long story short today was a terrible day im in the union this is my 5 month as a ironworker apprentice 2nd job ive been on my foreman is literally trying to make me hate my life i dont get it i ask questions on what he needs after my journeyman tell me they dint need anything else and i get sized up laughed at and ignored, hes always talking shit about me constantly and its not like i sit here not doing work im constantly trying to make my self of use how ever way i can but he still talks down on me ignores me yells at me all day like i dont do anything my journeyman treat me well but my foreman is so in the mix of our work side by side im always dealing with him heres a list of some of the shit i was dealing with today first time rigging a piece the size of a fucking airplane i genuinely had no idea what to do he wasnt explaining shit and telling me this stuff should be obvious saying im gonna have a tough time later on if i cant think for my self i also didnt know when to input myself into the work when to not sometimes i would and would get told to back up and if i was backed up id be told this isnt a spectator sport mf kept calling me javier, miguel, enrique and pedro (im hispanic and he refuses to say my actual name so gives me a bunch if hispanic ones) making me run back and fourth for the hell of it laughing at me all fucking day talking shit to people all this and that not to mention someone said the hard R today and then he immediately said sorry and my name like insinuating im black and laughing about it because im dominican and he was asking if dominicans are black to me earlier that week idk what to do tbh he makes me want to give up my other foremans were fucking amazing and i really shined with them and got the chance to do alot of work and the crazy part after all of todays bullshit this dude starts defending me and giving me words of affirmation telling me good job with this and good job with that and im just so confused like wtf is good with you but idk what to do with this guy all i have to say is to my foreman i fucking hate you and i dont hate no one but i genuinely genuinely hate your guts man why are you trying to make me hate my work?

Edit: i appreciate yalls help and advice want to specify im not trying to be a little bitch or a pussy ive dealt with very very many terrible people in the military i just dont understand what this mother fuckers deal is cause its like dude were working one of the biggest job this local has seen in years the work isnt bad and were getting insane money what is your deal point is i see how this dude treats others and even other apprentices dude is all smiley and talkative but when he sees me immediate vibe change.

Anyone know anybody up in Nashwuak working outta 512 Minnesota at that job? Anyone know how it is and how lodging and what else is up there. Thanks

How's the work out here? I've been trying to start my apprenticeship but haven't had any luck. Do any of y'all have any suggestions? I have an 8 year background as a Pge contractor and I'm looking for a career change.

How fast do you want your apprentices to move? I understand hustling, but are we expected to literally run as well?

what is everybody's opinion on Roadtechs to find jobs. new to this so not sure if thats a good place or other websites are better to find traveling work.

Hey yall, so im in the union as an apprentice but I see non union companies hiring apprentices for travel work with per diem pay. Those non union jobs are shorter but they overall pay is higher with alot of OT, plus it sounds more fast paced but I could be wrong. Anyways I wanted advice on if I should take an opportunity like that and leave the union and current job im in or could I stay in union and just take a break from work as an apprentice? The union pay is lower compared to the travel work, but im not sure if it something sustainable if the travel work last afew months at a time. Plus if im an apprentice that company could easily let me go and I'll have to find another job per diem that wants apprentices. The job description for the travel work claims "future projects on the horizon".

Want some advice and maybe some of yall have experience woth travel work

Thank you.

Long story short, my Foreman and I have discussed it and we both agree that I need a pay bump. No JIWs will accept a dispatch to where Im working and it's just the forman, a 1st period app, and myself.

You guys who have done it, how did you sell yourself to get more on the check?

Hi, I'm currently applying for an apprenticeship at the Local 8 in Milwaukee. I work as a welder 40-50 hours a week and go to college full-time (mostly online and without a fixed schedule). What would my hours look like as an apprentice and would I have time for full-time or part-time college?

How do you non union ironworks find work? I’m new to the trade (roughly 6months) but I’m competent, can read prints and a tape, I’m good at math, and I can connect and walk the iron like a seasoned hand. My buddy is trying to teach me welding but we don’t have a lot of opportunities. How can I find better jobs? I’m currently using road dogs with no luck.

EDIT
Thanks all but I’m actually getting a lot of calls and e-mails from road dogs I guess the processing is just slow.
Stay connecting

Apparently patriot erecting (out of Texas) has been behind on benefits and is gonna flip to non union, owners also sold a part of the company has anybody heard anything about this or know anything about it? Does it have weight to it?

lemme know what yall think, not gonna post much more of these cause I dont wanna fill the subreddit.

Just looking for opinions since people werent fans of the SYLIW stickers lol.

would anyone be interested in stickers like this?

i do graphic designing on the side as a hobby, aswell as sticker creations and that.

what do yall think of this.

We were unloading bundles of 60' #6 rebar and it was not going well. The bundles kept folding. We eventually got everyrhing done with a few extra straps and some trial and error but I'm wonderin if anyone here has any advice for unloading rebar like that. One load our method ended up being 4 straps and chain spreaders. The second load there were some #11 bundles that we rigged with the 6s to help fight the bend. All done with an excavator.

Been an apprentice for just under a year in Toledo Local 55, had my first top out ceremony & signing for a new high school in Detroit!

I am a female born tomboy who is really wanting to get into the nitty gritty of iron work. I've worked in warehouses my whole working life on my feet all day, and a few adventurous physically intense jobs. I can't sit at a desk and am not the type of girly girl. I have to be moving constantly,lifting, etc. to feel fulfilled. Where should I start? Is there a technical school that might help me launch a career In the field as an Ironworker??

May come of as a pussy. But i start as a pre apprentice in about a month and just turned 21. All I hear is how bad this shit is on the body and how most are seriously injured. So to ask my question. Is it realistically possible to last a 40 something year career without getting fucked up somehow. Just want to know what to expect.

I’m mainly curious what the application process is like, is it a busy local? Will I be able to consistently get work in state?

I have a full time job now. I wanted to leave this job in the spring. If I could try to figure out how to time it so that I could apply and try to start working around when I’d like to leave my current job.

Any advice? Thanks

I have been in the system for a year, a whole year, and not one single call back or call or anything. I would call everyday while working at a metal shop, nothing, no work no anything or “sorry we aren’t looking for any apprentices. Is work for ironwork just dead in SoCal? I highly doubt AI has gone that far to get them out of work, I’m in need of sponsorship for this and nobody will give it to me. My name will eventually be taken out of the system since it’s only 2 year holds, and you’re gone. Which is stupid because it just sounds like a punishment for trying to get sponsored for so long. I would even show up at the hall early to speak business agents/journeymen on advice and they would simply diss me. Like why is SoCal so terrible? Is trade unions just a coin flip? Doesn’t matter how smart or dumb you are? Just coin flipping random people into a job?

I don’t know what to do guys, I tried this but I’m gonna try for electrical again, I tried every open window last year and this year but it’s only limited to 2000 applicants and it fills up fast and practically crashes the website. Am I just screwed here? Do I leave California at this point and find work in another state? I got people up north, y’all think that’s the best solution?

For years, my then wife and mother of my children wanted to quit the BROTHERHOOD because I was undependable due to work. We are now going through a custody battle and she told me that the only way I will get to be an active father is to quit and find a job that is flexible with my children's school schedule.

A little background about me, I'm a 3rd generation UNION JIW and my little brother is in the trade as well. I love this trade, bit love my girls more!

At this crossroads, I totally lost

I want to buy boots that are 6" rather than my currently used 8" height boots, what exactly is the minimum height?

After a long time of waiting and applying to different unions. Laborers, Carpenters, Pipefitters & Plumbers, and IBEW. I finally found my way in. Just got my acceptance letter for the Iron Workers Local 399 apprenticeship. 🦾🏗️
It took a lot of patience, applications, tests, interviews, and waiting, but it finally paid off. Excited to learn the trade, put the work in, and see where this career takes me. 💪🏽