UA 449 Steamfitters visit

hot_rod

They have an incredible facility near Pittsburg, PA. Around 500 students, young men and women going through classes from welding, refrigeration, HVAC and Hydronics. Classes are open to non union students also. A semi trailer training rig hits the road soon to other UA locations.

Several thousand 499 students worked on the Shell cracker plastic facility, shale gas to plastic production, as it was and is being built. The plant will produce 1.6 million tons of polyethylene per year. 40 cranes swinging on that job.

I presented Primary Secondary piping for the 3rd year students today.

Steamhead

Cool! And good on them for having at least one steamer.

For those not familiar, UA = https://ua.org/

hot_rod

Steamhead said:

Cool! And good on them for having at least one steamer.

For those not familiar, UA = https://ua.org/

You should go there and teach a few classes some time. I may have dropped your name there today
They love having hands on gurus in front of the class. They have a number of operating steamers and heat dumps for them.

Some classroom and then lab time is what they like.

When you or any steam guys or gals are interested. Contact Brad

EBEBRATT-Ed

I was in the UA for my last 16 years before I retired and used to teach at the local, I belong to which was small.

They seem committed to increasing the amount and quality of their training and started this several years ago. They have also embraced the HVAC service part of the trade where in the past all they cared about was welding, plumbing heating and swinging wrenches. Some locals are heavy into residential work. Wish I was 20 years old and starting over.

I worked non-union for many years prior, so I have no bias to what someone wants to do. But with the lack of unskilled mechanics and the availability of training at the UA (not to mention the pay scale) it would seem to give them an edge going foreward

hot_rod

The HVAC and refrigeration classes seem to be geared towards service training as you
mentioned. Equipment like you see in grocery stores for troubleshooting 

This local is looking good $$ wise, they have a convention center connected and some tenants renting office space including a small medical clinic. Possibly a Hampton going in for the out of town manufacturers and students. They have trainees from NY, Ohio, Virginia travel to this training  center.
Is it a buck an hour that you pay for union fees? Something’s like 6000 UA workers on that Shell project, so that provides for some good coin for this facility, and attractive wages for young folks to consider 
Catering to the younger generation with some “gamer” virtual reality headsets tied to a training modules😎

retiredguy

I have tried to get my youngest grandson interested in steam, which was my passion since 1968, but he has chosen diesel mechanics for his first year in vo-tech. I used to have connections in "449" but most are long retired like me or gone to heaven. That training center is about 1/2 hour from my home. As @EBEBRATT-Ed said, I also wish I was 20 years old and starting over.

Steamhead

hot_rod said:

Steamhead said:

Cool! And good on them for having at least one steamer.

For those not familiar, UA = https://ua.org/

You should go there and teach a few classes some time. I may have dropped your name there today
They love having hands on gurus in front of the class. They have a number of operating steamers and heat dumps for them.

Coming from you, that means a LOT. Thanks!

Check your PM.

DanHolohan

They invited me to talk years ago.  Wonderful people and great memories. 

Larry Weingarten

Hi @Steamhead , You know too much to not teach. I've had the pleasure also of teaching for the Unions, and it's really nice to see just how much they value education. It seems like a great time in your career to consider teaching. Others can follow up with "This!" if they want

Yours, Larry

ps, Do you have a copy of Dan's book, "How to Teach Technicians"? It's amazing!

Erin Holohan Haskell

This! ^^^^

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

Pittsburgh is right next to Towson, no?

hot_rod

Free training, while employeed, and a great wage when you finish the UA program. A small portion of your wage funds for future members!

Does anyone remember their high school guidance counselor mentioning this career option?

The plan presented to me was a college option with my folks and me on the hook for the $$ and no promise if a career. And now a taxpayer bailout for student loans!

Hopefully that has changed, and reality show career option is off the table also😗

JakeCK

hot_rod said:

Does anyone remember their high school guidance counselor mentioning this career option?

The plan presented to me was a college option with my folks and me on the hook for the $$ and no promise if a career. And now a taxpayer bailout for student loans!

Same here. Every teacher and counselor from 2nd grade up harped about college. The trades weren't even mentioned until highschool when the vocational school became an option. By that time most students are indoctrinated.

And even worse is that only the students who were struggling were pushed towards the vocational schools. 

EBEBRATT-Ed

In the local I belong to (don't know if it's the same everywhere) some of these kids sign up for the union (they are screened first) and a few drop out before completing their apprenticeship. They have to pay back something like 4k for the education if they drop out.

MA requires that refrigeration/ac techs get some electrical code training in order to get the refrigeration license. So I taught electrical for 6-8 years at the local union hall.

rconkling

Almost my entire family is current/retired UA local 38 fitters. 

Started with my grandfathers, dad, aunt, uncle, cousins, brother. 

Nothing but praise for what UA has done for my family. 

veteransteamhvac

They gave out very nice tshirts at the AHR expo in Las Vegas.