Question for traveling pipe welders?

[rocko2527]

When you guys go out for welding in various places far from home do you go to a hotel or just sleep in your truck? If your in a union do they pay for rooms and such or is on you? I would rather just sleep in my truck rather than pay for a hotel. This is probably a stupid question but I'm new to all this.

[JC'sWelding]

Most of them get a per Diem, or a daily allowance for hotel and food.

[7A749]

When you guys go out for welding in various places far from home do you go to a hotel or just sleep in your truck? If your in a union do they pay for rooms and such or is on you? I would rather just sleep in my truck rather than pay for a hotel. This is probably a stupid question but I'm new to all this.

Like JC said, they get a per diem every day for expenses. Some even tow fifth wheel campers. There's a few pipe guys on here, I am NOT one of them.

Go to the AWS forum if you want to get the skinny on pipe welding life. Probably 80% of the members there are chasing pipe, mostly API (gas, oil) guys, more than ASME (steam, pressure vessels). www.aws.org, go to the forum section. There's a good mix of both union & non union hands there that can answer your questions better than I.

It's a hard, fast paced, demanding life, but pays VERY well. Not really the ideal situation for a family man, but some make it work.

Best of luck.

[JC'sWelding]

Could probably pick up a small used pop-up camper to tow behind you.

[rocko2527]

Is it hard to get into a union? Why do guys not like unions, is pay better for non-union or do they like being there own boss.

[fasteddie]

Your average per Diem is from 100.00 to 125.00 a week which would include hotel and food and odd things, and I've made alot more working Non-Union verses Union , Union contract are usually locked in wages as for Non-Union I've made alot more. bring your own camper and save you a ton if its a short term contract

[rocko2527]

Last question lol is there a pipe welders union or only a pipe fitters union, or are they the same thing? If you know of a pipe welders union can you please tell me about it? Thanks

[BNF]

Your average per Diem is from 100.00 to 125.00 a week which would include hotel and food and odd things, and I've made alot more working Non-Union verses Union , Union contract are usually locked in wages as for Non-Union I've made alot more. bring your own camper and save you a ton if its a short term contract


I've got a question since you mentioned it, is that a 100.00-125.00 a week ON TOP of contractor provided lodging and meals or a 100.00-125.00 TOTAL?

[Unklmo]

Your average per Diem is from 100.00 to 125.00 a week which would include hotel and food and odd things, and I've made alot more working Non-Union verses Union , Union contract are usually locked in wages as for Non-Union I've made alot more. bring your own camper and save you a ton if its a short term contract

100-125 per week !! wow.
not looking to gloat, but we get 75-100$ / day per diem for being out in the field. maybe it's because our stays are usually longer (months).

remind me to keep my mouth shut next time i start b*tching.

[regularfella]

I'm a Local 72 apprentice in Atlanta,Ga and I've worked for a Union shop i that does a lot of nuke work. Their minimum wage is $31.80hr or often higher dependent on the local scale plus $135 a day and you handle your own hotel bill; $60 a day for food and they provide your lodging. They test you in-house and you can expect to travel all over the world, Good people to work for.

I know of one Non-Union shop that pays from $18-32 hr with $125 day per-diem but they essentially own you for a set period of time after they train you

On a side note. Many comparing Union wages to Non-Union wages fail to make a realistic comparison ie: retirement benefits, health coverage, annuity, vacation pay, etc.

[matt342]

I'm a union plumber/pipefitter local 342 Oakland, CA. No pipe welders do not have a separate union. However there are some who choose to just weld and some to just fit. Many travelers come to our area oil refineries to weld. None that I am aware are getting per diem, travel pay, or any other extra allowances. Most contracts provide travel pay for members dispatched more than a certain number of miles from their union hall. For instance out local contract provides travel pay if you are dispatched more than 60 miles from our union hall location and only if it is outside of our locals jurisdiction (usually a prefab shop setting). Where your residence is is not a factor. However if go to another local to work and are dispatched from their union hall you do not get travel pay unless you meet their criteria which I imagine is probably similar.

[gaustin]

My last non union job as a boilermaker tube welder paid 100 per day perdeim and 28 hr on 12 hour days. This was for a 1 week boiler outage so monthly rentals etc were out.

When I worked union, most jobs did not have perdeim (TVA) but the hourly wage and benefits were pretty good. Insurance, retirement, etc.. A little harder waiting on work than non union though. But still a good deal and I suggest it to anyone.

Don't care for the politics of the unions but I will confess that the hands I worked with were top notch !

[spuddown]

I'm a union plumber/pipefitter local 342 Oakland, CA. No pipe welders do not have a separate union.

You may find some answers here.

http://www.local798.org/shop/page/1?shop_param=

[casey_hill_1984]

ipersonally drag my trailer with me if the job is goin to be longer than 2 or three weeks