I’ve been trying to get into the IUOE apprenticeship program for the past couple of years and I’ve been wondering if there any tips or anything I can add to my application to make it more appealing in order to increase my chances of getting into the apprenticeship? Any tips or insight would be appreciated, Thank you.

For some background, I’ve been in the working in the trades for 10 years and have been a boilermaker for 8 of those years, and I am a graduate apprentice. I have been looking into joining a different union/ trade that is more reliable and sustainable for the future than what I currently am in. I would be interested in getting a CDL and a crane license as well. The only pieces of machinery I have operated are boom lifts, scissor lifts, and forklifts.

A couple of years ago I applied to the IUOE apprenticeship program near me. I took a written test, turned in a bunch of documentation, turned in letters of recommendations that the JATC requested from contractor superintendents, did an interview, and took a 3 day evaluation for 8 hours each day operating skid steers, backhoes, and excavators.

Here is a list of all my credentials that I have already given the Jatc for my application: 60 welding certs through various contractors Crane Signal card Rigging card Scaffold builders card OSHA 30 card MSHA above ground and underground cert TWIC card Red Badge (Nuclear Plant unescorted access security clearance) Boilermaker welder/ mechanic Journeyman card Department of Labor apprenticeship graduate cert College graduate certs Highschool diploma

Everyone who has passed the entrance exam, what did you guys use to study for it?

So I missed the application list fully booked, was anyone else’s computer glitching, also does anyone know how many was the max available ?

The site I'm working on right now has non union operators, but brings in OE company for projects.

He's been here for days with full stick out..

Yes, he's hooked onto a load..

Is there a guide or written procedure for an apprentice to transfer locals? I've been told a couple different things and just trying to find something in writing if it's even available, I would imagine there's something, or someone that might be able to point me in a direction. I've talked to the hall I'm in and the one I'm trying to transfer to and gotten 3 different answers. Thanks

Hello I’m from Las Vegas , I have my interview for local 501 next Wednesday. I was wondering if anybody had insight on what to expect ? And about how long it took to get your results ?

Are there any HDR's from local 12 here? I am trying to get a better understanding before I go in and pay my $800 initiation. I was accepted as a direct admit since I have previous experience. How much work is there for an HDR in southern California? Most job sites I have seen use rental equipment, do HDR's work for rental companys?

I’m currently a power plant operator in Florida for a non union plant. As I’m sure many of you are aware Florida is a right to work state and unions don’t have the same power as in the northeast. Some of the operators have expressed interest in unionization off and on while others are vehemently against unions. I just reached out to IOUE local 30 just to get some information about unionization and they want to set up a meeting. No one at work knows I reached out because I don’t want a target on my back. Should I take this meeting? Should I get more people on board first? And if I do take the meeting does anyone have any suggestions on what kind of questions I should be asking?

So 428 is being absorbed by Local 12. How's the work in AZ? Was wondering if it's the work that's a problem or was it the leadership.

There's a protest in Edmonton about the city of Edmonton using illegal immigrant labor.

Every local should be dead set against this because it's firstly illegal, but it also drives down wages for workers.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Edmonton/s/Fsd4iOuPpR

Here's a dumbass question, not running a crane but when lifting with a LULL how should I be able to figure out what my lifts are weighing? Taking them up 60+ ft so I'm just trying to figure it out. Ideally they would tell me before hand but I'm just trying to eliminate something from my mind. BA caught the company using non union operators so I'm going into this job figuring I have to bring out my A game more than usual.

Just got a job offer for the local 501 for an apprentice operating engineer at a big hotel in Beverly Hills. This was my second time passing the apprentice exam, first in 2019 and again in 2022. Didn’t get a call until now lol super excited

My husband is an Operator for Local 150. I work for local County Government. My agency just opened up to hire a Local 150 operator. I realize operators aren’t supposed to solicit their own work, I’m just curious if that same line of thinking applies when it’s a large government agency. I’m confident I’d be able to get him the job through my agency, just don’t know how that works through the hall. Any insight for anyone Local 150 operators that work for the City of Chicago, Cook County, etc.

I’m in Arizona and I can’t seem to find much about the work the union , the pay / OT I just want to see if anyone knows a thing about the work for it in Arizona or Anywhere else it would be appreciated if I can get some insight from someone who does it .

and do you actually learn how to weld ?

I’m an independent CWI looking to join the union. Local 12 preferably. What is the wait list on the C list to join ?

I applied to Liuna in indiana and had a successful interview. It was my best interview and I aced it! But now I’m just waiting on a call to ask me if I’m ready to start work…but how does this process work? I would assume that anyone in the union wants to keep their job. So do I really have to just wait around till someone quits to be let in? The men I spoke to said that I’d be called once their work list needs more people. That kinda stinks. I would’ve thought there’d be room for someone don’t you think? They told me that once I get that call, that I better quit my current job right then and there. Which is understandable, but this is taking quite a while. Have any of you gone through this?

I have been looking to move to the operator's union from the laborer's union (7 year member). Preferably IUOE 4. I have been operating some equipment: Loader : cat 938, 980 Backhoe: 410K, 410L (mostly as loader, fork) no experience digging. Asphalt double drum roller (bw900) CDL A : clean record, 5 years dump truck 8 speed manual, move equipment on tag trailer.

Osha10, 30. Dot card, RI/ma hoisting licenses.

I went through the laborer's apprenticeship, so I am not looking to do another 4 years of apprenticeship for the operators. I know it's tough to get in. I have been trying. Employer won't sponsor me.

Wondering if anyone knows a company that is looking to sponsor a good worker. I have been with the same company (7 years) no call out, so sick day call out, no drug, no alcohol. Family and work are my focus.

I’ve been in the union for about a year and a half now. And this is the first union I’ve ever been a part of. Anyways I have been working for a new company for about 3 months now. And to be honest I don’t really enjoy working for this company. And I have been thinking about putting my 2 weeks notice in and putting myself back on the out of work list. I have enough money banked up to sustain myself. Will this affect my career in the union? I’m pretty unhappy working for this company and want a change but I don’t want to fuck up my career. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

I’ve been in the local here for 3 years now oiling on cranes on various job sites. I have my CCOs, small, large, overhead and crawler. Recently I was thrown on a bigger job to oil on cranes, this is an ironworker ran jobsite our operators only have a steward. No GF, no foreman. Well while I was oiling on one of the four 2250s on this job The ironworker GF came to me and asked if I could run a forklift for a bit. I said sure. Thats not a problem. All four of them cranes are greased, taken care of, no leaks. Nothing. So I ran the lift. The next day he said he needed me in that lift again. I said sure. Not a problem. Well this has become a habit. We have a pretty hefty out of work list and while I don’t mind running a forklift I’m also not getting paid to run one. I got sent out as an apprentice 2. On this jobsite, these apprentices do not get perdiem at all and I make the same drive every journeyman does everyday. Today, the big PM came to me and said, my BA is coming tomorrow for a meeting and I’ve been doing an extremely good job running the forklift and a man of my talents shouldn’t be pushing a squirt gun (grease gun) and he’s gunna get my forklift pay (journeyman rate) and perdiem for me. I said sounds good. I already know my BA is coming because he has a problem with an apprentice being on a forklift because he sent me out as an oiler. To which he replied but what if I tell him I dont want anybody else. I said you can try but I already know better. No sooner than he said that did my BA call him and say that’s bullshit because I’m out there as an oiler. I appreciate the AC in the forklift cause there’s not a drop of shade out there unless you sundial with the crane. I’m also coming off a 7 month layoff and I’m behind on bills and losing money to go to work everyday. Now in our contract it says an apprentice must take whatever step necessary to progress the job. I guess my question is, how would you handle it or what would you do? I saw the money and had it snatched from me is what got me steamed. I’m just trying to understand when I can do just about everything out there a journeyman can do except have their knowledge.

Heys looking in Heavy Equipment Operators union, was wonder what the process of applying is and when i could go and apply at Local 150. Currently trying to go for electrical (ibew 134) but if it doesn’t work out id love to join the 150. anyone have any suggestions on how i should go about applying?

Trying to join local 3 and just took the asvab exam today. I believe I did good enough to receive a passing score but after the test I was told it can take 1-3 years to be accepted. Is this true for the most part?

I’m trying to become a stationary engineer. I called the right person on a whim and got in for an orientation tomorrow. What can I expect? What do I wear? I was told by two people just to bring a copy of my resume.

I've been a construction layout guy/Survey Party Chief for the last 10 years, and am just now finding out about you guys.

I'd like to get in with Local 673, but before I do, I'd like to hear from some of y'all and see what kind of representation there is for the Survey Craft

Anyone have any study material for NYC Oilers exam coming up?

Pretty soon I'll have the option to go into cranes is it as bad and as dangerous as everyone says it is? There's a high demand for crane operators right now and I'm thinking about going that path

Hi everybody, hope you're all doing well, I was curious if there's any books or YouTube videos on cranes/oilers. I just got dispatched to a crane company and I don't know shit about that stuff just dirt. I appreciate all the help I can get.

I have my sights on being a crane operator and I see the union offers apprenticeship but it seems there’s some prerequisite knowledge before even being considered. I have virtually no professional experience in skilled labor and I’m having a difficult time figuring out where and how to start so I can eventually get that apprenticeship. What was your square one and what do you suggest I do?

I’m getting close to finishing my apprenticeship step 6 equipment operator. I was curious if there are any local 12 operators that have found career long companies/ sites.

I’ve been with the same company I started with as a step 1 but I’m burnt out on the traveling closest I’ve worked to home has been just over 120 miles. I came from non union open pit mining(traveling state to state). I wouldn’t mind taking a pay cut going into the rock sand & gravel side of the union. I’ve asked my apprentice coordinator & BA if there are any quarries that need or will need operators but they both tell me to keep doing what I’m doing & not to switch.