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Welcome,
The mission of the Field Ironworkers Apprenticeship and Journeyman Retraining Program is to ensure that our union ironworkers have the skills, knowledge and training necessary to be safe on the jobsite; competitive in the workplace; and satisfied in their careers.
We accomplish that mission by providing training and training materials, trained and experienced instructors and leadership in order to uphold union values and principles of service and professionalism.
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Apprenticeship Training
The road to becoming a Journeyman Ironworker is through Apprenticeship Training. The Ironworkers Apprenticeship Program is a well organized and supervised method of training people, with little or no knowledge of the craft, to become Jorneymen Ironworkers qualified in all segments of the Trade.
To learn more: Click Here....
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Journeyman Retraining
An ironworkers' education does not stop when his or her apprenticeship ends. Journeyman ironworkers are eligible to take advanced courses.
Experienced ironworkers can become certified welders, advance to foreman and superintendent and can become leaders in their local union.
Check out the classes available at your local union training center.
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APPRENTICESHIP DEPARTMENT REPORT By Mike White
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Partnership between Ironworkers and Educators Provides Funding for California Welding Program
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APRIL 2009 19
The California District Council of Ironworkers honoredthe first graduates of its Apprenticeship PreparednessMulti-Trades Welding Program with ceremoniesat its Benicia, California Training Center, March2. The two-year program is being funded through a$500,000 grant from the California Community CollegesChancellor’s Office.
Michelle Miles, a promising welder candidate, wasaccompanied by her four children to graduation ceremoniesat the Benicia, California regional training center.“Before I completed this welding course, the only things I
burned were in the kitchen,” she quipped.
The unprecedented partnership between the IronWorkers apprenticeship program and the CaliforniaCommunity Colleges is designed to provide trainingand career opportunities for up to 120 applicants whowish to obtain welding certifications. Classes are conductedafter work hours, three nights a week and everySunday at the Benicia training center.“This unique partnership is in response to a growingdemand for certified welders in the constructionand industrial sectors and theneed to nurture career opportunitiesfor welding studentsenrolled at our colleges,” saidJose Millan, vice chancellorof the California CommunityColleges. “We are confidentthat the Iron Workers Unionhas the expertise and state-of-the-art apprenticeship programneeded to ensure thehighest levels of safety andskills training.”To apply for the program, students from CaliforniaCommunity Colleges must provide a “negative” testfrom IMPACT’s Substance Abuse Testing Programand have the necessary transportation to attend 59 classroom-training sessions.
Welding Group Photo
Richard Zampa Jr., CaliforniaIronworkers apprentice director, said the firstgraduating group of 35 welders has been a great successand the second round of training will be completedby August.“The selection process has allowed us to identifypeople with welding experience and steer them into ourunion apprenticeship program,” Zampa noted. “Many hadprevious experience in non-union shop and fi eld crews, sothis has been a good organizing tool for us. Both laborand management view this program as a positive tool torecruit and train much-needed welders for the constructionindustry. Our welders are drug-free, tooled-up, motivated,well trained and committed to working for unioncontractors who provide good wages and benefits.”
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Director's Message
09/01/08
TRAINING NEWS.....................................................................................by Dick Zampa, Jr., Apprenticeship Director
Here is a brief update on some of the certification tests that can be taken at the Training Centers:
D1.1 (AWS Structural Code)
D1.5 (AWS Bridge Code)
D1.8 (AWS Structural Seismic Code)
D1.3 (Aws Sheet Steel Code)
Within the parameters of each test code, different types of electrodes can be used such as 7018 electrode and 232, 311, 305, etc. In most cases, one certification does not allow you to weld with a different process or under a different AWS (American Welding Society) code. There is not one certification test that covers all welding positions or processes.
Some of the most employable welders have multiple certifications using different wires such as 232,305,311.
For a welder starting out, it is recommended to begin working toward a 3G and 4G, 7018 certification. The 3G is a vertical groove that in many cases allows the welder to also work in the horizontal and flat positions. The 4G is an overhead groove that is just for overhead welding. If a welder is certified on groove, they can alos weld fillets. A handy certificate to have is the D1.3 arc spot, often incorrectly called a "plug weld" that is used to weld decking.
All Apprentice and Journeymen are encouraged to work toward becoming certified welders. Please obsesrve all safety rules in the shop including the use of eye protection. Please do not use grinders inside the shop. Note that most welding certification tests do not allow for cleaning of the weld with power tools or mechanical methods!
Use a minimum of a #10 lens for stick welding and a darker lens for flux cored welding. Once you have passed a practice test, the instructor will set you up with a certification test. Please read the welding procedure before you begin the test. The welding procedure lists the welding process, base metal, filler metal, position, preheat, and interpass temperature, joint design, base metal preparation, joint welding technique, etc.
Along with the welding procedure, please read the Procedure Specification and the Qualification Work Sheet that lists important items such as the amperage / voltage requirements and "hold points" that the instructor must observe before the test continues. The position of cupon specimens are shown on the Procedure Specifications. Most shops use the bend test to determine if the weld is as sound as the parent metal. If the bend test fails, the Ironworker will be asked to practice and pass another practice test before the second certification test is given.
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