The Equipment Operator Apprenticeship focuses on building the skills necessary to be productive and efficient heavy equipment operators, with heavy emphasis on SAFETY.
We want our members to be able to go to work, be safe, and be able to return home to their families at the end of their day.
Apprentices in the Equipment Operator Apprenticeship, will attend a minimum of 160 hours of related instruction per year, for which they are not paid. Training sessions are scheduled in “Blocks” of (4) – 40 hour weeks.
(1) week in the Fall
(2) weeks in the Winter and
(1) week in the Spring for the first 3 years of training.
During the 4th year of training, there are (2) weeks scheduled for the Fall and (2) weeks in the Spring.
Apprentices are employed through the union hiring hall and are dispatched to work in accordance with the union referral system.
The Journey Person “Class A” Pay Rate as of May 1, 2021 is $40.63 hourly.
The apprentice pay scale is based on the Class A Rate for the area in which an apprentice works and their current level of progress, and is as follows:
1st Year Apprentice receives 50% of Class A Rate
2nd Year Apprentice receives 60% of Class A Rate
3rd Year Apprentice receives 70% of Class A Rate
4th Year Apprentice receives 80% of Class A Rate
*There is a 10% increase paid if the apprentice is operating “production” equipment.
