Kyle Lathrop welds with a virtual welder at the UA Local 776 open house.
Dean Brown | The Lima News
LIMA — The United Association Local 776 had an open house at their facilities at 1300 Bowman Road to educate the public about the importance of skilled trades in the area and how apprenticeships work.
At the UA 776 facility, they have HVAC, plumbing and pipefitting. An apprenticeship is a five-year commitment. It involves 260 hours a year in class and 2,000 hours on the job in an earn-while-you-learn format. Apprentices work during the day and take classes at night. Apprentices are able to earn a living as they train for high-quality, reliable employment and a rewarding career.
Once the apprenticeship is completed, the UA 776 has the ability to send journeymen, those who have completed the apprenticeship program, to wherever in the country jobs are needed, or locally, where they are needed as well. Once completed the apprentice becomes a journeyman. Journeymen become part of a national database that is available electronically to any user or union contractor in North America. The United Association represents approximately 357,000 trained workers.
Business manager for Local 776 Brad Wendell explained, “A journeyman today makes $67.13 an hour. There’s no schooling except the apprenticeship required. It’s a very good deal for someone who wants to work with their hands.”
Apollo students were at the open house speaking to representatives from construction trades as well as with trainers and current apprentices.
Katelyn Morrow, who is in the third year of her apprenticeship program said, “You don’t see a lot of women in the field. I hope that changes someday. There’s always going to be people that see a male dominant field; they don’t believe that women should be in that type of work, but women can do it just as well as men.”
Reach Dean Brown at 567-242-0409
