Are you a welder?

[Waldo]

I am a retired Union Ironworker. I was also a certified welder. My number one advice is to join a Union. I retired at 55 years old and 30 years vested in the pension. I talked to a lot of non union welders. I would always ask them when they were going to retire. Mostly they did not know or said " When I die". I have never had a serious talk with any kind of non union building trades welder that was doing as well as a welder in the same trade that was in the union. Sometimes you will find a guy making a little more in his pocket, but they very seldom beat the union package. If they did, it was for one or two jobs, not 30 or more years.

 

[JayFramer]

I've "ran some beads" before but not lately. Need to practice! It's a perishable skill!

 

[mtgianni]

I am a retired Union Ironworker. I was also a certified welder. My number one advice is to join a Union. I retired at 55 years old and 30 years vested in the pension. I talked to a lot of non union welders. I would always ask them when they were going to retire. Mostly they did not know or said " When I die". I have never had a serious talk with any kind of non union building trades welder that was doing as well as a welder in the same trade that was in the union. Sometimes you will find a guy making a little more in his pocket, but they very seldom beat the union package. If they did, it was for one or two jobs, not 30 or more years.

It isn't always the easiest thing to do. Our local usually interviews 8-10 applicants and puts on 1-2 apprentices a year.
If you are number 3 and an opening doesn't develop, you go back to the interview pool. Some just tire of waiting and move on.

 

[Gardner11]

My Dad was a welder and a WWII vet , he was the best . Worked for a very large pipe line company. Panhandle Eastern Pipline Company. When ever there was a problem any where on this giant line that could not be solved locally well the answer was call Lee Roy , he was a great man and I miss him a terribly.