Bro I got laid off twice in my 1st year, which had nothing to do with my performance, it’s just part of the trade. The company I’m at now, I have been with for almost 5 years. It’s a smaller company that demands a lot from me due to its size, but I received the best hands on training from that company throughout my apprenticeship....I’m glad I went through the layoffs because I wouldn’t be where I’m at now. This vid will be a great milestone(plus valuable content) in your journey because you’re getting the experience all around bro. Keep calling your hall everyday, or show up there if you can to make your face known.....also this is a great time to see if you can go to the school in practice welding during the day if they allow it.....see if you can get into some hands on classes during the day to sharpen your skills.....teachers will see how serious you are....consider this time a blessing in disguise bro!
@Preservation of Fire yes but if you’re a good worker you should have nothing to worry about, even good workers get laid off, but are usually back to work a week later. Keep a good reputation and you’ll be fine. Also laid off workers qualify for unemployment benefits.
@@Shawn_p_tvOh, yeah. I forgot to tell you when doing that. Type of work when the wind blows the wrong way. You're getting laid off. It's not a stable environment at all. Don't let these people tell you anything different.
The best of luck to you my homie! I know that you’ll be called up for a job in no time. Thank you for your transparency and willingness to share with the rest of us.
I started as a pipefitter apprentice last June and got laid off in the beginning of August. I just recently went back to work bout 2 weeks ago. It's hard, keep the faith. I wanted to quit but u gotta look at the bigger picture. Hopefully u go back to work soon
Hang in there! I know that times are tough at times. But I started my apprenticeship at 19 and worked 45 years. Retired now own my home and have decent pension. During my career I was out of work for more than a year 5 times. So I know how hard it can be and sometimes it seems there will never be another job. Looking back I don’t think I could have done better with anything else. Most of all my union negotiated a good contract that included health benefits and pension. Without my union I would not be retired. Best of luck.
I’ve been a union laborer since 2017…layoffs happen…..have your financial plan squared away…. i took 28 months off and came back to a $5 raise….. it’s part of the game….. it’s gets better.
I work for an automotive assembly plant. I'm taking pipefitters classes through them for the apprenticeship program. If I pass the final test I'll be an apprentice and work under a journeyman right at the plant in currently working. Maybe you could look into that route. All of the pipefitters, electricians and millwright people I've spoken to there say they are so happy they don't have to deal with layoffs anymore.
UNEMPLOYMENT has a entire separate line just for UNION employees…..faster than a normal job and once you use the UC system once(which is frustrating) it’s easy to get compensation during layoffs.
Keep ya head up bro.. here in VA i worked for: Virginia Sprinkler East Coast Fire Protection Professional Fire Protection And ended up getting into wholesaling real estate.. no more band saws..no more pipe wrenches.. no more boom/scissor lifts.. no more porta johns
I know a kid who graduated high school 2022. Went to Tulsa Welding in Jacksonville Florida. Graduated 9 months later with welding & pipefitting coming out making $30 an hour at the age of 19. Sure he had o take out a loan of about $10k but he’s making $30 an hour. He tripled his investment ($10k). He didn’t have to wait until his 4th/5th year in the union to hit $30 an hour. I’m just saying folks have to stop being scared investing (taking out a loan) for a college education where the job demand for that skill is not only high but you can make enough to pay that loan off in one year. Y’all don’t hesitate buying a pickup truck for $20-$25k paying interest on a truck that’s depreciating every second of the day you think that’s a good investment. It’s not.
I was so excited for my interview with the union coming up. Everyone is telling me the work is very inconsistent. I have a newborn at home and I’m just worried I’ll leave a steady job for the union and then be laid off for months at a time. Any advice? Thank you in advance.
@Area51 I actually had a lot of medical conditions come up and I’m on a lot of medicine and was restricted on doing physical work. Unfortunately I had to withdraw my application and cancel my interview.
Depends upon where you are at. I am with the 296 and work here is booming. We have back-to-back guaranteed jobs for the next 20 years. I talk to guys from other halls and work there is either dead or spotty. Traveling is luckily an option with the Union. It is hard being away from family, but at least it can pay the bills.
If I know about the good possibilities of layoffs going into an apprenticeship I would just go to a school to learn welding/pipefitting. At least then I’ll have been taught the trade so that if I’m laid off I’d just go to another job, take a welder test then be back at work. If you’re in an apprentice for a year or two you won’t have enough welding expertise or skills to where you can just go off outside the union to get a job.
Im starting to realize all the advertisements on locals , apprenticeship and trade schools. Since paying attention and making research alot of people (apprentice) all say the same thing getting laid off. I'm second guessing if I should even take the test. I haven't really heard a good thing about.
Thats the nature of the business I've been a fitter for 21 years! When the project is completed you are laid off and on to the next project! Unless you land a maintenance job! Its a great career...I'm now a Organizer for my local!! hang in there it's ALL WORTH IT!!
How you doing Shawn, I am a 4th year plumbing apprentice out of Los Angeles 78, I was considering relocating to Utah with the fam, our pay scale here is 48 top out, what is it in Utah and what’s work like over there?
Hey man in my area I we have residential and commercial plumbing for union. From what it sounds you work commercial? I’m wondering if stability is about the same for residential/service side
Bro... Come to florida where you dint have to deal with all this bull shit. Only the company has to be licensed. I started as a apprentice last year making 12.50 a hour with overtime and benefits. They gave me 6 months and then gave me a test to be sure I could be on my own and then they gave me a van. I have made $87,000 dollars this year already. Bro make the move. Especially in these times. Im willing to personally show you my whole pay stub if you really want to think about it. In the Tampa florida area they are estimating 1000000 people moving there in that area alone so since business has slow down a lot of the real estate owners are getting their buildings and rentals up to code plus residential is booming over here. The average plumbing company in my area loses about 1 mill in service volume because they don't have enough plumbers that know the basics. Bro since your having to be taught exactly to code you would have as much experience as a guy out here with a year and a half.
This is the route many people don’t take advantage. Layoffs are part of the game but practicing welding for example you get certs and more jobs would want you. Many people need to take advantage of the booths and go their consistent it will benefit in the long run
Hey, thank you for the update (even though its 4y ago) its good info. Just wanted to share the Gospel that all men need, the Bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) this means we all deserve death and separation from a perfect and holy God. But God did not leave us for dead, He sent His only begotten Son to die in yours and my place, so that anyone who believes in Him and repents of sin will be saved from separation from God, and have eternal life! I urge you please put your faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him, He promises to save all who cry out to Him and have a humble heart. We arent guaranteed another day so we must repent of sin and seek Him today while He may be found!
My uncles told me this is the worst part of the business , once you get your journey men’s everything changes .. being able to travel around the states and also go overseas makes it to where work is everywhere.
Shawn P TV you need to look into working in pryor , my uncle just left working there. They have a 6-7 year job going in there right noe at a google plant.
@@averagebloke4474 HVAC is a different industry. Not all unions are bad. If you skilled enough you could put an add on craigslist as an offer to do some side work or start a business I think that's how you could make the most money in that industry.
No good person deserves to lose their job, typical scumbag taking a shot at someone going through something, I hope when you go through something you get the same medicine
