CAREER DAY APPRENTICESHIP INFORMATION
The International Union of Operating Engineers Local Union 450 Apprenticeship and Training Fund is a skilled based, minimum 3 year, 6,000 hour paid on the job training program with non-paid related classroom instruction of 144 hours a year for a total of at least 432 hours of classroom training during the course of the program. There are no guarantees for job placement as to when employment will start or how long it will last.
This program is designed to train heavy equipment operators to work safely on forklifts to large cranes and other equipment in the industrial and commercial construction field.
This is not a technical, civil or survey engineering program.
Operating Engineers can expect extremes of noise, dust, wind, rain, cold, heat and at times prolonged periods of temporary unemployment. However, it can be a very rewarding career choice for those that are attracted to outdoor work with good wages, family health insurance and a true lifetime pension plan or an annuity fund or both pension and annuity fund.
This program is committed to following an equal opportunity pledge without discrimination of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
The period for accepting applications is open throughout the year with applicant interviews twice a year. Scheduled interviews will be conducted in the Spring and Fall, usually April and September to accept a pre-determined number of new applicants for the Apprenticeship Program with the deadline for accepting applications set approximately 2 weeks before the interview. All applications received past the deadline will be considered for the following scheduled interview. Applicants must sign the Log-In Sheet to receive an application.
It is advised that applicants read the Standards of Apprenticeship and the front cover sheets before filling out the application to gain some knowledge about what the Operating Engineers and the Apprenticeship is comprised of and what is expected of an apprentice while in the program. The Standards and Program information can be viewed at www.iuoelocal450.org. 1
Applicants must be physically capable of performing the essential functions of the Apprenticeship Program; at least age 18; provide official transcripts with High School diploma and any secondary education or training records or a GED Certificate with transcripts; provide a copy of their Social Security card, Birth Certificate, a valid Driver’s License and possess reliable transportation; be able to qualify for and obtain a Class A CDL Driver’s License; be considered acceptable for employment on most industrial and commercial premises throughout the jurisdiction of Local Union 450 through graded background checks that will allow the applicant access to at least half of the area’s industrial facilities; furnish proof of USA Citizenship or a legal permanent resident or in the process of becoming a citizen of the USA; and veterans must submit a copy of their DD-214. All copies and records must be submitted along with the completed application to be eligible for the Apprenticeship Interview.
Apprenticeship wage schedules start at 65% of journeyman wages resulting in a scale between approximately $12.50 per hour to over $19.00 per hour for first period probationary apprentices due to the different types of Collective Bargaining Agreements. Apprentices receive 5% periodic wage increases for every 1000 hours of On-the-Job-Training throughout the course of the program. Applicants are probationary for the first 1000 hours.
Due to the nature of the occupation of Operating Engineer and the devastating consequences that can occur due to operator error as a result of mental or physical impairment caused by the influence of controlled or illegal substances, a zero tolerance drug policy will be enforced using the latest most effective drug testing method available. The Pyschemedics’ hair follicle analysis will be used for all required tests including random testing throughout program participation.
Members are dispatched for work as long as they are qualified for that particular job, from an out-of-work list in Central Dispatch following the list in numerical order according to the date and time that the member phoned in for placement on the out-of-work-list. Probationary Apprentices can get on the Out-of-Work-List after completing registration; experience, qualifications and certifications will be considered in being dispatched for a job assignment.
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Upon completion of the probationary period, applicants will be required to join the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local Union 450. The primary purpose of the union is to represent workers on their job and to negotiate Collective Bargaining Agreements that improves wages, benefits, working conditions and protects workers from unfair treatment.
The IUOE is an organization that encourages a higher standard of skill among its members with equal opportunity and without any discrimination; promotes, fosters and develops apprentice programs, training programs and other means to advance the skills, efficiency and working knowledge of its members; assists its members in securing and stabilizing employment; assists employers in obtaining skilled craftsmen; strives to cultivate feelings of friendship among the membership of the craft and those who may employ its members; promotes the health, welfare and safety of its members and their families; encourages brotherhood, equality and a sense of belonging and well being through its membership meetings, improved wages, and hours, working conditions, family health insurance, and lifetime pension plans.
The IUOE is committed and dedicated to training its members and apprentices through its National Training Fund and is convinced that having qualified safety orientated operators is the key to bringing construction workers home each night safely to their families and loved ones and the most cost effective way of doing business for the construction industry.
As with everything else, there are costs incurred in providing these services to our membership and these expenses must be paid for by our members through the use of union dues. These dues cover the salaries and benefits of its business representatives, office staff, secretaries, officers and organizers; building and office expenses such as meeting space, office space, equipment, supplies, maintenance and utilities; travel, lodging and vehicles expenses; union governance; per capita payments to the international union; handling grievances, collective bargaining and coordinating representatives; research concerning wages, contract language and job descriptions; legal fees such as attorneys, CPAs and taxes; training of representatives; mailings, newsletters, publications, telephones, web sites and more.
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Dues structure is based on $25 a month per member, probationary apprentice dues are $6.25 a week when working and applied toward membership, both groups are responsible for payments directly to the union, these dues are not withheld by payroll. Employers do withhold 3% of gross wages from payroll for working dues while working under a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
To be fair, consider that individuals working otherwise pay likewise fees if they participate in a 401-K or similar type of retirement and family health insurance plan through their employers. There is a huge difference between a 401-K and having a true lifetime pension plan that guarantees the same regular dependable monthly income despite an up and down stock market.
The Apprenticeship Program is partnered with the Houston Community College System and the only cost to our students is the HCC tuition of $100.80 per year. Our students will have the same benefits that HCC students have and will be granted 26 hours of college credit toward an associate’s degree at the completion of the program if they should decide to further their education. Certain details apply to this benefit but should not deter anyone from taking advantage of this opportunity. Everything else while in the Program is paid for by the Apprenticeship, some things such as drug tests and some certifications will require out of pocket costs but will be reimbursed when producing receipts and proof of passing the tests.
APPLICATION / QUESTIONNAIRE AND INTERVIEW SCORING PROCEDURES
All applications are graded. The applicant must score at least 70% on the application/pre-employment questionnaire to qualify for an interview.
The interview will be given by one person from management and one person from labor and graded by each. The interview scores will be combined with the application/questionnaire score to formulize the final total score.
A pre-determined number of applicants will be accepted starting from the highest score downward in descending order to 70% of the final total score (the minimum for acceptance), even if the pre-determined number has not been met. The applicant must score at least 70% of the final total score to be a conditionally accepted apprentice into the Apprenticeship Program.
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Some of the RESPONSIBILITES OF THE APPRENTICE are to:
Perform diligently and faithfully the work of the occupation;
Respect the property of the employer and abide by the working rules and regulations of the employer, the employer’s client, the union and the apprenticeship program;
Obtain all required certifications by the end of the apprenticeship term. Attend on time and satisfactorily complete the required hours of On-the-Job-Training and related classroom instruction;
Maintain and make available such records of work experience and training received on the job and in related classroom instruction;
Develop and practice safe working habits and work in such a manner as to assure the apprentice’s personal safety and that of other workers;
Work for the original assigned employer until the end of the assignment;
Conduct themselves at all times in a creditable and ethical manner, realizing that much time, money and effort are spent to afford them an opportunity to become a skilled journeyman, be awake and alert at all times;
Follow authoritative instruction of all immediate supervisors including employer, journeyman operators, foremen, steward, and safety and site inspection personnel in a respectful and subordinate manner;
Sign and return on time all completed forms as required by the Program; Keep up-to-date telephone and address information current with Apprenticeship and Local Union 450 and respond ASAP when contacted by these offices;
Submit all applicable fees and dues required by IUOE Local Union 450 and keep their monthly financial status current and in good standing;
Submit to and pass all required drug tests and stay free of the influence of controlled substances or alcohol while on the job;
Be acceptable for employment on most industrial and commercial premises in Local 450’s area with a low enough graded background rating for access to at least half of the area’s industrial facilities, and sign all consent forms. 5
CLASS SCHEDULES
The Program has two first year groups due to the bi-annual interviews, the Spring Group and the Fall Group. All classroom instruction will be Tuesdays thru Fridays. The new first year Fall Group classes start the last week of November with 4 days of 10 hour classes for their first 40 hours of class.
The first year Spring Group class starts the first week of December with 4 days of 10 hour classes for 40 hours, finishing their third week of classroom instruction.
The second week of the Fall Group classes begins the first week of January, for another 40 hours of classroom instruction, Tuesday thru Friday.
The fourth and final week of the Spring Group classes begins the second week of January for 40 hours, finishing their first year of classroom instruction.
The Second and Third Year Groups start their year in January with an 8 hour Saturday crane yard class at one of our contractor’s crane yards. This is done once a month for 8 months throughout the year for a total of 64 hours leaving 80 hours of classroom instruction for the year. There will be 8 classes in the Houston area and 8 classes in the Beaumont area until we have acquired all the proper equipment for training at our new Dayton facility.
Summer Classes will be Tuesday thru Friday for a total of 80 hours beginning at the end of June thru the end of August with 4 days of 10 hour classes, for 40 hours of classroom instruction for each month. Also, for those without CDL’s there will be one Saturday of CDL Express training for each first year group.
Our training program is a member of ATAT, the Apprenticeship and Training Association of Texas and should any applicants decide that the Operating Engineers Program is not suitable for them, they can obtain a list with contact information for the other area apprenticeship programs.
CONTACT INFORMATION
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL UNION 450 APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINING FUND LOCAL 450 PRESIDENT / APPRENTICESHIP COORDINATOR: PERRY DUEITT
8441 GULF FREEWAY, SUITE 302, HOUSTON, TX 77017 / TEL: 713-847-0006
CEL: 832-226-2362 / FAX: 713-847-8024 / EMAIL: pdueitt@iuoelocal450.org