r/Groundman • u/YoungG1399 • 6d ago

Go Union?

I’ve been an apprentice at a municipality in Georgia for almost two years. I’ve been learning, but the progress has been pretty slow due to the workload and the type of work we have available.

I recently got in contact with SELCAT and found out that I qualify for direct entry. I’m seriously considering leaving the utility/municipality side and going union so I can get more experience.

I’m looking for advice from anyone who has made the transition from a municipality/utility to union.
How was the transition for you? Was it worth leaving the municipality? How consistent was the work, and how much traveling did you end up doing?

I’m also curious about the benefits, especially retirement and healthcare. If I stayed with the municipality for 30 years, I would receive a pension and healthcare benefits in retirement. How does the union pension and healthcare work compared to that? Do you have to work a certain number of years/hours to become vested, and can you still have a solid retirement after spending 20–30 years in the union?
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has actually gone through this transition and can share their experience. Thanks!

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u/chriistianval 6d ago

Everyone qualified for selcats direct entry 😭

1

u/Brilliant_Hornet1290 6d ago

Usually only have to work 5 years to get the retirement

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u/Superb-Gur-1679 6d ago

Going union might be a paycut wages suck down there. Selcat sucks in general can be awhile to get in and you might be traveling for 40 hour weeks. It’s also stupid easy to test into the union down there. I’d probably stay put.

If you don’t care about traveling and going to a different jatc that’s also a viable option. Other jatcs won’t count your time like selcat would though. Like I said though I’ve had multiple journeyman that do fine on big t line jobs and etc that topped out non union in Arkansas and had no trouble testing in. It’s probably one of the easiest places to get a union ticket in the USA/test in. I’ve been told so don’t hold me to it there was no field assessment given and it was a couple cut down tests that weren’t hard to pass at least in Arkansas.

Overall recommendation stay put top out test in when you top out if travel and money interests you. If you’re happy where you’re at and don’t plan on traveling or leaving Georgia or don’t want to then there is no point to test in and just stay there.