Apply For Union Jobs, Learn About Trades At Wednesday Open House

Business owners, elected officials and union leaders will come together Wednesday to recognize the importance of apprenticeship programs in East Central Illinois as part of the annual National Apprenticeship Week.

An open house is set for 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at UA Local 149, 1005 N. Dunlap Ave., Savoy.

Champaign Mayor Deb Feinen and Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin are among those expected to attend and both will take part in a hands-on welding demonstration, with guidance from Local 149 apprentices.

“Across the county, including right here in Urbana, there is a growing demand for highly-skilled laborers,” Mayor Marlin said. “Apprenticeships like those provided by Local 149 are an incomparable way to begin a career while actively learning a valuable trade.”

Local students and non-union workers, among others, are welcome to meet union leaders, learn about the many advantages to being part of a union and leave with an application to join Local 149.

It’s all part of National Apprenticeship Week, which the U.S. Department of Labor began as an effort to recognize the importance of safety and training programs offered, which provide local employers with a more skilled workforce.

Local 149 apprentices spend five years learning as they are earning, as they spend 240 hours in class and 1,700 hours on the job every year. They make $20.75 an hour on day one, with guaranteed raises each year to $39.20 at five years, before jumping to a total hourly package of $66.38 an hour as a journeyman.

“Apprenticeships provide training and talent development, providing a career pathway for our future workforce,” Mayor Feinen said.

Local 149 recently broke ground on a new union hall, next to their existing building, which is shared with their apprentice program. When that new building opens next spring, apprentices will be able to expand to utilize the entire 12,000 square feet of their existing building. That will mean the renovation of current office space to create more classrooms and workshops for hands-on learning. The Atkins Group, of Urbana, is serving as construction manager, while Champaign-based Dodds Company has been selected as the general contractor.

Local 149 represents more than 600 East Central Illinois residents who work at more than 40 local companies and the University of Illinois, providing plumbing, heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, steam, industrial process, boiler and medical-gas piping services.

For more information about joining the union, visit www.ualocal149.com or follow them on Facebook.