Hey!
I'm a 28 year old student looking into trying out an electrical apprenticeship program. I've found out a lot about the general structure of most apprenticeships...(4years, 8000 hours OJT, 140 Classroom)but am curious what the 'rules' are within various unions.
Do (most) unions require you to work a certain amount of hours a month? or else what?
I must say, I'm a bit bewildered by the thought of endless 40 hour weeks without end. forever and ever. am I being lazy?

Well, I can't speak for other unions and I can't even speak for other locals of the IBEW, but the local I belong to is not interested in anyone becoming an apprentice that can't work fulltime and put in the required classroom hours. Our local covers a lot of territory and most of it doesn't have a 4 lane highway, so it can be a real challenge for apprentices to make it from work to class & then home in time to catch a few ZZZ's. Those that can't make the sacrifice don't last.

Also, our local has a five year apprenticeship.

You sound alot like my brother. He went to school to avoid working. Working 40 hours a week is life. Unless you're fortunate to have lots of money.

"Also, our local has a five year apprenticeship."

Tom, not only the five years but 10 or 12 hours a day plus weekends, the regular week was 37 1/2 hours and i can't remember anyone working less then 50 or 60 hours a week.

Sounds like this trade, may just not be his cup of tea.

An endless parade of 40 hour weeks? I WISH!!!!

Have no fear....you will spend plenty of time laid off, delayed by weather, between jobs, etc. There will be many times you will PRAY the next week is 40 hours!

Now, it's not like every day is part of an endless parade of repeating the same task over...and over...and over. Indeed, electrical work has a larger variety of tasks, and requires more thought, than almost any other trade. It is also a great springboard into numerous allied fields.

The "Good Book" says that mans' days will be spent in toil...get used to it. I am afraid that we supply our youth with such a stream of endless stimulation that they grow up thinking it is the function of the world to entertain them.

If I had to offer some "career advice," I think you might one day be a good electrician.....but you are in desperate need of a hitch in the army first!

Believe me, the 40 hour weeks are no problem in the long run.

As stated earlier, you may end up wishing for a forty hour week because on the flip side, I have done 49 straight 12 hour days, and many 50 hour or more weeks in my career.

So don't worry, the "40 week" may not be and endless journey.

Roger

My local is pretty well dead in the water right now. It's so slow that the apprentices are failing the journeymans exam on purpose when they "top out".
Getting your license up here right now means being laid-off as a journeyman and the apprentices are all working.
The one thing I can say is that electrical is no trade to get into just to "try it".
It requires extensive training and continuing education just to get your license and keep it valid. It's a trade in which you will never stop learning new tricks and theories. If you must work with your hands, it's about as good a trade as there is but, I hope my son does better than to pull wire and run pipe on a daily basis.
As for the apprentice program here, the apprentices do their class work on weekdays (friday) and it's up to the contractor whether or not they get paid for the school time. most contractors are more than willing to pay them for the training.
Also, all apprentices "rotate" atleast every six months to different contractors.
This ensures that they get a wide scope of different types of electrical work under their belt. All in all, it's a solid program.

Endless 40 hour weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At his age, I cannot believe I read that.

" I am afraid that we supply our youth with such a stream of endless stimulation that they grow up thinking it is the function of the world to entertain them."
Reno, I am afraid there may be some truth to that.

To add to this,
My daughter in college has a parttime job, that to this guy would probably too many hours.
My other daughter is in high school, and she is afraid the school will find out she is working more hours than permitted for high school students. And her grades are good enough to get her into a good college... maybe the world is not coming to an end just yet




[This message has been edited by PCBelarge (edited 11-28-2005).]

I work at least a 40 hour work week. Usually about 50 after paperwork and travel time in the company van. I almost always work for myself on Saturdays and I'm also going to tech-school. It's a pain in the ash but if you want to get anywhere in this trade you have to put your time in. But that's like any job I suppose.

28 years old and you are worried about 40 hour weeks, have you ever worked full time? I don't mean this as an insult but maybe it will stop you from wasting your time and the time others would put in to teach you, I don't think you'd get too far in this field. In fact an apprentice of ours just quit who sounds a little like your self.

It sounds to me like the general consensus here is yes, you are being lazy, but it sounds like you may have been on to that already.

I'm a little curious why you are 28 and still in school? Are you going for post graduate work? Is the apprenticeship to be in addition to an engineering degree? If that's the case, then no, you aren't being lazy at all. You may someday be drawing plans that the rest of us have been dreaming of.

Hello Mr. Brubaker,
Well, if you came to this forum to ask this question, I can only think that you have put alot of thought into this.
Let me answer your questions with some sincere questions of my own.
You are a 28 year old student. How long have you been going to school? What courses have you taken in school? What courses are you taking now? Has math been a strong suit? What type of work have you done in the past (mowing lawns, McDonalds, quantum physicists)? What type of jobs do your parents do? Siblings? What type of interests do you have?
For the average American, 40 hour minimum work weeks do end after a certain amount of time, be it retirement or death. You get used to them. After a while, if you like what you do, you don't mind and actually look forward to going to work. It is a place to socialise and shine. You will make friends that become as close as family. You feel there pain, you feel there joy. That is life.
Entering into the apprenticeship program is a BIG undertaking.
I am indentured into an industrial electrician apprenticeship program. It is in association with the IBEW/NJATC. The key word here is indentured. I have given my word to the state of California that I will stay in this program for the full term of apprenticeship. I work 40 plus hours a week (up to 84) and go to school one night a week. I entered into this life (it is not just a job) knowing full well that it was going to be hard but fulfilling work. I am 37 years old and will finish the apprenticeship when I am 40.
If you want to see what it is like to be an electrician, contact the local IBEW and tell them your wishes. Be honest not only with them, but with yourself.
If you truly want this, I wish you well.
If not, step aside and let someone else step into the program.

Tim

Don't mean to sound rude but... Meow, 40 hours, meow... Have the benifit of inherited income? Are you French? (Where, I here they have 36 hour weeks?) The 40 hour week was fought long and hard for. Feel lucky that you are not required more, for less! When it was instituted a weekly wage was $12! A WEEK!
http://www.dol.gov/asp/programs/history/flsa1938.htm

I know people with moderate saleries that put in 60-70.

While I was in the service I had occassion to be on duty for 126 hours a week, which equated to $1.18 an hour after TAXES and I was getting shot at on occassion. Your only time off was sleep! And there is no legal requirement for them to let you do that either.

We had a couple of apprentices that were worth about $1.18/hr.

I am a 29 year old, 3rd year apprentice who is also indentured. Everyone has pretty well summed it up so far. It is definately something you have to have in your heart and want. I can't tell you how bad I hate drilling concrete and setting anchors all day, but alas it is part of the job.

To offer this as a different look at what was said:

Are you asking about vacation time and the such? Because the local I'm in does not offer any compensation for vacation or sick days. If you need a sick day, all you need to do is call in. If you want a vacation, then try to give advanced notice of how many days and when.

Are you asking about hours for advancement? The NJATC has set it up to where you will need to be in school for 200 hours and also need 1600 of OJT per year to move up to your next pay scale. If you go to work and school on a regular basis and don't miss a lot of time, (you can miss days here and there) these hours come pretty easy.


As far as that goes, this trade is blue collar work. Very seldom will you see someone on the job with a suit and tie working. Everyone pretty much wears what they have available to them. I will admit though, that most true electricians are some of the most down to earth and real people you will meet. Make sure this is what you want first though.


[This message has been edited by GA76Apprentice (edited 11-29-2005).]

Are you by any chance related to a politician?

If 40 hours a week isn't enough for you as you gain some experience you can probably pick up some side work. There's always a neighbor that needs an extra receptacle in their garage, a ceiling fan hung, or some undercabinet lighting installed.

I think we have made the point clear that BBrubaker will be looking at 40 hours or more per week if he chooses to come into this trade. With good luck and good health it will provide a good living. So with that said, it is time to close this thread and move on.

Roger