Regulation .07B of this chapter).

G. Data and Information. 29 CFR § 30.4(g) provides that the Secretary of Labor, U.S. Department of Labor, or a person designated by the Secretary of Labor, shall make available to program sponsors data and information on minority and female (minority and nonminority) population and labor force characteristics for each Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA), and for other special areas as appropriate.

Md. Code Regs. 09.12.42.04