Ironworker Career Guide and Counseling

Question: What type of welding do structural ironworker do, Im trying to get in the union but would like to take a class? What type of welding do structural ironworker do, Im trying to get in the union but would like to take a class? first. My cousin is in and said he can get me a job but the "punk" apprentice school isn't open because of econonmy, he's not answering his phone so I'm asking you. Please help is it arc welding

Answer: definatly arc welding - structural is all done with low carbon steel and almost always with the SMAW (stick) process

Question: How can I obtain a journyman ironworker certification without joining union? ? I have 15+ yrs experience and need a Trade Cert to travel outside US and work.

Answer: Im a union ironworker but at one time i wasnt and when i worked for companies that built power plants you had to have a trade certs.check with n.c.c.e.r .they have a web site and you can test in your craft and it is a valid certification.in the non union world it got me on alot of jobs.as far as getting a union card you cant unless you join the union.i dont know how much it cost because the company i worked for sponsered me.you could also check zachry constructions website.good luck bro.

Question: Anyone know of a good way to get a welding job in connecticut i would like to be an ironworker but have had? no luck with such. I have exp welding (mig/tig/stick) but do not hold certifications. Any ideas I have tried to find the union websites but nothing has come up.

Answer: I know there are many manufacturing plants in the southern part of the state, for example Electric Boat in Groton. The link I added should give you some choices to inquire about.

Question: Does anyone know where to find a good ironworker tool holder?

Answer: I am an ironworker and just bought some great leather stuff off a web site called mcclureclanleathers.com. They got some cool designs for tool holders and they ship them fast!

Question: Does anyone know how long on estimate it takes to become a journeyman ironworker?

Answer: Most ironworker apprenticeships last 3 or 4 years depending on the local union requirements. An ideal schedule provides equal training in structural, reinforcing, ornamental, welding, and rigging. The actual length of training for each subject may vary depending on the predominant type of work available in the local area. Apprentices are required to receive at least 204 hours of classroom and shop instruction during every year of training. The subjects taken in the shop and classroom complement the hands-on training received in the field. The subjects include blueprint reading, care and safe use of tools, mathematics, safety issues, welding and oxy-acetylene flame cutting. Good Luck

Question: My husband is an ironworker and there is no work right now .does anybody Know of something he can do ? We need help fast we have 3 kids and I am still on maternity leave... Help

Answer: tell him to go to a local junior college that has other trades programs. He might need to get a new skill set. If he isn't a welder he should look into that, they can make good money, although I'm not sure where you live. In the meantime, tell him to try anything to support you, even working fast food. He has to do what he has to do for you and the kids, he should be willing to do whatever he has to do.

Question: Why don,t the ironworker union insurance take care of the retired ole bridgeman after he is retired?

Answer: More info is needed. Most people do not know anything about that union. Please give more info as to what is your question and give info about this union.

Question: Clueless-- Please help! What kind of life insurance does my husband need to buy? He is an ironworker.? which is kind of a dangerous job. And if something were to ever happen to him he wants to make sure that the house would get paid off and I would be able to continue to stay at home with our kids for a few years. He was thinking about $500,000? Is that a good amount or too much or not enough? He makes around 80,000 a year. Also what company should we go with?And how do we avoid getting screwed over.

Answer: First: Congratulations on even looking at the situation. A lot of folks don't until it's way too late. Second: Let's discuss some various types of life insurance. Here are the basic forms of insurance. First: term - this is for a specific period only. Most companies offer 10, 15, 20, some 30 and even 40 year term policies. There is no cash value accumulation within a term policy and it is basically renting your insurance for a specified period of time. It has its place, but the one bad feature of it is that you only win if you die. Most beneficiaries actually appreciate if the policy is in force at your death :-) and only about 1-2% of all term policies ever pay off because most folks drop it as they get older, simply because the costs become exhorbitant. The idea for many is to buy the insurance cheaply and use what difference there would be between the term policy and what you would pay for a permanent policy and put that into a mutual fund. That may or may not be a good idea depending on your situation, and you might have to be concerned with tax consequences if it's a naked mutual fund (not covered within a ROTH IRA, for example.) Not everyone is eligible to use some of the "wraps". Unfortunately, a lot of folks also buy the term and do NOT invest the difference, but use it to buy "toys". Second: there is permanent insurance. This is insurance that will cover you for your lifetime, no matter how long. There are various types of permanent insurance. A lot of folks only know of an older one called Whole Life. This is an insurance in which there is cash value growth within the policy. The premiums are fixed in this type of policy. The basic idea is that you make premium payments and what is above the necessary to insure you goes into the General Accounts of the insurance company and they usually guarantee you about 3-5% on this. However there is almost never any cash accumulation over the first five years and what they give you barely, if it even does, keeps up with inflation. Also as you age, the cash accumulation can be used by the company to pay for policy charges so these often lapse or the person winds up at retirement with little if anything in the policy. There was another insurance called Universal Life which is similar in many ways to the whole life, but here the premium payments are flexible, but again any cash value accumulation is put into the General Accounts of the insurance company and guaranteed at about 2-5%. Third: Because both of these types of insurance didn't provide real cash value accumulation (and because back in the 1970's A L. Williams was creaming the insurance companies with "buy term - invest the difference", the insurance companies came out with a fantastic product, and it is a very very good one for a lot of folks. It's called a Variable Universal Life policy. Here, the cash value accumulates in Sub Accounts (which are owned by the insured and NOT the insurance company). These accounts are out in the market and get market rates of return. Depending on the portfolios that you are in, these can average anywhere from 8 - 12% over time. These policies not only provide life long insurance for you, but the cash value in the account may be accessed tax free (as it may in the other cash value insurance) and if structured correctly, this can add much money to your retirement or even before so you and your partner may enjoy it even while you're alive (as well as having the death benefit if something happens to you). About eight years or so ago, the insurance companies also created Equity Indexed Universal Life. In these policies, the cash value accumulation is a result of being compared to some index, usually the S& P 500 over the year. A lot of these policies average about 8% over time. They often usually have a cap and a floor and they are often very attractive to folks who like guarantees and who may be a bit older. You're going to hear a lot of "sound bites" here. A lot of simply "buy term, invest the difference". "All cash value insurance is evil" etc. These are usually from folks who aren't even licensed to discuss the variable forms of insurance in front of someone. I'm dually licensed, both with an insurance license as well as a security license (no, this is not a solicitation for business, I'm simply attempting to answer your question in as concise and correct as possible in front of a computer where I can't illustrate or draw things for you.) I suggest that you might like to have your library request "The New Life Insurance Investment Advisor: Achieving Financial Security for You" by Ben Baldwin. It's a bit dry, but you can see for yourself that what I've said is accurate. Please, if you speak to any agent local to you, make sure he/she is dually licensed so you can get the full story and not just the part of it that the singly licensed person wants to babble because it's the only way they can sell the only thing they have available. Does this mean I think term is bad? Absolutely not. I often recommend it to folks who have a need for it, but usually it's a convertible policy that can be moved to a permanent one as their situation improves. However, term is NOT the be-all and end-all and it often increases in cost to a point where you can no longer afford it as you age. Also, say you're in a 20 year term, what happens if at age 45 you are suddenly diagnosed with cancer, or have a heart attack, etc. Your chances of having your policy renewed at age 46 again have dropped to about zero. If you died then at age 47 your loved ones would get nothing since no policy would be in force. Now having said all of that, remember the basic reason for insurance IS insurance. Life insurance is to make your family "whole" again after your death and to replace your income to them. Structured correctly and with a knowledgeable agent who can correctly help you to assess your own situation, it can also help to provide you with a "living" benefit as well as its main benefit on your death. As to amount, I often suggest a minimum of ten times current salary so that in case of death, the (in this case) $800,000 might be put someplace where it could return 9-10% and replace the lost income each year in perpetuity. As for how now to "getting screwed over". Check some reputable insurance company that's been around and check your agents as well. There are many, many good companies out there. Just off the top of my head, I can think of PacLife, WRL, Old Mutual, AIG, Traveler's, etc., and a lot more.

Question: What kind work boots for Ironworker? looking for qaulity work boots for Ironwork trade under $150 have tried Thorogoods and Red Wings, the wings outlasted thorogoods by 5 months, any other suggestions

Answer: i work for a rail road company in NJ/NY and they issued us Red wings but i went and bought timbaland Pro boots

Question: my husband is an ironworker(Rebar) and since the end of Nov. 2008 he hasn't been called to work....? My husband hasn't been called back to work since last November. We call the dispatcher every day to ask for work, but she never returs our calls, we also called the dispatcher's boss and left a message and he didn't call us back either. Rumor has it that they don't want to give my husband work anymore, but they never gave him a notice or anything of the sort, what can we do?

Answer: Iron workers have great skills. Unfortunately the economy is in dire straits. Consider moving to a city where his skills are needed. If you don't want to move have him look for alternative employment until the economy gets better.

Question: My hubby is a Union Ironworker, he really doesn't have a permanent job site. Can he claim mileage on his taxe?

Answer: Yes. As long as he didn't drive from home to the same exact place everyday all year long. He has to go to multiple locations or its just commuting.

Question: does anyone have the anwers for the nccer test for ironworker?

Answer: Are you trying to cheat?

Question: what state and city has good work for ironworkers? i live in baltimore maryland. my husband is an ironworker. we want a change, so, where else is the work good?

Answer: indianapolis is growing pretty quick. too bad you just missed the stadium being built though =)

Question: i want to be an ironworker apprentice im in northern illinois how do I get started??

Answer: There are 2 ways. 1) Go to your local Iron Workers Union, after doing so inquire about appenticeships. They will guide you through necessary steps. 2) Find a local non union company that will hire you for any position then ask the iron workers to trian you.

Question: Slang word for a ironworker's Beverage tool? It is a Klein Tool used to open up Beer bottles.

Answer: BEHOLD! I have the answer! http://www.tools-plus.com/kle98002bt.html

Question: Report Union Ironworker? Have an ex bf whom stolen my identity...and I have pressed charges. He is supposed to start working as an ironworker next week in Chicago. Thing is they put him working out of a local out of Florida. He told me that they are called "boomers," and that usually ironworkers who have gone through the apprenticeship do not appreciate these people taking their jobs. He mentioned to me not to say anything to anyone because they can get in trouble for this. Is there any way to report him? Or where to report him to?

Answer: If you think your have had your identity stolen do this: Call the police and make a report. Call your local police not any agency in Florida. Contact the big three credit bureaus and have your credit reports flagged. That way, if anyone using your name, dob and SS number attempts to get credit, anywhere in the country, it will halt until you authorize it.