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I'm a junior in high school and attending ocean county vocational school for the next two years. I will receive A national certification from the American Welding Society upon graduation. I plan to join the Welders Union in New Jersey. I was wondering if this is the only schooling that I need to join the union? How is the union in New Jersey? Pay? Just wanted some details. Thanks!
Reply:Originally Posted by newjerseyrookieI'm a junior in high school and attending ocean county vocational school for the next two years. I will receive A national certification from the American Welding Society upon graduation. I plan to join the Welders Union in New Jersey. I was wondering if this is the only schooling that I need to join the union? How is the union in New Jersey? Pay? Just wanted some details. Thanks!
Reply:I'm not aware of a "welders union". At least in the building trades.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I apologize. What is the name of the union i would join with my welding certification? I am not very educated with this subject, i like working with my hands, building things, and working with metals. I would love to be more educated. Any welders that attended OCVTS here in New Jersey or even New Jersey welders willing to help? Would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!
Reply:The real money is in the building trades. Pipeliners LU 798 Tulsa Oklahoma. Then it is a toss up between the Pipe fitters, Electricians, Sheet metal unions. Then the Iron workers, Millwrights, Pile drivers, Carpenters, etc, etc. Last I heard a first year apprentice starts out in the low to mid $20.00 an hour.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:We had a union rep from the Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 in last term to talk to the guys about the possibility of joining the union. Even if you can weld perfectly, you'd still need to go thru all the apprentice stuff. You might be able to get some credit for stuff already learned, but you might only cut your apprenticeship down by a year or so at best. As far as I know, same goes for other unions who have welders.I was a bit surprised the guy even came in to talk to the students. Over the last few years none of the unions have been coming in to talk to anyone at the tech school. They used to come and compete to get the best students to come and join. However with the down turn in the economy, they aren't taking many apprentices. Those they do, you usually need an "in" with someone in the union. Most have a waiting list of sons and so on of current members, and they usually get 1st dibs on spots when they open up. Even saying that I think Local 19 were only looking at having maybe 20 spots available. That's not a huge number of openings. I also remember him saying, that there wasn't a guarantee you'd get in even if you were accepted. You might have to wait 6 months or more until they had openings for apprentices even if you met all their requirements, passed the interviews and were accepted. He was telling guys not to quit their day jobs even if they got accepted since they might not start actually working even though they were doing their classes.I know the term before we had a bunch of guys from the gas company taking the class. They commented the union needed welders. However, it still wasn't easy to get in the union. These guys were already in the union, and just wanted to have enough knowledge to give them a leg up when it came to getting in the classes required to learn to weld.I'd figure that you'll still need to do the 4 year apprenticeship once you get out of school. The class might give you  a leg up IF ( big if) the union is looking to take in new members. If they aren't, your chances around here are pretty much nill. Other areas may or may not need members depending on what the economy is like there, and how much work is available. Around here, they simply don't have the work for the members they have in most unions, so there's no point in bringing in a lot of new members who they don't need..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWyou usually need an "in" with someone in the union. Most have a waiting list of sons and so on of current members, and they usually get 1st dibs on spots when they open up. I'd figure that you'll still need to do the 4 year apprenticeship once you get out of school. The class might give you  a leg up IF ( big if) the union is looking to take in new members.
Reply:CEP sounds like you had an "in" with your dad to get tested right away, and they had openings. Also sounds like you still had to do most of your time as an apprentice, even if you did manage higher pay. You didn't walk right out of the tech school and become a journeyman. That's the way I read the OP's comments..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:As CEP said there is not Any real "Welders" union. MANY trades teach welding to the apprentices. Carpenters, Bricklayers, Laborers. Operating Engineers etc.Stay out of the Ironworkers, not many IQ points needed to Power Clean rebar from Point A to Point B.The Pipe Fitters have a 5 year program out here. Know your math. Trigonometry? Learn to luv the learning of it.Stay clean. Drug test anytime. Drivers License to get your carcass around the countryside.Felonies? Kiss the Powerhouse, Refineries, Chemical, Water Plants jobs goodbye.Checkout your local gas company for job openings. They are separate from the trade unions in some places as far as hiring.I never knew anybody in the trade(s). And I got in.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWCEP sounds like you had an "in" with your dad to get tested right away, and they had openings. Also sounds like you still had to do most of your time as an apprentice, even if you did manage higher pay. You didn't walk right out of the tech school and become a journeyman. That's the way I read the OP's comments.