Masonry Magazine May 1968 Page. 26
Apprenticeship Money Talks
(Continued from page 25)
(13) His rate of pay will increase with his knowledge and ability.
(14) Because of high entrance requirements and high standards of conduct and competency, he will be associated with good, honorable young men.
(15) Apprenticeship is a well-planned training system. He will enter his industry through the front door by apprenticeship.
(16) In most instances there are not enough bona fide apprentices being trained to replace the journeymen who advance, retire and die. There is a great need for more employer interest and active participation.
(17) Job security and wages for the highly skilled are continuing to increase.
(18) And Benjamin Franklin was quite right when he said, "He that hath a trade hath an estate." Only the very best will be considered for the "inheritance" of this "estate."
(19) Apprentices can receive draft deferment the same as college students.
FUTURE-HOW FAR CAN THE APPRENTICE GO?
(1) He can continue working as a journeyman. An annual wage of $8,000 to $10,000 (average annual income for 50 40-hour weeks of employment in the Oregon building and construction trades) is an honorable family income. Wages and job security for the highly skilled and qualified are constantly increasing. Many families are living on the streets of respectability on lesser incomes.
(2) With experience and study, he can become a foreman, estimator or superintendent.
(3) He may advance to positions of responsibility in his union. There is a great need for excellent union leadership. Union leadership is earned through study, hard work, long hours, experience, service and a sincere respect for others.
(4) He may specialize in labor-management relations.
(5) He may qualify himself for special work with city, county, state and federal governments.
(6) He may become an employer and own his own business. Many of our employers started their careers as apprentices.
(7) A man who knows tools, machines, materials, methods and men can become a good salesman.
(8) Apprenticeship is not a "blind alley" occupation. The apprentice's ability and ambition are the only limiting factors.
CONSIDER INCOME-EVERYBODY ELSE DOES
The following are factual wage rates (1966) which slightly vary from city to city and year to year:
Boilermaker 4 years $4.95
Bricklayer 3 years 4.65
Carpenter 4 years 4.68
Cement Mason 3 years 4.42
Electrician 4 years 5.00
Glazier 3 years 4.46
Iron Worker (outside) 3 years 5.15
Lather 3 years 4.70
Painter 3 years 4.05
Pipe Fitter 5 years 4.93
Plasterer 3 years 4.60
Plumber 5 years 4.93
Roofer 2 years 4.36
Sheet Metal Worker 4 years 4.60
Wage Average- 4.67
Annual income if full-time work is available is $8,000 to $10,000. Some time is lost because of weather conditions and in changing from a completed job to a starting job. Some lost time is made up in overtime during rush season. Many remain steadily employed.
APPRENTICE WAGES
SHEET METAL (EXAMPLE)
Apprentice wages are based on a journeyman wage of $4.60 per hour. Variations are made in two, three-, four-, and five-year terms of apprenticeship.
1st 6 months 50% $2.30 $2300.00
2nd 6 months 55% 2.53 2530.00
3rd 6 months 60% 2.76 2760.00
4th 6 months 65% 2.99 2990.00
5th 6 months 70% 3.22 3220.00
6th 6 months 75% 3.45 3450.00
7th 6 months 80% 3.68 3680.00
8th 6 months 90% 4.14 4140.00
Full-time total income for four-year period $25,070.00
BASIC UNDERSTANDING PRIOR TO INTERVIEW
It is very important for a young man to make a proper selection when choosing his life's work. If $25,000 in wages in four years for one member of one family is worth serious thought, then consider for just a moment what actually takes place when an applicant for apprenticeship meets with a good apprenticeship committee.
Above all else the apprentice applicant is actually saying, "Mr. Journeyman and Mr. Employer, you can see that I am a young man: I can no longer be dependent upon others. I do not know how to earn a good honest living for myself. I want to make my start in some industry where this can be done and where there is a possibility for advancement. If I am not given consideration and guidance from men like you (Continued on page 29) masonry May, 1968