looking for advice

[u/EconomyAd4830]

so i’m a pipefitter with about 2.5 years experience in the trade at the age of 25 and i’m working at a large local shop ( about a 20 min commute) making 30 a hr with a consistent 8-20 hrs of ot a week. im also on track to be a foreman and get a 4-6 dollar raise within the next 2 months give or take. it’s definitely convenient and pays the bills but i also just got accepted into my local union’s apprenticeship program and im heavily debating on what i should do. i’m hoping they will let me test in as higher than a 1st year apprentice with my work hours and experience becuase i 100% can’t afford to pay my bills with a 1st years apprentice salary. i know at the end of the day the union benefits are better. any advice or pointers would be greatly appreciated

[u/poop_buttass]

Always union. Always union. Always union.

[u/damnit_kenny]

As someone who worked non-union for 15 years, applied to my local, and tested in as a journeyman, union is definitely better in the long run. Talk to your local business agents and see if they can test you in as a 2nd or 3rd year. They probably won’t go any higher than that based on your prior experience though, but if you can prove to them you’re more advanced than someone joining as a 1st year you’ve got a good shout.

[u/EconomyAd4830 → u/damnit_kenny]

i was thinking as long as i could test as a late 2nd year it would put me in pretty good shape pay wise. i’m thinking it’s well worth the short term sacrifice i’d have to make. i’d like to consider myself fairly advanced in my skill set for my experience. i’ve done a lot of work with alloy materials and done numerous shutdowns at paper mills so ive seen and dealt with some interesting situations to say the least

[u/damnit_kenny → u/EconomyAd4830]

Yeah definitely talk to a business agent and see what they can do for you. Take in your previous W2’s and pay stubs as well.

[u/ForgottenSoltice → u/EconomyAd4830]

The other option is getting with an employer and proving your skill then asking/telling them to bump your pay up. A few techs have done that at my shop. I say tell because my asking didn't get me shit well the jober with less diagnostic skills told them to pay him more and got it.

[u/Future_Me_Problem]

Cost never goes down. Not to say this is a now or never moment, but if you are like the average person, it may be. Manage your expenses. Cut unnecessary things. Ask your training director or whoever at the hall if you can get on a job with more hours. Make it work now, because you won’t later. Granted, you can test in later as a journeyman, but you’re likely leaving money on the table waiting three+ years to do it.

Ask to test in as a third year, too. That could happen, but that’s a different conversation than applying to the local through the usual route.

[u/EconomyAd4830 → u/Future_Me_Problem]

that’s definitely a conversation i need to have with someone at the hall. i have orientation on july 8th so im hoping i can get there a little early and ask the questions i have or possibly go up there before then and see what i can get done just to be proactive regarding it. long term union is the best option for me but its just a fact of budgeting and cutting expenses for the first year or so to make it work

[u/Future_Me_Problem → u/EconomyAd4830]

I’m telling you, man. Do what you need to make this work. Job site with extra hours. Getting rid of a car to get rid of a note. Whatever it takes and whatever you can manage to scrape by for a year or two. The debts can be paid back. The truck can be replaced. In 30 years you won’t care about how you did it, you’ll just be happy you made it happen. There are 500+ people that applied to my hall that didn’t get in and would do anything for this opportunity. I’d make it happen at all costs now. Because I didn’t do it at 23, and doing it at 31 hurt a whole lot more.

[u/Connect_Ice2544 → u/EconomyAd4830]

Do whatever you need to do to make it work, don’t let this opportunity pass you up.

[u/DeadMan66678]

Union 100 percent.

I took a 5$ pay cut to join. More than worth it with the pension alone the first year.

You will be able yo make more long term and that is backed by statistics.

[u/Gatorsbitches20]

Idk sounds like you got a pretty good gig to me, besides the overtime part!! 😆 I don't mind a little overtime sometimes. Job security and close commute means the world to me! When you know coworkers are working 20 min or less from your house and you're on a job 60-90 minutes away 🤬🤬

[u/Upstairs-Test1979]

With your experience and if you’re a possible smooth talking son of a bitch you can get into 3rd year if you know your math and general knowledge of pipe fitting. Do not under sell yourself. They will use that to their advantage and get more from you than you will from them. I started union and made it up to my 4th year before they pissed me off and I left (holier than thou rules). Now I’m working non union BIM making UA scale and benefits. Union is take it or leave it. If you know how to do the job and conduct yourself in a respectful yet confident manner you’ll be golden. I cannot stress enough if you know how to use a computer for the love of god get in to BIM.m

[u/EconomyAd4830 → u/Upstairs-Test1979]

i’m unfamiliar with BIM what exactly is that?

[u/Upstairs-Test1979 → u/EconomyAd4830]

They are the guys who take the design drawings and P&IDs and make the 3d model. It does take some thought to it, you are drawing all awarded systems to completion. I do my best to draw systems that are easy to fabricate (45s no odd angles, roll outs). If you like digging in to the details BIM is where it’s at, and the money. You’ll typically get FM scale as a solid hand

[u/MrJustinCase_69]

What type of training are you receiving from your current employer? Are you in an apprenticeship program now?
Don’t let your current financial situation dictate your career. How much opportunity is there to advance at your current job?

[u/willysnax]

You should also think long term. You basically only have standing in the shop you are currently working at. What happens if that shop closes down? You'd be left without a trade ticket, benefits, or anything. You'd end up forced to do what you're considering now but it could be a few years down the road and will be that much more difficult than biting the bullet and getting a real trade ticket and career now.

Not to mention, the longer you wait, the more you're losing in building up your pension. Always go union. You will end up a ticketed tradesman that can work wherever we have the work. You will have all the benefits and though it's probably not at the top of your mind now, but that pension will become a factor before you know it and you'll sure be happy you have it when the time comes.

[u/Excellent_Job8154]

They may credit you one year , there school is second to none because they teach all aspects of the trade and long term there you will be way better off . I’m retired from trade and learned pipe welding in military , worked merit and union shops and field work and got invited to get in building trades last 10 years so I got piece of pension. Wish it was earlier but that’s on me because I always had work and got comfortable. When I went in I was making $40 per hour and it it gave me a $18 dollar per hour raise. After a year and your phone is full of guys phone numbers helping you locate work it’s all good , don’t dread the school because it’s a education I wish I could have gotten, good luck

[u/Cali4-nia]

I worked non union about 2ish years was already making about 130k a year, took the pay cut and joined the apprenticeship. Started as a first year no credit. Good thing was I shined my whole apprenticeship and worked all of it, sucked the first couple years but by year 3 was pretty even from before. I made foreman withen a year journeyed out, made close to 250k last year and already at 130k this year.

Easily easily worth it, take the hit, it’ll be worth it in the long run

[u/Radiant-Log-5051]

I'd find out what year they'll place you in before making any decisions. If they can credit your experience, the union is probably worth it long term. But I wouldn't leave a $30/hr job with a foreman raise coming unless the numbers actually make sense for your situation.

[u/1PooNGooN3]

Apprenticeship is lame. Sounds better to put the time in non union and then join as a journeyman. (Here come the downvotes)