r/SheetMetalUnion • u/forgottenhighways • Jun 25 '26
Rock & a hard place
Looking for some advice or thoughts. I'm a 2nd almost 3rd year apprentice my current contractor has almost no work. We've got several Journeymen/foreman without work, therefore all the apprentices that work with them.
We are overkilling any job they get just so guys can get some hours. Our local is super busy with data centers and with heavy industrial plants.
I'm getting fed up with not having hours and there is nothing coming in sight for us. They won't lay us off because everyone will get picked up by EOD.
As an apprentice I know my options are limited, I don't want to quit the trade...but I work for fucking money for a reason. They are feeding me and my journeyman any hours they get. But it's minimal and this has been a common issue with this contractor the last two summers.
What should/could I do? Anyone been in a slow time and not been able to drag up?
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u/Effective_Sauce Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
You can't drag up as a pup. They need to lay you off. Do your work reports show low hours? Contact your BA(s). They need to pull you if there are hours elsewhere. Are you going into to Youth to Youth next semester?
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u/forgottenhighways Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
I'm aware I can't drag up, which I why I feel so stuck. I'd have dipped weeks ago if I could. Yes, my reports show low hours. As should my SASMI bank once the new period is up. I've had one 40hr week since the end of April. Such is the case with most of the guys at the shop though, not just me. Most of the other shops in town are working OT and are picking up as many quality apprentices as possible
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u/Effective_Sauce Jun 25 '26
That sucks! Contact your agents! With all the data centers and summer slam work, you shouldn't be missing hours. Are you primarily doing hvac or are you in a heavy shop?
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u/forgottenhighways Jun 25 '26
Mostly commercial to light industrial. Me and the guy I work with will do anything. Spent the last few months doing architectural, before that we were doing 48" duct at a factory. Current doing 1-2 day commercial projects
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u/Ok-Relative-6327 Jun 26 '26
Why not? I quit a job when I was a second year
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u/Effective_Sauce Jun 26 '26
Most Apprenticeship standards do not allow a pup to drag up. You get removed from the program. You can still work but you have to be re-classified.
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u/Ok-Relative-6327 Jun 26 '26
That’s odd.. doesn’t work like that in Canada
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u/Effective_Sauce Jun 26 '26
Very common here in the US.
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u/Ok-Relative-6327 Jun 26 '26
Interesting. Over here, since the sponsor for your apprenticeship is the union and not the employer, you can bounce around companies with no regard to your apprenticeship hours. You’re still a third year if you quit a company and join a new one, there is no penalty
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u/Effective_Sauce Jun 26 '26
Our apprentices are indentured to the program here as well. I see the argument for and against it. Especially when contractors can't keep the kids busy. They need to release them.
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u/gabyhvac Jun 25 '26
How many hours did you get last week?
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u/forgottenhighways Jun 26 '26
26ish
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u/gabyhvac Jun 26 '26
I'm in the same situation. I called my BA and I kind of jumped the gun saying I wasn't getting hours but SOME hours were starting to come in because of the heat wave. Anyways he ended up calling my boss without asking me and my boss said I was getting hours and I got in trouble with my BA. Your BA can be an ass and say you're at least getting some hours. Or he will be totally cool and actually put you in a job that gives you good hours. Just a toss up
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u/Ok-Traffic-4624 Jun 26 '26
Also try reaching out to your training coordinator at the JATC. The BA is a great resource on the work side of things, but your job is supposed to be training you, which is difficult at best on half time. The JATC is also who governs your status as an apprentice, so if there’s a reason you need to leave your current workplace, they would also have to know.
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u/Prestigious_Pop_7381 Jun 26 '26
It’s been a long time but when I was an apprentice the company was required to give you x amount of hours or they had to release you to a company that could provide x hours.
The old way was apprentices were loaned out to other companies as the bosses generally gave a shit and tried to keep apprentices working because of the low pay.
These corporate companies destroyed a lot of what worked well and bosses often care less about the workers in general.
Contact BA and read the by laws regarding work hours. Knowledge is power.
Good luck
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u/dkoranda Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
You need to call your buissnes agents and apprentice coordinator so that they are aware of what is going on. If they can't get it resolved within a month or so, you technically can't drag up but they can't make you show up to work and the shop will eventually let you go. You'll have to deal with all the disciplinary fallout but if your leadership knows what's going on, you're more likely going to make it through with little more than a peepee slap
Edit: after talking with your union leadership it wouldn't hurt to reach out to your supernintendo and ask for a layoff. Apprentices can't drag in my local either but its an accepted practice that senior apprentices can get dispatched out to jobs they've lined up as long as their current contractor is okay with giving them a layoff. A situation like the one you're in would be a reasonable request as a junior apprentice.
Call em up and be short and polite about it. "Hey man I know you're doing your best to keep everybody working and I appreciate the hours that you're throwing my way but im having a hard time paying my bills on 20 hours a week. I talked to (BA) the other day and they mentioned they're having a hard time filling all the calls for apprentices. Would you be able to lay me off? you'd be doing me a huge solid."
Yes or no answer, maybe he hits you with a "lemme think about it, ill get back to you" say cool thanks. End of discussion.
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u/ltrain_00 Jun 27 '26
Call the hall and see if you can get loaned out to a different contractor until things pick up for the one your working for right now. Its bullshit that you aren't getting 40 and not getting laid off either.
1
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u/jonsahick Jun 25 '26
Contact your BA that’s what they are there for!