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I just wanted to ask for some advice on the Welder's Helper position in the UA Local 798.I'm from Indiana, and I have a 2G-3/8" GMAW cert. I've worked at the same place for about six years, primarily running press brakes and other fab equipment. I was made a welder in March of 2011. I have never been fired, or quit a job on bad terms. I am 26 years old, so I feel like that's a decently solid work history for someone of my age. I applied for UA Local 136's apprenticeship program last year, and had an interview, but I was turned down. I will be applying again next week, and for the Boilermakers in March. I am interested in applying as a welder's helper in 798, and I have some questions about that:1: If I have been welding for almost a year, but in a GMAW-oriented mass-production environment, do I qualify to even apply? UA 798's site lists this for required qualifications:"Complete a pre-qualifying application (below), which must show 240 hours pipeline or welding experience. Pre-qualifying applications will only be reviewed as we need to add Helper members to cover the work available. We will notify you by mail once your application has been reviewed."2: If I pay the $1200 dollar fee, does it seem likely that I will be able to find work in 2012? I really don't want to leave a decent job, and then be sitting on the bench while paying dues.3: Can I still live in Indiana, since the local apparently covers the entire country, or would I need to move further west?4: If I can get on as an apprentice with UA 136 in Indiana, will that make it possible for me to just transfer into 798 as a helper?I'd really appreciate any help you can offer. Thanks!
Reply:Good Luck. I think you should find someone who is actually a Boilermaker and have a face to face. I never met a boilermaker who worked twelve months a year. Most of their work is shutdowns. As a result you work on projects for a few months then move on. I also have found few boilermakers who were happily married for a long time. In times of shortages in the halls, fees are waived in order to attract new members because if employers cannot hire a body through the hall they get the option of hiring off the street and enrolling the new employee. In Canada at least the Boilermakers Union does not like that to happen. Most of the boilermakers I have worked with were between jobs. They kept on good terms with several shops and would come back and work inside until they got another callout. If they hear there is work in another province they often transfer to that local but still live in their home province between jobs. The money is REALLY good but long hours :')
Reply:hey bud. I dont know about the pipeliner local, but if you have welding certs from your last job that should give you preference point to become an acceptable applicant.I am a Boilermaker. Local 5 Zone 197. (dont get me started on the merger) Ill put it to you this way. Boilermaking is the BEST part time job youll ever have!!!! The money is good, the hours are long, most shut downs are 6-10s 6-12s, or even my favorites 7-10s or 12s. As far as work at the moment, its very very slow for us accross the entire country. there is alot of internal political bs that it ties too but i wont get into that.As far as our apprenticeship for the NE. you apply, when you get called you come to indenturement, you pay 150 dollars to get in( i will explain in a little bit) after all your indenturement ia done you go take a drug screening. if you pass your in the apprenticship, if you fail, do not pass go do not collect your 150 back.the 150 dollars is to help pay for some of the expenses of the apprenticeship, because so many applicants start and drop out once they see what our job is all about. so your apprenticeship homework books etc are somewhat covered by the 150. your on probation for the first year, at which time you are locked in at 65% of full rate. after the first year you pay another 100, and get raises of 5% every 6 months, as long as your paper work is current, 2000 hours you buy your apprentice book, 3 year and 4th you pay 100 also.so your up to 450 dollars over 4 years. when you graduate the apprentice ship with 6000 field hours and 4 years classroom time, you get the 450 back, you then use 200 of that to add to your 300 dollar apprentice book to buy your journeymans book. thats how it works in my area. I am a 4th year apprentice and am just about out.One thing i can tell you now is: boilermaking is NOT all about welding...if your scared of hights, might wanna consider a different path lol.... yes there are jobs where youll arc gouge for days on end, and weld for days on end ALL DAY. but we do alot of rigging, and mechanic work of DA tanks, head tanks etc.we pride our selves on being the best riggers and welder in the trades.if you have any question give me a shout.
Reply:Last I heard 798 isn't taking any new members. lol. That could change I guess, so applying is a good idea.As for your welding experience I can't say. A 798 helper doesn't weld, they help a welder who does weld. Knowledge of how to help a pipeline welder should be of more value than knowing how to weld in a shop. lol. Again i can't say.As for where you live. Pipeliners live wherever they live, then they travel for work. You might come home often then you might not come home but after the job is over. That can be how ever long it is. A good pipeline job used to be considered 6 weeks. By then most pipeliners are fighting so much they couldn't work together any longer. A job lasts how long it lasts. lol Who can say. 600' of 2" don't last very long, where 60 miles of 36" should take some time. Again it depends if they keep you to the end or not. lol. I've seen one man layoff's while they were still hiring. Just keep at it. You might get in.Good luckSlowhandLast edited by slowhand; 01-25-2012 at 06:07 PM.
Reply:Thanks for the replies. I'll be trying all three: UA here in Indiana, Boilermakers here in Indiana, and 798 Pipeliners. I just worry that it might be one of those long shot kin of deals, like applying with the railroad or something. As far as the Boilermakers, I've heard on this forum that they classify their apprentice applications in four tiers, based on what level of certification you have. I guess it couldn't hurt to have a 6G license of some kind first, so I might need to get some more school in first. I have some industrial maintenance certifications, but my only welding qualifications I received through in-shop certification by a company CWI.I only brought up the welding with regard to the Pipeliners because the site said I would need to have 240 hours of either pipeline or welding experience, and welding is the one of those that I have. I don't really know how I would get pipeline experience other than by joining the union as a helper.
Reply:The more certs you have when applying. The better the chance to get into the boiler makers. Although we don't go by aws. Or dot. If you have a 6g tube cert through aws your chances of getting in are greatly higher than if you havve no certs..... nepatism is a hard part to break through but if you put your nose to the grind and become a good welder, and a good all around boilermaker, you can tell tthem to can it, and if your good enough there is not much they can do. Unfortunately we do have a lot of "deadwood" so if your good, you'll be asked for . Much like any other trade |
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发表于 2021-8-31 23:59:57