Chicago Carpenters offering free AWS certifications

Saw this video on YouTube “Carpenters1256” talking about there Advance Training program for anyone with or looking to join Chicago Carpenters. Link here:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L0FM-geFDSk

A person could join Chicago Carpenters and then after or during apprenticeship they could take classes for a refunded $25 at the end of the class. They offer AWS certified welder certificates (if your welding skill qualifies you) in stick, mig or tig.
That’s a savings of thousands if one was to go it alone. With benefits Chicago Carpenters make close to $100. an hour. Might be a great opportunity for an intelligent & skilled person.

It's great when a company not only sets requirements to employees, but also helps to have the necessary qualifications.

nice training, might take the opportunity, should never stop learning

Now for the rest of the story. All training through the carpenters is not paid. If you need any training they offer you must sign up for it months ahead of time and the classes are only a couple times a year and during normal working days and hrs. If you happen to be working a union job that they sent you to when that training comes up you have to make a choice, do I take the training and lose the job I am on or pass it by and keep working and try again next year.

There is on average 2 weeks of training every year that you must take to keep any qualifications( this is after you are a journeyman ) you may have that is all unpaid and only offered during regular working hrs at the training centers. If you are an apprentice you must take one week of training per month for 2 years all unpaid unless you can work it out just right with your employer to keep you on while you are in school. ( 70% of the time this does not happen ) .

More and more the union makes you do any saftey training demanded by an employer on your own time. The union is making locals larger and larger engulfing one or more states and making "regions " that you must work in. you must travel in most places with no compensation for motels ,food or fuel. The only way to not have to do this is if you live in a large metro area and even then to keep busy sometime you have to travel.

Just so you know, the Carpenters union is the worst of all the trade unions. They will not be there when you need them. They cave to the demands of all the other trade unions regularly and give your work away to them rather than fight it.

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Originally Posted by thegary

Now for the rest of the story. All training through the carpenters is not paid. If you need any training they offer you must sign up for it months ahead of time and the classes are only a couple times a year and during normal working days and hrs. If you happen to be working a union job that they sent you to when that training comes up you have to make a choice, do I take the training and lose the job I am on or pass it by and keep working and try again next year.

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It's a shame, of course, this approach does not indicate a great interest in training a specialist.

IUOE Local 399 member of 15 years, in my opinion the Carpenters Union should stick to cutting boards and driving nails. Carpentry work is not welding and welding is not carpentry work.

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Originally Posted by Birdhunter1

IUOE Local 399 member of 15 years, in my opinion the Carpenters Union should stick to cutting boards and driving nails. Carpentry work is not welding and welding is not carpentry work.

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If you have been a carpenter for 15 years then you should know that it is Carpenters and Joiners. That includes Millwrights, pile drivers and even some shop workers. Being a retired Millwright and a welder I asure you that welding is a good part of Millwrights and has given me many jobs over the years.

I'm not a carpenter I am an operator, hence IUOE 399. I forgot about Millwrights being in the Carpenters union, I always considered them as their own union. My bad on that one.

Is there anyone here taking there classes?

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Originally Posted by claude_87

Is there anyone here taking there classes?

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Probably not yet, but I would really like to get feedback.

I don't know about carpenters but I was an IUOE 115C member for almost 20 years. They offer free heavy equipment/crane operator's training for the sons and daughters of members in good standing. I am retired and they still offered it to my kids. Backhoes, road graders...you name it.

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Originally Posted by Xsbank

I don't know about carpenters but I was an IUOE 115C member for almost 20 years. They offer free heavy equipment/crane operator's training for the sons and daughters of members in good standing. I am retired and they still offered it to my kids. Backhoes, road graders...you name it.

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Thank you for your feedback, very helpful!

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Originally Posted by Steve_12

Probably not yet, but I would really like to get feedback.

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I agree, I would like more feedback.

If you want info then call your local carpenters union office and talk to the business agent . Let your fingers do the walking.

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Originally Posted by thegary

If you want info then call your local carpenters union office and talk to the business agent . Let your fingers do the walking.

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Thanks, that's a great idea. I need to find a phone number.

Have a lawyer review the documents before you sign on the dotted line. You might not know what you're getting into.

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Originally Posted by Denis G

Have a lawyer review the documents before you sign on the dotted line. You might not know what you're getting into.

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Absolutely, I agree with you it is necessary to collect more information!

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Originally Posted by thegary

Now for the rest of the story.

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Not the case at Chicago training school. All welding classes I took (three different ones: basic welding, advanced welding and TIG) were all 5pm-9pm on weekdays or you could sign up for Saturday’s for an 8 hr day.

The school & teachers are jaw dropping AWESOME btw… I burned thought sooo much metal and sticks it’s ridiculous lol!

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Originally Posted by thegary

training through the carpenters is not paid.

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that only applies to the advance training program. For Apprentice training (which is not what the conversation is about)apprentices are paid and given time off the job by their employer to participate.

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Originally Posted by thegary

If you need any training they offer you must sign up for it months ahead of time and the classes are only a couple times a year and during normal working days and hrs. If you happen to be working a union job that they sent you to when that training comes up you have to make a choice, do I take the training and lose the job I am on or pass it by and keep working and try again next year.

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(I’m just going to talk advanced training welding classes) The classes are evenings & Saturdays. Welding Classes are on a rotating basis with basic & advanced happening more frequently then TIG because TIG doesn’t draw as many journeymen as the other classes (welding classes need 4 members minimum to have the class). There are also “practice” classes for journeymen trying to get their welding certificate but if there is room the teachers let journeymen come and practice anytime the class room is open (which is every day except Sunday)
Without the program it would cost me tens of thousands taking another schools classes and I’d still have to pay $500 (I believe is the price) for certification.

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Originally Posted by thegary

Just so you know, the Carpenters union is the worst of all the trade unions.

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Every region in the USA is different (unfortunately) Chicago Carpenters card covers: Carpenters, Millwrights, Stair Builders, Lathers, Bridge and Dock Carpenters, Divers, Pile Drivers, Wood and Resilient Floor Layers, Carpet Installers, Shinglers, Siders, Insulators, Acoustic and Dry Wall Installers, Show, Display and Exhibition Workers.

While Cincinnati, Ohio Carpenters only covers Dry Wall And Metal Stud Installers.

My take home pay in Chicago is over twice what Cincinnati paid. (With benefits about $100. An hour straight time) If I maintain 250 hrs a quarter (3-months) I get paid Healthcare, Prescriptions, Dental and Eyecare for myself and my family plus I’ll have a pension when I retire. So if that’s the worst, I’ll take it! Lol

My son at 30 wish he leaned welding and machine work . He has a degree and is making as mush less that a high skill welder. At 16 he did like getting dirty working in shop. Now it is looking like a good paying job.

Dave

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Originally Posted by HDdiver

Saw this video on YouTube “Carpenters1256” talking about there Advance Training program for anyone with or looking to join Chicago Carpenters. Link here:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L0FM-geFDSk

A person could join Chicago Carpenters and then after or during apprenticeship they could take classes for a refunded $25 at the end of the class. They offer AWS certified welder certificates (if your welding skill qualifies you) in stick, mig or tig.
That’s a savings of thousands if one was to go it alone. With benefits Chicago Carpenters make close to $100. an hour. Might be a great opportunity for an intelligent & skilled person.

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Originally Posted by Steve_12

Probably not yet, but I would really like to get feedback.

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Yes, I took three different welding classes from Chicago’s (by O’Hare airport) Advanced Training facility. Basic welding, Advanced Welding and across the street TIG welding.
The school has two crazy expensive Lincoln Virtual Reality Welding Simulators in the classroom that we all got to try but the focus is about “hands on” welding in your own booth with its own ventilation system. Booths have either a nice Lincoln or Miller in them, a non-auto darkening helmet, chipping hammer and brush and general use welding jackets are kept on a wall if you need one.
Started on 6013 then advanced to 7018 kept in a dry kiln. School has gas (both Star and acetylene) and plasma for cutting practice. And a chopper (in video on this thread) for daily cutting of metal to practice on. Teachers ar on-site all the time and occasionally during each day they do “demos” but they also do one on one instructions in your booth if your needing help.
All in all it was always great and everyone was good to one another and in cleaning up the shop. You also ground your table flat after every session with one of the 16 grinders and two people took a cart of the days scrap to the recycle dumpster (sometimes very heavy lol)