off topic: anyone here a union ironworker?

so you changed jobs and punched someone out at work?

I think he is referring to the hazing given to newbies in the ironworker craft.

I went through hell delivering parts to mechanics shops... that made me decide to take out a student loan and finish college sooner. They were evil a$$hats for the most part. I've hated mechanic shops ever since

Not a union ironworker but I am a union electrician.

The first few years of being an apprentice were a little rough. They kinda try to weed people out. But most of the electricians I know are no where near as rough as the ironworkers. You guys are a crazy bunch of bastards.

Good luck. The only thing I can say is give it some time and it should get better.

basically my whole family has been and are still ironworkers. they started out back in the day though so i dont know about hazing or ****. there all pretty crazy to.

i have worked at an auto assembly plant though, seems similar, i was 18 years old, making 15 an hour and the full time people were making close to 30. i just finished working there after 5 yearsmaking 18 an hour and they make over 30 plus bonuses.

i believe they are just busting your balls trying to see what youre made of. you must understand that working anywhere -especially in a boring factory - your whole life starts to turn black and white, boring.and soon as some new blood comes in its time to try to pick some excitment up. i had people saying all kinds of **** to me to see what i was made of, what i would do, people screwin up my process, tightening bolts and putting clear tape over places where i was to install mouldings, and didnt have time to fix it. i found myself flirting with every skinny married/single woman in sight.

just learn who they are, and i opened up to them, eventually everyone liked me once they realized i was no-ones ********** or bitch.

I am an Ironworker have been in the trade for 11 years now. Started at 21. I never really had any problems like that, I guess I was lucky, but I know many that have and I bet the guys bugging you had it happen to them, likely worse. I know it must bug you but I would say just let it in one ear and out the other and %$# them. Don't let it bug you after work either,it is a waste of energy. Just go to work everyday , work hard, learn all you can and take pride in your work, and try not to give the pricky guys ammo to bug you. Before long you will write the test get your c of q and if anyone bugs you then you make them pay, if you lose your job just go to the hall and get another one. Try to not let it show your bothered by the idiots, if they don't get a rise out of you they may stop as the fun is not there for them. Just don't give it up, finish the apprenticeship then you got something to fall back on even if you decide to do something else. And get your welding ticket, it really helps get work. I am just working on mine now, sure the money is good but you only get paid when your at work and around here it is hard to find full time steady work and most welders are usually always working. Also remember most of those older pricks are going to be retired in the next 10 years or so and then us younger guys can be the pricks if we should choose to. But me, no, I give respect when given respect and see no thrill in unwarranted abuse. These guys are supposed to be "brothers". Anyway that's my 2 cents from a fellow union brother, just have tough skin and think of the money and realize those guys are nobody in your life and and who cares about them.

Like ryc, i am a union electrician here in ny, local3 i.b.e.w. eveyone has to deal with being a apprentice at one point, but when its all said and done, you have a good career ahead of you.

joeyd0730 said:

Like ryc, i am a union electrician here in ny, local3 i.b.e.w. eveyone has to deal with being a apprentice at one point, but when its all said and done, you have a good career ahead of you.

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I see you're home late for a friday

I used to be IBEW local 25, but we did a lot work in the city. How is work in your local, steady or lots of lay off's?

work is slow, we have 4,000 on the bench including guys on furlough. out of 15,000 members

I think I understand why the hazing. If you are 30 stories up, walking a 6" wide steel beam, you want to know what the guy you are working with is made of. If he is unreliable, on drugs, drunk, or a hothead, let him find a job on the ground where his mistakes won't be so likely to get you both killed.