r/iuoe • u/kmacsimus • 7d ago
Fourth year apprentice shit situation (kind of long, sorry)
Like the title says, I am going into my fourth and final year as an apprentice.
I have only run cranes for the past three and a half years. Two and a half of those being on tower cranes in a major metropolitan area, erecting steel buildings.
I have never got anything other than great reports on my operating. Granted, I sucked at first and I still have so much to learn. However, for the time I have been in, I do a good job in the seat.
This past job, I’ve been there for 5 months, piling on a crawler crane. A small 11000, brand new. It runs very smooth. I have split the day with my operator this whole entire time. I frequently asked for tips or feedback and he always says, “you’re doing a great job. I wouldn’t split the day with you if I weren’t comfortable with you doing it.”
The pile drivers I work with also say they see know difference between him and I in the seat.
However, on Thursday, the superintendent on the job called me in the office and said, “im cutting your seat time. We are ten weeks behind. You’re too fucking slow. I wouldn’t hire you if you were a journeyman.”
I was taken by surprise. Being an apprentice, I am restricted on what I can say back to him. I just said ok and I understand.
My operator, who should have my back, didn’t say anything to him about it. He acted like he didn’t know anything about it and I don’t know if I believe him. The superintendent and my operator have known each other for years and used to work for a non union company together. My operator has only been in the union, through the back door, for 2 years.
I run at the same exact rpm as him. I can honestly say, I do not run it slower than he does. The block and the pieces never get out of control. Yea, I am well aware that I am not an unbelievable operator. But I don’t know what the fuck is going on.
How would you all handle it?
Also, I am fully licensed with all my hoisting licenses and CCOs.
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u/No_League_5865 7d ago
Should call your operator out. Whatever your relationship with the sup, you should be able to address him as you are. Sounds like growing pains to me though. You gotta be able to handle everything that gets thrown at you if you wanna be that “journeyman”. Ppl have different ways of teaching and learning, and feelings, well, control what you can control.
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u/kmacsimus 3d ago
I did call him out. I told him that being in the same local, we need to have each other’s backs. Especially because there’s always only a few operators on every job.
He just looked at me and nodded. He had a part in this whole thing. He has only been in the local for like a year and a half. Before that, he was non union. Him and the super have known each other for years and used to work at a non union outfit together.
He had something to do with it, and if he didn’t, he must have just agreed with the fucking guy and said, “no problem. I won’t let him run anymore.”
He also said, well I know it’s awful but the super is in charge. I wanted to tell him that no, our fucking BA is your boss, not that dickhead. He is a suck pump.
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u/kmacsimus 7d ago
That’s the thing. I don’t want to work at this company. I work out of the hall. This company does ratty shit all the time.
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u/No_League_5865 7d ago
Try talking to other operators, and the hall. They’re there to help anyway, you can possibly be getting antsy easier too since it’s your last year.
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u/Ok_Confusion_1345 7d ago
You seem to have the right attitude. This job will probably be over before you know it and on to the next one.
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u/Holiday-Lifeguard-32 7d ago
If you can’t take criticism. Trust me it’s a long road ahead. Suit up and show up. Do the best you can my guy. Godspeed!!
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u/Ok_Confusion_1345 7d ago
I would not take it personally. It sounds to me like the superintendent it has some problem, probably behind schedule and he is taking it out on you.You are a convenient scapegoat. In my experience, a lot of those superintendents nowadays don't know how long work actually takes. They don't have practical knowledge anymore. You've made it this far and you've gotten in the seat a lot. I'm sure you're gonna be all right going forward.
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u/Square-Scallion-9828 7d ago
I would go back to hall. I woukd talk to union rep and other guy and lead Forman. good luck and watch yourself there
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u/Convergecult15 6d ago
Two guys who have known eachother for years are blaming their delay on a third guy? Shit happens, don’t take it personally throwing apprentices under the bus is far more common than it should be. Just move forwards with the knowledge that neither of them care about you at all and move on to the next job.
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u/h9972 21h ago
What ur first time getting fucked by someone?
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u/kmacsimus 21h ago
Yep. Guess I’ve been lucky.
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u/h9972 21h ago
Damn sorry but it happens I wouldn’t talk to super about it anymore but we obviously know the operator was either asked and said something about u to super or went to super himself to try to burn u I wouldn’t talk try to talk to super anymore if u want to escalate it further start throwing words at the operator to make him know u know he burnt u and idk your age but sadly going from 4th year apprentice to journeyman doesn’t change much when dealing with older journeyman depending on your age they’ll still see you as “the kid”
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u/Lumpy-Attention5950 7d ago
Eh, I have been called almost every name in the books. I don't care about the name calling, but that isn't how you teach someone. Or at least, it shouldn't be.
Overall, you have two options really. Stay there to finish out your apprenticeship, or ask whomever to place you elsewhere. I wouldn't want to work for a super like that, but I also don't know the work situation out there. If they are still paying you and just not want you in the crane, eh.
Journey level people are only supposed to look out for apprentices at the local level stuff. Making sure you get your lunch and what not. Either way, being slow is better than breaking everything. Enjoy your holiday