Getting Started with the Carpenters
Your hourly wages that you'll see on your check, minus (hourly) savings and dues. You'll see that your pay increases based on the amount of on-the-job hours you've worked. The percentage is the amount you make compared to a Journeyperson, until you journey out at 100%.
If you have previous construction experience a contractor may decide to start you at a pay scale above 60%. This is called being paid "above scale". A contractor always has the option to pay you above scale, but never below scale when you're in the Union.
Fringe Benefits are the other areas your contractor is paying into on your behalf. Areas include: health insurance (which takes about 3 months for enough hours/money to be put into your health fund for your health care to begin), retirement funds, schooling and training funds.
Your Wage and Fringe Benefits make up what you will hear people refer to as the Total Package.
Carpenter Class Schedule
Classes will be scheduled roughly every 3-4 months.
Each class lasts 40hr (M-F, 7am-3pm).
You will receive a $350 stipend for the week and will not miss out on your health benefit hours.
Attendance is mandatory and tardiness is strictly enforced. You must stay on top of your classes to be eligible for raises.
Being over at the training center for a week is a great time to network with classmates, chat with business reps, and stay in touch with instructors, in addition to learning new skills.
Year 1:
Orientation - paperwork, navigating union websites, how to long your ojt hours, OSHA certification, Construction Fall Protection training, Aerial Lift cert
General Skills - Print Reading, Construction Math (reading a tape measure and working with fractions), Layout (using 3-4-5 method for squaring), Toolbox building (in the shop), First Aid/CPR cert.
Wood Framing - Tool safety, Layout, Wall and Floor framing, Estimating
Interior Systems - Layout, Metal framing, Sheetrock installation, Lasers
Year 2:
Scaffold - Scaffold info and erection cert
Concrete - Footings, Measuring elevations
Wood Framing - Roof framing, wood stairs, related math
ICRA: Best Practices in Health Care - Healthcare construction
Year 3:
Interior Systems - Soffits, Radius math, and Layout
Exterior Finish - Windows, Doors, Metal siding, shingles
Concrete - Wall and Column forms
Interior Finish - Hanging cabinets, Plastics laminates, Handrails, Trim, Bathroom Partitions
Year 4:
Concrete - Elevated deck forms and walls
Wood Framing - Framing refresher, Shed build
Interior Systems - Acoustical ceilings, Door frame install, Geometric layout
Door Hardware - Commerical hardware, Door hanging, Stepping up to Foreman