PLUMBERS

Install and repair pipes, fixtures and other plumbing equipment used for water distribution and waste disposal in residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

PIPEFITTERS

Layout, assembles, fabricate, maintain and repair piping systems carrying water, steam, chemicals and fuel in heating, cooling, lubricating and other process piping systems.

JOB FACTS

Plumbers and Pipefitter jobs are full time of 40 hours or more at times to meet construction deadlines. Work may be performed either indoors or outdoors depending on job circumstances with most work being performed outdoors in semi-sheltered and unfinished buildings or in deep ditches and on high scaffolds. They include physically demanding tasks that often require climbing, crawling, crouching and heavy lifting. A wide variety of hand and power tools or machines are used in these crafts. Mechanical ability and finger dexterity is very important factors in these trades.

JOB SKILLS

Reading and interpreting blueprints and specifications to determine the type of pipe and tools to use, and lay out and plan the sequence of tasks. Measuring, cutting, threading, grooving, bending, assembling and installing metal and plastic pipes, valves and fittings. Welding, brazing, cementing, soldering and threading joints to join pipes and fabricate sections of piping systems. Testing piping systems for leaks using air and water under pressure. Locating and cutting openings for pipes in walls, floors and ceilings.

WAGES & BENEFITS

Wages start at $13.29 per hour for a first year apprentice. The union apprentices receive a 5% wage increase every six months as long as work and school are progressing at an acceptable rate, until their 4 th year. They also receive a benefit package of $9.53 on top of the wages. This includes Health & Welfare for the employee and their family and two pension plans, one national and one local. It takes approximately four months to activate the insurance. The non-union sector has no set wages or benefit plans and is negotiated between the employer and the employee on a case by case basis. Journeyman Plumbers and Pipefitters wages are $26.58 per hour plus benefits.

APPRENTICESHIP

The United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters was founded October 1889. Local # 296 in Boise Idaho was chartered in June 1919 with eight members starting the local. Boise now has 325 working journeymen with 88 apprentices attending classes at the hall in Meridian. The union has a five-year apprenticeship for both plumbers and pipefitters. The apprentices have to attend 280 hours of classroom training and have approximately 2000 hours of on the job training each year. The non-union has a four-year apprenticeship program for plumbers only with none for the pipefitters. They attend 156 hours of classroom training at BSU, and also have 2000 hours of on the job training per year.

PREPARATION

To apply for plumbing or pipefitting apprenticeship you have to have a High School Diploma or a GED to even get started. Classes that help you out to get started are math, english, science as well as technical courses such as drafting, blueprint reading, welding, electrical systems or mechanics. Any type of work that helps develop mechanical ability or finger dexterity is beneficial to a perspective apprentice.

EMPLOYMENT

Majority of plumbers and pipefitters work at Mechanical, Plumbing or Heating & Air Conditioning Construction firms. These are the companies that are building all the new construction projects. Quite a few work in the maintenance at industrial plants throughout the area. Some even start their own business. Experienced journeymen may advance to supervisory positions such as foreman, contractor and construction superintendent. Construction goes up and down with the economy in each area. As long as the country keeps building whether it is microchip plants, power plants, food processing plants, office buildings or houses the plumbers and pipefitters will keep busy. Employers are looking for people who will be to work on time, be there daily, can get along with coworkers show initiative to continually upgrade their skills and show loyalty. These are the people that will get into the apprenticeship and advance in the pipe trades.