Right now, on the other side of town, there are several thousand construction hands working in the Chevron refinery.  They’re making good money with benefits.  This is a good thing.

What should bother us, though, is to learn how many hundreds of these hands have that look about them that tells us they’re not from Richmond.

Why is this, you might ask.  Why?  Because even though this is the heart of unionized construction workers, we don’t have enough qualified local construction workers to man these jobs.  So the local unions have to put out the call for travel card hands to man the jobs.

And before anyone here jumps up and tries to sell us on the idea that we have plenty of qualified hands here in Richmond, it’s simply not accurate.

In just a few weeks, though, the Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 342 is hosting sign-ups for their apprentice program where 18 year olds fresh out of high school—having absolutely zero construction skills—can get into a state approved apprentice program where they can be dispatched out to these jobs.

They’ll start out earning more than $22 per hour with 5+% increases every six months for the full five years of their apprenticeship. 

PLUS, after they complete their probationary period, they’ll earn an additional $41+ per hour in pension and health care plans.

What they’re offering aren’t jobs—they’re careers.

There are conditions, though.  Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or a GED, be physically capable of performing heavy construction and they have to pass routine drug tests.  That means that applicants with their medical marijuana cards can leave those at home because these places seem to think that they shouldn’t allow people near a multi billion dollar complex while they’re on drugs.

The only thing holding people back is their failure to step forward and take what’s being offered.

Please read the following for details:

UA Local 342 Joint Apprenticeship & Training

935 Detroit Avenue, Concord, CA 94518-2501 • Phone (925) 686-0730 • Fax (925) 685-7708

Serving the Pipe Trades Industries of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties Apprenticeship & Journeyman Training Plumbing, Steamfitting, Pipefitting & HVAC/Refrigeration

Plumbing, Steamfitting & Welding Openings for Apprenticeship for Contra Costa & Alameda Counties

NOTICE
APPRENTICE APPLICATION ANNOUNCEMENT

DATE: February 6, 2017 through February 10, 2017

TIME: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ONLY

LOCATION: UA Local 342 Training Center
935 Detroit Avenue, Concord, CA 94518

NOTE: You must complete Application in person. You cannot apply without the required items listed below.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant must be at least 18 years of age. Proof of age is required when applying in person.

You must bring one of the following:

• Proof of High School Valid Driver License or
• Valid State Issued Identification Card or
• Birth Certificate along with a photo I.D.

Diploma or legal equivalent is required when applying.

• You must bring a copy of one of the following:
• High School Diploma or
• G.E.D. or
• Official Sealed Transcripts

APPLICANT MUST BE PHYSICALLY ABLE TO PERFORM THE WORK OF THE TRADE

QUALIFYING TEST:

• · Applicants who meet the above requirements will be scheduled and notified to take a two part written test; Numerical Ability (Math) and Mechanical Aptitude. The minimum passing score shall be a 70% composite grade.

INTERVIEW:

• · Applicants successfully passing the qualifying written test will be scheduled and notified for an interview with the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee. The minimum passing score for interview shall be a 70%.

ELIGIBILITY:

• Upon completion of the oral interview, applicants will be evaluated based on their qualifying written test results and interview scoring. Applicants passing overall evaluation will be placed on a ranked and rated eligibility list (highest score down) for possible call-up when apprentices are to be taken into the program.

TERM:

• A minimum of five (5) years of on-the-job training and five (5) years of school. Apprentices work during the day and attend classes two nights per week, three (3) hours per class. Some Saturday classes may apply.

APPLICATION DOES NOT GUARANTEE EMPLOYEMENT OR ACCEPTANCE INTO THIS PROGRAM

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION – EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM

“Approved for Veterans”

STUDY MATERIAL (BOOKS)

Math

Practical Math Success in 20 Minutes a Day
By Learning Express Editors - Price $16 (approximately)

Mechanical Aptitude

Barron’s How to Prepare for the Mechanical Aptitude & Spatial Relations Tests By Joel Wiesen – Price $18 (approximately)

NOTE: Study the Mechanical Aptitude part of the book only.

The test consists of two parts: Math and Mechanical Aptitude. The math test is eighth grade level pre- algebra (decimals, fractions, percentages) and the other part is basic mechanical aptitude. The above referenced books are only a suggestion and are not endorsed by UA Local 342. These books may be found at your local library or purchased at a book store or online at Amazon, Ebay, etc. However, please feel free to use any book you wish.