How often are you doing rods, working at heights, guard rails etc? Would like to see what everyone’s doing out there. TIA

Just got my travel card and dispatch information for the Fort mcmurray shut downs(IW 720 Edmonton) and booming out from 700(Windsor Ontario)as an apprentice, anything I should know before I get there?

Im a 30 year old looking for advice, im currently living in a weird part of Maryland. Roughly two hours to get down to DC LOCAL 5 and about 50min away from LOCAL 451 in DE. I currently have a good job where I sit in an office most of the time with a close commute to work about 20min making $34 an hour but the problem I’m running into is I hit my max and I can’t see me spending another 17 years in this job just looking forward to cost of living yearly increases. I want excitement at work, working with my hands stepping back and seeing a finished product the ironworkers have always caught my eye. My closest union without going through Baltimore and DC traffic every morning is in Wilmington Delaware local 451. In scanning through this Reddit and online I haven’t found much about this union. I’ve been to the union hall and it’s nothing compared to DC LOCAL 5. Anyone work with these guys in 451? I feel like it’s a small union and I don’t want to run into getting laid off all the time, or having to boom out to find work, also the drives I’m going to have getting to job sites in DE is it worth it, do a lot of you guys have long commutes to and from job sites? It seems like I live in an area of the east coast where ironwork isn’t as big as up near Boston and New York or even Midwest/west cost. Any advice would be greatly appreciated and thank you in advance for hearing me out! Stay safe out there

Hi all, please forgive me for my lack of knowledge. Post here for some support and to be pointed in the right direction.

My grandmother has been beautiful garden benches which unfortunately have been weathered quite substantially. I would like to restore them back to their former glory as after many years of health complications, my grandmother would like to start inviting family over again. As you can see by the image these benches wouldn’t do justice as they have begun to rust which will transfer to clothing and cushions.

As someone who isn’t into ironworks, my only best guess is you’ll have to get them jetted with sand to help remove loose debris before sanding them down, and then dipping in a sealant to prevent this occurring again. Please could you correct me if I’m wrong?

Ive been calling and emailing my resumes for two months and still been getting the usual theres no work, hopefully it picks up, anyways thanks

What do you guys do when you’re laid off?

Questions for anyone in IW local 70 in Louisville

Recently saw that applications seem to be open on their website. Anyone in there know... How's work looking, how much work is there/to be expected soon, is it consistently busy enough year round, is it a mixed local, what's the jurisdiction/how far is the drive to work and any other info that you guys think would be helpful for me. Ive recently applied to local 63 (Chicago), local 383 (Madison) and Local 8 (Milwaukee) and have made all their waiting lists. Figured getting my name on other locals waiting lists wouldn't hurt. Or any other locals that need workers? In the Chicago land suburbs but relocating isn't really an issue for me

Just got the word I passed. Applying for my DOB license and moving on to flux core. Excited as fuck!

How's work looking in 700? expecting a lay off end of the week from Windsor battery plant, is the work still slow? Or has things picked up finally, debating on calling up 720 and seeing if they still need guys or staying here

Got a call saying I’m going through the apprenticeship test at local 29 is there anything else I should expect besides lifting the 80lb rebar?

I’m an apprentice in Michigan looking for work and someone suggested booming out since I was laid off and things have been slow here. I’m aware we can solicit for ourselves but I don’t even know where to start looking for a union job. Any suggestions, Tips, tricks? Thanks.

Just finished up loading my truck for my first job with the Iron Workers Union. Only going about 2 1/2 hours up the road but it is my first time being away from my daughter for an extended period of time. I am very eager and excited to get started in this industry and provide a new life for her and myself BUT… like I said it is my first time being away from her for an extended time. Call me a simp but it’s just now hitting me that I won’t be able to see her whenever I feel like it and that hurts. First time dad with one child and now my best friend will be gone. How do you guys cope with extended time away from the family. 😔

Hello, does anybody have familiarity with this test? I'm trying to find study materials online but it's been sort of vague. I have a test in July for an apprenticeship. Thanks!

Has anyone been contacted after taking the aptitude test ?

Does this trade allow you and your family to live comfortably…nice house, vehicles etc?

What were you doing before you became an IW?

How was the transition?

What made you switch?

How old were you?

What advice would you give someone looking to join?

TIA

Hey looking for some advice to keep my head up straight, I recently left a non union company pipe welding, that gave me a van and a gas card after the first year working there, I worked my ass off and learned a bunch, after 3 years I left for an opportunity with the local 7 iron workers, right now I’m spending 250$ a week just to get to work in my own vehicle, im very new but working my absolute hardest to prove to everyone that I’m worth there time, but I can’t stop thinking about what I gave up working for my last company. Any advice? Should I be worried? Was this a good choice?

What does “Union” mentality mean to you?

So, I see a few jobs available? What's the deal? Is Saskatchewan booming again? They have projects in Fort Mac, too? Is CLAC non-union or just what 771 uses for their collective bargaining agreement? The salary and benefits seem to match everything else cross Canada

how are other locals in California doing with members working local 155 has around 150 to 160 members off and that's only the ones who are on there out of work list.... like where's all this work at? not to mention all the apprentices that were taken last few years around here. it just seems dead around here and it's frustrating.. so how is the rest of California doing with there workload as the spring to summer starts. it just doesn't look promising around here currently....

Local 25 lists $6.03/hr towards vacation pay. That’s like 8 weeks of vacation every year if you’re taking 40/hrs a week for vacation. That seems really high.

I don’t have experience working iron, welding, or working at heights greater than a 2nd story roof. I was a landscaper in Arizona, worked on farms in Latin America and Europe during college, then worked in my field for a bit. Now I’m with a traffic management company during the day, armed security at night, do some landscaping on the side on weekends, and finishing up a masters. I’m used to long days of hard work, and I’m not unfamiliar with 3rd degree burns or cowboy surgery.

Is there a list of stuff I should get ahead of time, basic things I should know about and how to deal with, or any general tips or bits of “I wish I would have known” you’d like to share?

Hey all, just wondering if there is anyone from local 765 that could enlighten me. I went to school for welding and I am considering joining local 765. I'm just curious on how much welding there is in the line of work and if it's dedicated to welder positions like the ua 71 or if it's just a general part of the job (or not). Thanks.

Is this realistic for a first year apprentice with some OT? Or what should one expect to make?

21(M) Managed to land an interview for a boilermaker apprenticeship next week. I have no experience in the construction and manufacturing industries, only in retail. But I do have much white card. Any advice/what to expect for the interview would be very much appreciated. Or anything I could do to prepare. Was thinking of buying an arc welder to do some practice before the interview?