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union electrician, want to move to heavy equipment! (help!)

fishingmike

Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2015
Messages
22
Location
Maryland
i was a heavy equipment operator and mechanic in the USMC (amphibious assault vehicle, 26 ton tracked combat vehicle). I got out and joined the electrciains union. The company i work with does nothing but underground electricity and trenching. on a regular basis I use a kubota mini excavator, ditch witch trenchers, and kubota and new holland skid steers. i really enjoy running the equipment and thinking about making a career of it. My boss just bought a crane so hes going to get me trained on that, and Ive already gotten my Class B CDL to drive it. Does anybody have experience with IUOE apprenticeships? due to my background and small amount of experience, do you think it sounds promising that i may land a spot in an apprenticeship?
 

old-iron-habit

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2012
Messages
4,233
Location
Moose Lake, MN
Occupation
Retired Cons't. Supt./Hospitals
Heck yes. go talk to the IUOE. There is a program that gives a preference to former soldiers. That being said I do not know if there is a time limit on how long you been out. In this area it is a great time to get in the union. The contractors are super busy and most of us are turning down jobs and selectively bidding. We turned down a 4,000 yard concrete job today, as we do not have a person to run it or the craftspeople to do it. Its fun having this problem again.
 

fishingmike

Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2015
Messages
22
Location
Maryland
Sounds good man thanks a lot. I'm relocating from the east coast to the Pacific Northwest in June and I'm thinking that's when I'll give this career change a shot. I'm glad to hear it sounds promising. The electrical union was pretty hard to get in
 

old-iron-habit

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2012
Messages
4,233
Location
Moose Lake, MN
Occupation
Retired Cons't. Supt./Hospitals
Sounds good man thanks a lot. I'm relocating from the east coast to the Pacific Northwest in June and I'm thinking that's when I'll give this career change a shot. I'm glad to hear it sounds promising. The electrical union was pretty hard to get in

As in anything it all about supply and demand. If you are going to an area with lots of work and a labor shortage you are in like flint. If not it will be tougher to get in.
 

CascadeScaper

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
1,162
Location
Lynnwood, WA
Occupation
2nd year Operating Engineer Apprentice
Sounds good man thanks a lot. I'm relocating from the east coast to the Pacific Northwest in June and I'm thinking that's when I'll give this career change a shot. I'm glad to hear it sounds promising. The electrical union was pretty hard to get in

Where in PNW? Seattle and most of Western WA is represented by Local 302 and Tacoma/Chehalis Local 612.
 

fishingmike

Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2015
Messages
22
Location
Maryland
I'm looking into local 370 in Spokane. I'll be moving to coeur d'alene, ID in June. I received a call from somebody at the hall and unfortunately the apprenticeship class starts in April so I'm gonna miss that one. They said that because of my background I might be able to get right into the mechanic side and to call them as soon as I moved. I'm leaning more towards operator but I could go either way. Do you know any mechanics? Is it a good gig?
 

Jim15

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2011
Messages
104
Location
MA
I'm in a pretty similar situation as you. My father has had a small excavation business for 30 years, I'm 23 so I grew up around skidsteers and mini excavators. At 14 got into electrical shop in a technical high school, at 16 won one of two spots in IBEW Local 103, and at 18 got my Class A CDL and 2A/1C hydraulics license and started in the IBEW apprenticeship.

After a year went out to work with a company who does a lot of undergrounnd, but more importantly solar farms. They held onto me for the sole reason that I was a good Lull operator and I could drive their CDL bucket trucks, crane truck, and wire pulling truck/trailer. So they sent me for my 1B hydraulics license and OSHA certified rigger/signal person card.

I've made a great living for the last 6 years running equipment and trucks as a union electrician. Of course I also have the benefit of doing dirt work and snow removal on the side to "get my fix" so to speak, but the real money is in the union. The way I look at it, right now you should have plenty of job security, as I do, where changing to IUOE you become just another operator.

Around here, IUOE does all our digging because IBEW companies don't carry the insurance, and don't want the liability of digging in the crowded streets around here, but we do all of our own material handling (lulls) and cranes (the one I ran was a 17 ton "boom truck"), after that IUOE takes over.

Of course it's your life, your career, and your decision, but if you like what you do, I say try to find a similar gig where you're moving to. They are out there. Myself, I like being able to be running 4" rigid conduit Monday, doing fire alarm Tuesday, doing plugs and switches Wednesday, solar panels Thursday, running a Lull or crane on Friday. I get gratification from being a multi dimensional employee rather than only being able to do one thing.
 
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anonymous

Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2013
Messages
8
Location
America
i was a heavy equipment operator and mechanic in the USMC (amphibious assault vehicle, 26 ton tracked combat vehicle). I got out and joined the electrciains union. The company i work with does nothing but underground electricity and trenching. on a regular basis I use a kubota mini excavator, ditch witch trenchers, and kubota and new holland skid steers. i really enjoy running the equipment and thinking about making a career of it. My boss just bought a crane so hes going to get me trained on that, and Ive already gotten my Class B CDL to drive it. Does anybody have experience with IUOE apprenticeships? due to my background and small amount of experience, do you think it sounds promising that i may land a spot in an apprenticeship?

I think your best shot would be before you move to try Local 37 in MD or Loacal 77 in Washington D.C. Call one of them and ask for an organiser. They would possibly be very interested in organising someone who is already working at the trade in their area. Hope this helps you!
 
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fishingmike

Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2015
Messages
22
Location
Maryland
I'll give that a shot. What exactly will the organizer do? Not really sure how I would approach them and what the possible outcomes could be.
 

anonymous

Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2013
Messages
8
Location
America
I'll give that a shot. What exactly will the organizer do? Not really sure how I would approach them and what the possible outcomes could be.

I have never worked in that area of the country, but I have to assume they must have an organizing department. The organizer is the person who's job it is to sign up people working at the trade who are not in the union. They are the people who would know if the union is taking in members or not. If you are interested check out the iuoe.org website to get the locals phone digits or email.
 
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