For those who work union, do you mind answering some questions? [Serious!]

admin

I'm going to talk to my local pipefitters union tomorrow. It is an hour away so I'm trying to decide between the travel distance and what not, if I will truly pursue it. I'm leaning towards yes, but looking for info. I've answered a handful of my own, but there are some that I will ask here as well as in person as I imagine they may be vague and specific in the same. First, we meet two times a week for ?training? and I imagine classroom work. It is a 5 year, as seems normal for union apprenticeships. My question is this...When about will the work/money come in? I'm about to start work part time while I pursue pipeline work (just finished school) and so I wonder if I will have a length of time that I can hold a steady job while waiting for my date for first work through the union. Is there a 1 year probationary period or is it jump in and go typically?Is most of the learning done through the weekly meetings? Meaning...blueprint reading, schematics, rules/regs and such or is that as well a lot of OTJ training? Basically, what are the meetings for in general? This is a plumber/pipefitter union, so I'm curious what the coursework may be like. Ultimately I would like to be a pipe welder, but we don't have that union locally. Would a fitters union teach me all forms of welding from stick to tig?
Reply:Twice a week is class and shop training to make sure you learn something. Most of the teaching is done on the job.Soldering, screw pipe, brazing, med gas, rigging, isometric drawing, blueprint, autocad,  welding, low pressure boiler systems A 5 yr apprenticeship is standard. Pay starts as a % of journeyman scale. to start 35 to 50% with pay raises  every 6 or 12 monthsas long as you have OTJ hours logged.The hall should be able to tell you when to expect work to start so don't quit a current job until you have a job ticket in hand.Probation is the first 6 or 12 months from when you start... screw up bad enough and you're out.All pipefitting locals do their own pipe welding so the hall you go to will teach you how to weld as with a combo local (fitter/plumber). Plumbing locals have very little welding work. What Local are looking to join?Long after the price is forgotten, the quality will remain.Both of my Poppy's 1954 Short Hoods -Third generation to weld with it and teaching a fourthSA 2## - Bought and sold more than I can remember or care to list, 8 in the shop right now
Reply:Shot you a PM Adam.