For the past two years I've been trying to become a union heavy equipment operator in NY. I applied for both apprenticeships at nearby locals this past year and didn't get selected for either one (IUOE Locals 138 and 15). I have been working non-union getting many different kinds of experience, and can confidently run skid steers and payloaders. I'm working on getting practiced on an excavator and backhoe right now, but have only managed to get a couple hours of seat time on each so far. I am also a certified welder, licensed by the NYC Department of Buildings to weld in NYC. The problem I'm having is getting into the unions. Everything around here is union work and none of the unions seem at all open to letting new members in. I just don't know what else to do... I want to be an operator, I'm willing to do ANYTHING I have to in order to get there, but to get on a decent job as an operator around here you need to be union, and on the flip side, the only way to get in the union you need to have a contractor sponsor you. So how do you make it happen? No contractor will talk to me because I don't have a book.
I am not going to give up on this, but it just seems completely impossible. I guess there is just so much nepotism that it makes it impossible for non-connected people to get in... Does anyone have ANY advice at all about how I can go about trying to get in? Can I just call up one of the Locals and ask for a test? I've called Locals 138, 14 and 15 and they all told me the only way to get membership is through an apprenticeship or sponsorship by an affiliated contractor, but at the same time, I've heard rumors that you can ask to be tested. Anyone from NY willing to tell me how you got in?
I am not going to give up on this, but it just seems completely impossible. I guess there is just so much nepotism that it makes it impossible for non-connected people to get in... Does anyone have ANY advice at all about how I can go about trying to get in? Can I just call up one of the Locals and ask for a test? I've called Locals 138, 14 and 15 and they all told me the only way to get membership is through an apprenticeship or sponsorship by an affiliated contractor, but at the same time, I've heard rumors that you can ask to be tested. Anyone from NY willing to tell me how you got in?