r/UnionCarpenters

Finished preappreticship in February and still can’t find work. Applied everywhere I could find online and networked at my local still nothing. Heard nothing from the out of work list either. Really losing motivation here if anyone has advice I would appreciate it.

Hello I joined ubc 3 months ago and am still waiting on a call to start work (I live in canada) starting as a second year apprentice, I have kept good contact with my rep and they say they are waiting for things to pick up and the larger commercial contractors to finish bidding on new construction, I'm very new to this side of the industry having only some experience through trades classes in high school and college trades course 4 years ago just wondering if anyone could share their experiences

Edit: Thanks for all the feedback and responses I have talked to my rep many times, and my situation is more unique than most apprentices starting at 2nd year apprentice because of my schooling and experience and also lack of transportation I don't know if most apprentices start at preexisting build or start on something just breaking ground, It's good advice to get myself out there to the sites and show the willingness that I have, I guess I wanted to trust the process with dispatch

The North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters endorses Platner.

Platner: “Power in society comes from two places, organized money or organized people and we all know that the money is organized and it has bought our political system.”

Hello brothers and sisters

I’m an active member of Local 1907 (BC, Canada). I’m currently at the jobsite (in town) that will be done in this year. Since it’s the industrial jobsite, the wage is higher than commercial sites.
From what I heard, BC government is running out of money, so there won’t be any big infrastructure work for years in town. (I might be wrong)

Last week, I got a phone call from the Pile driver’s union that there is a couple of camp works at up North BC. The locations were Fort Saint John and Prince Rupert(It was bit noisy when I was on the phone, so I couldn’t hear clearly).

I’ve been interested in joining Pile Driver’s union and since I haven’t had any camp jobsite work before, I kinda wanna try it out.
But my girlfriend doesn’t think it’s a good idea because of drug and prostitution at the campsite. So I’d like to ask you guys who has been campwork about honest experiences.

Thank you

As the title says I’m looking to join the Union but have no idea where to start..

I’m 25 years old, and currently in Telecommunications, wanting to branch out and do something new, and I’ve always been interested in carpentry work,

I’m currently in Florida But am looking to go north to the Michigan area, would it be wise for me to attempt to join the union here and try to transfer? Or would it be easier to apply there and see what happens?

I have 0 experience with the line of work, but have always worked Manual jobs, (Roofing and telecommunications) so I don’t believe I’d have any transferable skills, how would that affect my chances of being accepted, if it does at all? And how does the process work? I’ve read that there’s “Pre-apprenticeship” and “Apprenticeship” but can’t seem to find what the difference is between the two.

Also, for anyone else around the same age range who decided to change paths in life, how did you get past the feeling that you may fail and it may not work out?

Thank you everyone in advance.

Anyone have any experience on switching locals? Currently a journeyman in SoCal local 110, previously 213 before they switched it.

Getting sent up to NorCal for a job and being switched to the union up there as a foreman. Wage is insanely better compared to what I’m used to in SoCal.

Do I need to switch locals with each job I do? I don’t plan to stay out in NorCal for an extended period of time, hoping just a few weeks here and there to get done what I need to get done.

Anyone have experience doing this?

I might be just overthinking but probably not. The USA is turning 250 years old this year. Right? Heritage, freedom, use of expression? Last job I was at was refinery and literally no one stood for the pledge of allegiance, people actually turned away from the flag? Is this normal?

I’m 20 years old currently in Colorado and looking for a sponsor to get me into the union and ready to relocate as soon as given the chance. What do you guys recommend I do to increase my chances? I’m working on my OSHA 10, have verifiable work experience in carpentry, and have taken college algebra and calculus. Any help is appreciated

How many of y'all work on the concrete side and have to tie rebar. At my company we do everything concrete related from setting forms to tying the rebar to finishing concrete and I just find it hard to believe that as a carpenter I should have to take work away from our brothers and sisters in the ironworkers union and do they're job when there is ironworkers laid off. I feel like I'm being entitled but also my job duties are X,Y, AND Z and tying rebar is not a carpenters job

To the guys who have been at the start of these jobs, and to those currently on them;
Are there any items, tools, clothes, personal PPE that you wish some body could have quickly available that you could buy on the spot?
Items such as preferred hand tools, underclothes, thermals, energy drinks, Tylenol, Motrin, etc ?
I’m an apprentice applicant and am wondering if there’s a need for this.

Thanks for your replies.

Has anyone here ever switched unions within the NYC carpenters system? For example, moving from one of the general carpentry locals (like 157, 926, 45, or 20) over to a specialty local like the Timbermen/Scaffold Local 1556?

If you’ve done this, what was the process like? How did the transfer work out for you, and who did you have to speak with to make it happen?

What are the best work pants you’ve guys have found? I’m a vertical guy mostly so I need stretchy and durable

I'm 19, looking to start a career as a carpenter but have no clue really where to start or what to do, I have no construction experience, or connections, any advice or knowledge would be greatly appreciated

I went to my verification day about a month ago for the NYC carpenters union. I completed my drug test and submitted all of my documents. I still haven’t heard back. I’ve called and emailed and they haven’t gotten back to me. Is this normal? When should I expect to hear back. Is there anything else I should do?

Have my interview there tomorrow. Wondering what the process is like, what questions they ask, or any experience with that local in general. Thanks.

From what I understand, reaching Certified Journeyman (top pay) requires 10,000 hours of interior systems work in the NYC carpenters union.

Do apprenticeship hours count toward that 10,000-hour total?

For example, if someone completes apprenticeship with ~7,000 hours, would those hours carry over so they only need ~3,000 more hours as a journeyman (B-rate) to become certified?

Or does the 10,000-hour requirement start only after becoming a journeyman, meaning you’d need a full 10,000 hours at that level regardless of apprenticeship time?

Would appreciate insight from anyone who became a journeyman after Jan 2020 when the system changed.