Our Apprenticeship Program

I remember that test. Maybe they decided that it wasn’t really an accurate reflection of a persons abilities to be a fitter or plumber.

They have a whole new process now and it seems to work pretty well. I think that they have ran so many apprentices through there that they have figured out it will take time to accurately evaluate students. Drug testing screens some applicants out. I feel that the students “weed” themselves out. I went through the HVAC side 3rd through 5th year. We started out with 20 to 25 students and 5 of us out of that class graduated. There is homework during the week and week-ends. It had a No-BS policy and if you took too long on break it was tacked on the end of the class and you stayed late that night. Local private HVAC colleges charge over 30K and cant even begin to scratch the surface of what you get out of the 344 hvac program. I saw OSU grads struggle through that course also.

We started out with 20 to 25 students and 5 of us out of that class graduated

A 20% graduation rate??

Seems to me a better screening process could help raise that percentage.

The HVAC course was a little more strict than the traditional side. The class behind our class had a slightly better percentage of graduates but it had its share of drop outs as well.

That school has got a lot tougher since you was in it. I was going through the HVAC course at OSU-OKC and they canceled the HVAC program as I was half way through. I had three times the homework from the apprenticeship that I had at OSU. Not everyone is down for that.

If the school is a lot tougher, then it seems even MORE important to increase the screening process… make sure we are getting the best possible candidates with the best possible chance of completing the program.

I don’t know how you could accurately test what students would make it to the bitter end though. In Basic Training you had troops that would kick ass on a three or five mile run but when you put an 80 lb back pack, gas mask, M16, web gear, entrenching tool, etc., there would be different faces leading those marches.

It’s just like the public school system. You can’t judge somebody by what they actually know, that might damage their self-esteem. No tests allowed, just judge them on their good intentions.
As one of the 5 that graduated from that class back then, it was a hell of a group wasn’t it admin?

Three of us took the oath and one of those was a plumber, who were the other two?

Let’s see… me, you, Mike Seabourn, Jimmy Nance… who’s missing?

Heard Danny Hodge was back in the local after being out for awhile.

Good times bubba, good times.

so there was only 5 graduates out of your class also? There are a lot more of them graduating now, we have got to get more shops!

I think there were more than 5… I honestly can’t remember. The few I named, definitely. Surely there were more… after all, it was the most brilliant class to ever go through there.

There are a lot more of them graduating now,

Classes are a lot bigger now too.

“Classes are a lot bigger now too.”

Are we going to get more members than we have work?

Are we going to get more members than we have work?

The thing to understand is: construction is always in a state of flux.
The work is never always good, nor is it always bad.

We’ve just came through a period where work has been really, really good. Jobs were undermanned, contractors were screaming for more help, travelers had to come in and help out and… we started taking in large numbers of apprentices.

When the cycle goes the other way, people get laid off, the bench numbers swell and you stay out of work for an extended period of time. If the downturn lasts long enough, some will get frustrated and move on to different careers, or find something in the non-union ranks.

Then work picks back up and we end up shorthanded again.

I’ve seen this cycle play itself out over and over again in my time as a member of this local.

So, what’s the solution? Your idea of adding more contractors is a great step in the right direction, unfortunately, I don’t see much happening on the organizing front at the local.

I hear about our organizer talking to this company and that company… just not sure what they are talking about because I’ve only heard of one company that’s been signed to a contract).

Anyway,to answer your question, yes we will probably end up with more members than work… but it’s only temporary. We’ll need all the help we can get when the work starts coming in from the stimulus package.

Support the friends of labor- punish the enemies

“If the downturn lasts long enough, some will get frustrated and move on to different careers, or find something in the non-union ranks.”

That has to suck though…

That has to suck though…

Educate, educate, educate

I remember that test. Maybe they decided that it wasn’t really an accurate reflection of a persons abilities to be a fitter or plumber.

Somebody hit the site from a google search. The phrase they searched on was- “aptitude test for plumbers”. I went to the google page that led here and looked at some of the results… you should too.

Looks like quite a few locals still have an aptitude test for their applicants.

Here’s the google link- the searcher was in the UK, but most of the results are US.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=aptitude%20test%20for%20plumbers&start=10&sa=N

Wes Goforth, He’s still in. I saw him a while back. Saw Nance too, Dang near didn’t recognize him. And I saw Mike seabourn’s ex wife. She says he’s not doing to well.
Guess if we had known we were going to live this long, we would have taken better care of ourselves.
Actually, I think we have held up better than some although I won’t mention any names.

Over all these years I know of several good union service men who have started there own companies. A few have gone union but the majority have not. When I ask them why, they all say the start up cost to go union is just to much. I heard a while back that the present heirarchy is trying to do something about this, but I don’t keep up.