Electrician Apprenticeship

[KAMKIM]

Have you or anyone you know done an apprenticeship before? DH is interested in an electrician apprenticeship through a local union. From what I can see he would go to school 2 nights a week 6-10PM and then have on the job training.

How do these typically work? Does the union pay for the schooling? Or is it out of pocket? Are the hours usually 40 a week?

 

[KAMKIM]

Sorry should have worded that differently...he would go to school two nights AND do on the job training.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I see that you are WNY. The unions are extremely hard to get into... I will just tell you what I know for sure.

DH took the exam for the electrician apprenticeship. Passed, put on list and waited. Wrong decision, keep looking for employment.

My father was a long time union worker for the elevator business in WNY. The God's honest truth is that they get a few new workers each year to "pay" into taking the test, may even hire them. They have absolutely no intention of keeping them. May work a few months here or there, but that would be it!

Please don't take my word as gospel. Have your husband ask questions, and lots of them. How many are they looking to hire. Is is permanent work or fill-in. How much are dues (you pay the rate that everyelse does, no matter how much you are working).

Good luck to your husband.

 

[Tuffcookie]

My ex husband is a union electrician. He did the school a couple nights a week and on the job training. It has been so long since he went thru the apprenticeship but if I remember correctly he was responsible for all schooling costs.

TC

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I know this is true in our area....once you are on a list with certain unions...you can not work anywhere else in that field unless its a referral from the union.

So, in essense, if DH passes and is on the list w/ union - he can't be an electrician anywhere while waiting for that union job.

Unions are tough to get into. DH is in a trade union. Once you're in, they're fantastic, but until you are its basically hell.

I'm from Chicago and it is truly a who you know game. Luckly DH knew me

 

[KAMKIM]

Thanks everyone. According to the job listing you would be required to buy your own tools $249.00. It also had a Union membership fee of $262.00 and a quarterly rate of $89.10. I'd hate to put in that kind of money for nothing although if they covered the school costs that would be worth it. It's something he wants to learn but I'm not so sure it's worth it.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I would also look at the job growth etc. in your area. My cousins ds just did all the schooling etc. and was working for a few months, just bought a house etc. and now the union tells him he will be laid off for the next 18-24 months since he has about the lowest seniority etc. This is in central NJ. Best of luck to your dh.

 

[maddmike]

Most apprenticeships take about 8000 hours to complete. Some states have a required number of training hours to earn Journeyman status in a trade. Apprenticships at our company are few and far between right now.

When we have apprentices working they do a majority of the training in OJT. They take safety classes and skills training at the Community College. All training and college classes are paid for by the company. Employees also attend classes during the workday so they are paid to go to school. If a class is only offered at night the employee is paid to go to school at night but it is straight time and not overtime. This is just our company and union. I'm sure all are different.

 

[Christine]

My husband is a union elecrician and went through the union's apprenticeship school staring in 1989. It was a 5 year school with summer's off. He went two nights a week from 6-10. It used to be a 4 year school, but the year he started, they added a year to cover fire alarm systems.

He didn't have to pay for any schooling but he did have to purchase his own tools (tax deductible), and had to pay union dues and everything because he was officially a union member. He didn't make much at first but he got fee health care and everything afforded to a union member. He rotated companies every six months so he got to work with a myriad of electrical contractors in the area. By the end of the 5 years, he had figured out who he wanted to work for.

We feel it was a very good career path.