Carpenters Union?

groundzero2121

im going to apply to the greater pa carpenters union next wednesday, any opinions or adive???? thanks.

all vinyl

good luck

wayne3434

ive been in carpenters union for 10 years and this is slowest ive ever seen it im nj local 455 hopefully will pick up soon and goodluck

groundzero2121

ya thats the only thing im worried about, i hope they have enough work and im not constantly laid off.

groundzero2121

another question, i have 5 years experience in drywall, should i try to get in as a 2nd or 3rd year apprentice... or is there no chance and i pretty much have to start as a 1st year apprentice?

Philly Dude

They will take you no matter what. Question is will you get work.

Good luck getting work. Half of the Philly union is laidoff.

What is it you are looking for? A temp job ? A career ?

groundzero2121

im looking for career and i think everywhere is low on work right now. I have another job i could work under the table when i do get laid off though.

BKFranks

Edited...

__________________

Jmac84

congrats on the decision
as an apprentice they will keep you working so you can get your hours to advance.
i am in L.U. 84 in california pa
are you going to the neville island training center?

groundzero2121

yes im going to neville island. Do you like the union??? How is the pay when you start out as an apprentice?

wayne3434

as an apprentice you should be kept busy i started at second year apprentice cause i had experience they will put u through some tests at school and have you build some projects and the teacher s will decide if u can start at 2nd year its worth a shot.do u know what journeymans rate is in pa?

wayne3434

in nj local 455 we have lot of guys from pa that come over to nj to work

dubz

My uncle was in the union and he used to talk it up and tell me I should get in there. Then he got enough points or whatever it was to semi-retire about 10 years ago and worked for me for a while until he went on his own and said he wished he had started out on his own.

That being said, I've called a guy I know who is in the union about getting a card because I think municipal (public) projects are where the work will be the next year or two. The feds are looking for projects to throw money at to get things moving.

Tom Struble

hmmm under the table huh i know a few union guys who do that

groundzero2121

i think the journeyman rate is $27/hr plus all the benefits....if i have to go as a 1st year apprentice, the first year will suck cause its only like 12/hr but then the 2nd year bumps you to 16 and 3rd year is 20. so after the 1st year i should be good.

JustaFramer

...

groundzero2121

ya thats the main reason i wanna get in the union so i can learn alot more and be proficient in all areas.

Jmac84

your final rate will depend on how you score on the entrance. if you have good math, logic skills you will go commercial union which is the $27 plus benefits, but if you score bad you will go residential union which is $17 plus benefits.

Jmac84

commercial union

1st year apprentice 11 plus bennies
2nd year " 16
3rd 20
4th 24
journeymen 27
foreman 28
superintendent 29

residential union
1st 11 plus bennies
2nd 13
3rd 14
4th 15.50
journeymen 17

groundzero2121

any advice on the entrance test??? i definitely wanna do good to get into commerical union, that residential pay is less than i make now.