Cooperation between the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology and the United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters and Sprinklerfitters (UA) is paying off for young welders.   Working together, the two organizations are able to offer young men and women opportunities in construction and repair that are unequaled in today’s industry.  

The United Association recognizes and shares the need for safety with contractors and citizens.  Craftspeople performing work in chemical plants, oil refineries, pharmaceutical facilities, and many other industrial facilities need to be fully qualified.  Members of the UA work on every type of construction throughout the United States and Canada.  To ensure integrity and fulfill their commitment to continuous learning, the UA has designated training sites across North America where applicants are trained and tested on welding processes most commonly used on a majority of construction projects.  Welders can seek qualification in all or any of the processes.  Flexibility also permits users to request that welders be tested and certified for a special procedure that may be needed on a specific project.  All completed welds are x-rayed and read by an independent laboratory.  The National Certified Pipe Welding Bureau has developed and maintained certified testing procedures.          

Testing of a single pipe welder can cost a company more than $1,000.  On big industrial projects, this can ultimately amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Costs also elevate when not all welders pass the test and have to be re-tested at the contractor’s expense.  Ultimately, the UA saves their customers a lot of money by providing pre-tested, certified, and immediately available journey level welders across the United States and Canada.  Hiring UA certified welders is the best assurance that the job will be done right the first time.  Fewer mistakes mean fewer repairs which saves money. 

The United Association waives one or two years of the apprenticeship for graduates of the 9-month Combination Structural and Pipe Welding Program offered by the Hobart Institute. 

The UA apprenticeship is a five-year program that teaches through classroom and on-the-job training.  Following the apprenticeship, welders become journeymen where they continue to advance their skills through continuous learning programs designed to provide knowledge and confidence to be the best welder on the work site. 

Some of the 300,000 members of the United Association across the U.S. and Canada are graduates of the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology.   Jason Abshear is just one of those who completed the 9-month program at HIWT in November of 2000.  Jason says his Hobart training provided him with confidence and ability to accept some jobs as an apprentice with the UA that he would not have been offered without his welding experience.  The Union apprenticeship is broadening his education and will provide the opportunity for him to receive an associate degree.  As an apprentice, he is earning 55% of what he will make as a journeyman.  

Jack Greene completed the 9-month program at HIWT in January 2001.  He was a 1999 graduate of Ravenswood High School in West Virginia and worked a few years before attending the Hobart Institute.   While the UA normally waives two of the five years of the apprenticeship for HIWT program graduates, Jack chose to participate in four years of apprenticeship because he wanted the additional training.  He is very happy with the union work but wants other students to realize, “It isn’t all about the immediate money.  You need to look ahead at the opportunities to travel, the benefits and the retirement as well.”  The pay varies depending on the area of the country and the cost of living in the immediate area.  But generally the pay is equal to or above what you will make as a non-union employee.  And the benefits often are better. 

Jack also cautions students, “Actual welding isn’t everything.  It is also very useful to have good math skills and be able to read blueprints.”

Michael Pawelczyk of Wintersville graduated from Indian Creek High School, and Jefferson County JVS, before picking up welding-related courses at Jefferson Community College and the Hobart Institute.  Mike was a multi-scholarship recipient and also holds several welding certifications.  He worked along with obtaining his education and has been with the UA as an apprentice since June 2001.

“The Hobart Institute opened the door for me to get into the UA, who waived two years of my five-year apprenticeship.  I am thankful for the training and help I received at the Hobart Institute and am grateful for the opportunities that the UA is providing.”

Mike has worked for several contractors doing both new construction and maintenance projects and says the UA is a good organization.

“I’m 23 years old, earning over $60,000 per year,” says Mike.  It just doesn’t get much better than this.  Mike also hopes to become a CWI after his apprenticeship is completed and plans to do that at the Hobart Institute. 

Mark Kniesly completed training at HIWT in May 2000 and will complete his apprenticeship with the UA in June 2003 .  He is serving his apprenticeship through the UA Local 162 in Dayton, Ohio.

“While Hobart Institute really prepared me for the job, I chose UA because of the professionalism of the organization ant the benefits.  I have been kept busy and right now it couldn’t get any better.”

As an apprentice, Mark is earning over $20.00 per hour and that rate will rise to over $25.00 per hour as a journeyman.  Eventually, Mark plans to return to the Hobart Institute and enroll in the Preparation for the AWS-CWI/CWE Welding Inspector/Educator Examination so he may become a welding inspector.      

In comparison, in the western section of the country, Cy Trask is earning more that $25.00 per hour as an apprentice.  He currently resides in Colorado.  “I’ve been working with a good contractor out of Local Union 208 in Denver, Colorado.  Most recently, I’ve been doing a variety of welding at the Budweiser plant in Fort Collins.”

Cy graduated from the Combination Structural and Pipe Welding Program in June 2000.  He began in September 2000 with the UA and will complete his apprenticeship on November 7, 2003.  It is a five-year apprenticeship, but when he signed on, the Union waived 2 years of the apprenticeship due to his Hobart training. 

Cy says he joined the UA because it was “the best deal around.  The pay and benefits are great.  And you receive good training.”

The UA says their welders  “Build our nation, one pipe at a time.”   The Hobart Institute is assisting them in their quest.

 For more information, contact:
United Association
Attn:  George Bliss
901 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.
P.O. Box 37800
Washington, DC  20013-4307
Phone:  202-628-5823
Fax:  202-628-5024
http://www.ua.org