The life of an apprentice ironworker: 'Everyday is a struggle' 

He’s depressed clearly. I don’t think he said struggle in the right context. Iron workers union is steady good work and he said as much. Glad you like it.

What do ironworkers do exactly i am struggling to find a welding apprentership but this looks sorta interesting

@@Hardstyler981 are u in NY

@@Hardstyler981same bro what did u do?

bellboy407 thank you thought I was the only one who noticed that

Exactly

I know right wtf

They build the buildings in China and ship the completed multi-ton steel structure with concrete foundation back to the USA to be installed on the lot.

🔥

Cristian Munoz I don't know why people keep spouting dumb crap like this, as if the only alternative to a trade is something useless like gender studies or whatever. If you have the time to complete a four year apprenticeship, you'd be better off spending those four years getting a bachelors degree, becoming an RN, lab med tech, doctor, lawyer, engineer, etc.

That's just dumb. "If you have time to do a 4 year apprenticeship, you might as well go to college." Lol. Apprenticeship is free (minus a couple hundred dollars, plus tooling) You're paid to learn, instead of paying to learn. Pension, annuity, healthcare, all paid for by the contractor. No robot to take your place. Don't get me wrong, college is a useful tool, and if you're interested in nursing, engineering, architecture, etc.. go to college. But if you're not interested in college and you want a steady career with good pay and great benefits, join a trade union. You're only wasting your time if you are just working cause you have to. If you're doing what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.

@@stab2486 exactly

Mark Grim all education is worth while...I’m a JIW and I went to college too...I value both experiences and am proud to have had them. I don’t care what you do for a living it’s always pays to be able to make an informed choice! They can steal your tools but nobody can take away your knowledge! 512 ALWAYS!

@@a.j.gandenberger6044 I dont think college grad hipster mamas babies can do this kind of work.

Yessir 397 Tampa fl✊🏻

Anthony Itterly are you local 17

@@sandman3546 local 55

@@sandman3546 I just got excepted in local 17. I hear business is good!

Good man

What about paid vacation

I'm about to attend the evaluation day early next year for local 86! I've been practicing my knots cuz that's the part I'm worried about haha

I’m 19 joining a three year apprenticeship for the ironworkers local 628 in Baton Rouge LA. I was a general laborer for construction sites at first but guys tell me that Union is my best option

@@jonlewis4496 lol, that’s the Union I’m joining. How’s the pay and when is it usually busy?

Yeah I'm not sure I understand what this video is trying to convey. How is iron work being outsourced? Are they building skyscrapers in China and shipping them here? lol

@@jonlewis4496should i join. have a opportunity for an apprenticeship jjst kinda don’t know wether to take it or not

brandyn rhode there is a giant welding machine at my job and pipefitters have to operate it

@brandyn rhode exactly

Yep

JakeBrake I was about to say😂😂

It will never be automated

Dave Jackowaki never is a bad word to use. In 200 years our society would be a sad place if that wasn’t an automated procedure. There may be a new, unimaginable way of how structures look or are created, and I’m willing to bet in 200 years there will be very few jobs like this. Not trying to stray anyone away from skilled labor as I think it’s an amazing career path for a TON of people, but the future is a mysterious place

@@vlKenzo you obviously have no clue what all an ironworker does. Stick to flipping burgers and playing video games in your parents basement.

Bradley VanTassal you’ve got quite a narrow mind to reply with that comment. It’s low iq and uneducated tradesmen like you who give blue collar workers an unintelligent image.

You guys dont work in rain and snow?

We built the USA what the blue in our flag for then? Red is for protecting what we built

It's relevant to the story.

I thought the same thing. I’m a Millwright and with Trump my wage increased.

Randy Blackburn over 60 percent now lol

The path to success is not necessarily the path of least resistance, think hard bro.

But every day should get easier, if you're paying attention. By the way, I'm a JIW. Have been for some time now.

Good Luck dude 👍🏻

Bradley VanTassal life is struggle

Picket don't cross my line

How long that's gonna last u

Any skilled trade and you’ll do well, im a refrigeration mechanic apprentice and journeyman make up to 160k here

Agreed. If you've got a good local you've got it made. My local has so much available work coming up we're bringing in people from all over just to man it.

I know it’s a long shot for a reply…lol…but I’m in California…the inland empire…any suggestions on how to get started. I just want a steady job to support my family.

Moved a move to the longshoreman’s Union after I got my book. The life of an apprentice Ironworker is a struggle. Ironworkers are severely underpaid. Basically working with all millwrights now work is easier compensation is much higher. God bless the millwrights.

John said we are a dieing breed

Just Google your local iron worker union. Its usually posted on the website if and when they take applications. In Oregon its every week on Wednesday. Im gonna apply Iron workers are in high demand. They have 60% turn over rate and need ironwrokers. Its hard work but pays well with great benefits from the union

@@funnymanjml how's the vacation

I was in the carpenters union too why no job I promised this for life

@berrex, Exactly! He's saying what the Washington Post paid him to say. He's also saying he's a dipsh!t who's a shill & FOS with a few scripted lines.

As an apprentice plus all the money taking out from your pay checks at the time of this vid he would be taking in prob 400 a week

Posses me off I paid and they take

Local 80 here couldn’t agree more

@@jjtmmjjmm2113 what about now with steel sheet metal clean can be expensive works like clay hi and lows shrink cool bust out tig or torch i did a ready for scrap ford 86 its still not done but its like new and i have crazy hours in this thing bed was mangled cab its got a cummins sadly got hurt bad and things are going to be different but im finishing this truck better than new truck all mechanical no electrics to stop me f and r 4 link im going for nice ride on slicks .. 750-800ish streetable power and ill be able to drive again first with hand controls then finally ill have my freedom to drive again im 29 years of age full shop just got hit head on old lady suv and i was on a steel horse day after xmas 2018 .... lots of life to go not losing track of my dreams and sweet resto mods in my shape now i have to find what i can be successful at working before accident sa200 ironworker ready passed the 6g test blind it was a scratch start haha and the guy showed me 5 or 6 close flashes anyway any response would be very valuable to me after years of pain and struggle lets get this proshaper

Your right I got my book and got out .

You make 30/hr as a pre? Damn, I only made about 15/hr when I was a pre doing drywall like 9 years ago

Interesting 🤔

Didn’t know the edit was going to come out like that. The Washington post god bless them sourced out all of the happy moments.

Shamrock Shore how

+michael benson How. Which tribe/nation are you from?

Shamrock Shore wtf im a ironworker here in arizona and the work for this is busy im getting payed 34 dollers an hour so how is he a fool for being a ironworker

+michael benson When you wrote an isolated 'how', I figured you were a Native American just saying hi. Now i realise you were asking a question...which, when written, is usually followed by a '?'. I didn't say he's a fool because he's training to be an ironworker. I'm saying, he's a fool in general.

Shamrock Shore lol ok

No cause he was smart enough to let his money work for him instead. Learned that from a billionaire

@@quintonmaes8777 his daddy gave him a small loan of a million dollars Haha.

prove it

Keep telling yourself that

Your full of shot. Let me guess you stepped on the backs of many to boost yourself up and barley get the benefits unions offer.

You probably had your "Monica Lewinsky's" on if you made more money working non union, and paid money for certs, anyone can pay for certs, but through the Union their earned.

I’m sure it’s possible but rare. I worked non union for a few years before I recently just joined the union. I’m making much more now. But if you find a non union company who will treat you better than the unions, than good for you