BUDDY UP
Manitoba is reinstating its one-to-one apprentice-to-journeyperson ratio as of October 30, though collision centres may apply for exemption to keep the two-to-one ratio via the Automotive Trades Association (ATA) of Manitoba. ATA of Manitoba President Norm Bruneau said the organization will link the applicable apprenticeship forms on its website. “We’re happy to assist shops through this change and help them find the resources they need to hopefully run their business with minimal disruption,” he originally told Collision Repair mag. Existing apprenticeship agreements may continue if employers have been permitted to have journeypersons supervise more than one apprentice; apprentices actively demonstrate continued progress; and if journeypersons do not take on additional apprentices.
MOMENTS OF TRUTH
A new report from CCC Intelligent Solutions titled “Moments of Truth: Customer Satisfaction and Retention in the Auto Insurance Claims and Repair Journey” reveals that customers see the collision process as a unified experience between repairers and insurers. The study specifically looked at responses from 2,400 policyholders involved in an accident between August 2021 and December 2023 who filed a first-party claim and went through the repair process. The study reveals that when it comes to customer satisfaction, “policyholders hold both carriers and repairers accountable for outcomes that are the responsibility of other partners. For example, respondents are more satisfied with their carriers when they perceive overall vehicle repair quality to be high, and they’re also more satisfied with their repairer when they receive clear communications about how the claims process works.”
ALTERNATE ENTRYWAYS
Bill 190, the Working for Workers Five Act, 2024, which aims to create “alternate criteria” for entering the skilled trades, is set to be reviewed and voted on by Ontario members of the Provincial Parliament (MPPs). The bill outlines how alternate pathways would include: introducing the Focused Apprenticeship Skills Training (“FAST”) program for high school students to get apprenticeship training alongside their regular studies; launching an online job portal to help apprentices, journeypersons, and employers to connect easily for networking and job opportunities; and creating alternative paths into skilled trades for career changers based on professional experience, bypassing strict academic requirements. While no date has been set for the most recent vote on Bill 190, the MVRO said it is likely to happen in the coming weeks.
