Hi Adamm!
The genius about this forum is everyone that participates here has differences of opinions of which we all can in a civil manner, agree or disagree with and still for the most part, respect each other nonetheless.
I started out as a sixth step apprentice with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers up in good old "Rotten" Groton, CT many Moons ago!
Without getting into a long dragged out chronological history, I learned more about working with different metals, many types of welding processes, interpreting engineering drawings & symbols involving complex systems and structures, fabrication techniques, pipefitting, pipewelding than I did when I was in the USN, which was where I first was formerly trained to weld and gained valuable experience as a result of it!
When I left Electric Boat, I was a First Class Pipe Welder/OJT Instructor with unique experience.
I then proceeded to work as a Boilermaker/Tube welder and sometimes as an Ironworker in the NY/NJ area and as the work became cyclical. I worked alot on the road with the NTL (National Transient Local) up in New England, Chicagoland, Minnesota, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, the Carolina's, Georgia, Forida and some others that, when it all came down to the bottom line - did'nt even rate!!! Yep, I did alot of travelling and had alot of fun doing so. Also, made alot of money along the way working 6-10's or 7-12's. I also learned alot more about the different types of power plants, paper mills, steel mills, chemical plants, all types of structures. it was through these experiences that I really started to appreciate the genius of designing these different complex structures and piping systems along with all of their ancillary equipment... I also learned alot more than I ever did about the different people that lived in these areas. It showed me alot more about how great this country is for it's common values and virtues in spite of our diversity.
I also learned alot about how having a union behind you would no doubt, be advantageous to you when you're out on the road by yourself so to speak, in certain circumstances which I will not get into but, I'll say did occurr.
The training I recieved from the USN, as an apprentice with the Boilermakers, as a Journeyman Boilermaker was second to none!!! I owe my entire career to both of these entities and will always be grateful for the opportunities they gave me as a result of my experiences with them. Alot of "doors" were opened for me as a result of my experiences with both the United States Navy and the Boilermakers Union!
The Boilermakers BTW,also gave me the opportunity to more about structural steel as an Ironworker no less. The 2 Unions have an agreement or at least they did when I was in, that honored both types of Journeymen in the field.
I almost forgot about the benefits that covered you for just about everything!!!
Don't get me wrong because, their were some practices that I personally saw that were not ethical, fair etc. but, then again, that happens nowadays more often than before anyway so, basically there's good and bad everywhere you go these days IMHO!!!
All I know is that I got alot more GOOD than Bad out of my experiences as a Union Boilermaker/Ironworker!
This is just my experience and others may disagree with my opinion but, without having strong Unions in this country's history, the Middle class would have never existed in the first place!!! The weaker the Unions are these days is one of the primary reasons why the Middle class of THESE UNITED STATES is shrinking and disappearing and as a result, causing the ever widening gap between the rich and the poor!!!
The last thing I'll mention before I jump off my soapbox is that OUTSOURCING has'nt helped the health of the Middle class nor has NAFTA as they both promised to do so... These two Greedy practices of the filthy rich were nothing more than classic examples of a sales pitches that only a "snake oil" travelling salesman would use to sell you a "cure" for something that ails ya!!! Yep, these practices have definitely weakened the Unions in this country, and so did the Unions themselves - especially the ones that were running them by concentrating so much of the unions resources in aiding their own personal choices of candidates for public office in other words, political campaigns!!! Only to have their rank and file stabbed in the back as a result of their actions afterwards!!!
I'm gonna get off my soapbox now because, I think that I've already expressed my own opinion too much but I will say this, Union apprenticeships always give top notch trades skills education!!!
This is something that I think most here will agree with! I'll leave it at that!!!
Bottom line is as a Boilermaker/Tube welder, you have to travel where the work is these days because of the nature of the work involved. That's not to say that this is always the case... For example, some union locals are so busy that even if you're on the "B" list, there's steady work for the next year or two or even more depending on where they're located and the amount of new construction projects and shutdowns are going on but, the only way to find out is to call around all of the locals and find out... You should'nt have any trouble getting those local numbers if you visit your local and most unions have special numbers to call about work at othe locals across the country... If you're online, find out where there's an ethnol plant (Alot of these will soon be popping up all over the place) being built because, they'll always have the need for Boilermaker/welders and Pipefitter/ welders... I hope this helps.
Respectfully,
SSBN727
Run Silent... Run Deep!!!
Adam,
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