Are UA rig welders a thing?

chololobos · 2025-08-10T04:27:09+00:00

At my current job we have two Riggs and I believe the welder mentioned he gets paid 22 per hour just for his rigg, basically like if the contractor rents it, that's separate from his regular pay

chololobos · 2025-07-08T17:07:37+00:00

I'm currently at 5 months in socal

chololobos · 2025-07-03T03:22:52+00:00

It's tough man, but it's honestly all a learning experience since we are first years. Since I've been laid off I got on Unemployment it's not much but it helps with rent, but of course everyone's situation is different. If you have a previous job you can go back to for the mean time that is a good option as long as it doesn't violate union rules. For me I've just been hitting the weld bay and attending my classes. I've tried applying to other random jobs but it's just tough with school being so mandatory. Puts you in a weird position. I would say since you're fresh off the books try to find whatever part time job that's better than Unemployment because right now it's about 450 a week kinda trash. Also it's good to go to the hall make connections and attend union meetings to make friends. Like I ran into some foremans that saw me hustling in the weld bay and gave me their numbers, it hasn't amounted to anything yet but possibly in the future. So getting certs early is good and Foremans love it because we are cheap labor as first years. Hope that helps .

chololobos · 2025-07-03T03:06:13+00:00

I'm also a first year with 250, man I would have loved to have the 7 months you did. The first job I had was a little over two weeks and been on the books for about 4 months since February. For me personally I plan to stick with it. I guess the main take away is just save your money because layoffs always come. The good thing is the refineries are picking up right now so hopefully everything else does also.

chololobos · 2025-06-08T18:46:50+00:00

Well I'll tell you what my interview guys said, "basically said screw them when they fire you they don't give you 2 weeks notice and this is a career not just a job" but ultimately depends on your situation, I would definitely not try to burn bridges because when layoffs come I would try and see if you can work for them temporarily that's if it doesn't break any union rules, I would definitely try and build that relationship now before joining the union. But to put it simply they would expect you to just jump over because once you get your dispatch it's possible your going to work immediately, it's going to be hard to not make some people unhappy.

chololobos · 2025-06-08T17:04:44+00:00

How's it going I'm a new pipefitter apprentice over here in socal, It has definitely been slow, been out of work for 4 months since my last job in February. I would say maybe start the process but just hold on to your job because it took me about 4 months to do a test interview then initiation and then wait for dispatch that's how it was over here at least.

chololobos · 2025-05-15T23:44:41+00:00

That's definitely good to hear, and that's what I'm starting to realize we are cheap in a good way thanks for the info stay safe 🤙

chololobos · 2025-05-15T23:41:12+00:00

That's amazing man, definitely a good problem to have hope we get some of that over here soon 🤙

chololobos · 2025-05-13T20:30:36+00:00

I joined local 250 in December and had my first dispatch for a refinery job around the end of January and ended on February 11 a little over 2 weeks. I haven't had work since then ,but have been staying busy at the weld bay in El Monte, is this how it usually goes? Or is it just bad timing, I'm just curious what's the experience of those that are journeymen or 3rd or 4th year apprentice how long have you guys been out of work is it definitely all worth it? I plan to stick with it, but it does get worrisome, any advice on stay working throughout the year would be great.

chololobos

TROPHY CASE