I do not have personal experience with unions but I have worked with a number of surveyors on large construction projects who were in the carpenters union because it was the only way they could get a job there. Surveyors do not fit neatly into any union category so the carpenters union was the most logical. Now there was nothing as far as training for them in the surveying discipline but they were in a union.
Most of the union guys I know (knew) were machinists, iron workers, carpenters, boiler makers, welders, pipe fitters, crane operators, etc. and they all have good training programs but not surveyors.
Working with the union for a few years as "a potential short-term lucrative opportunity" sounds like a good idea but it would be tough to go back to lower wages once you decide you want to become licensed. I say get your license and then go union if you still want to do it.
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Story I heard about the union, locally. From a guy on the inside.
Once you are "in" as any trade you can take courses the union offers to learn other trades. Which sounds good. One of them is a 3 day course on surveying. After which the union considers you qualified to fill open surveyor positions. If a union employer has a need to hire a surveyor, and such a guy is the only "qualified" person in the hall, then the employer must hire that person or no one at all.?ÿ
I've worked with the union guys and most of them are extremely good at what they do. Which is construction staking, period.?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ
Working with the union for a few years as "a potential short-term lucrative opportunity" sounds like a good idea but it would be tough to go back to lower wages once you decide you want to become licensed. I say get your license and then go union if you still want to do it.
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Working for a union you are assigned a single task such as rod man, which you can't even carry the instrument. No such thing?ÿas solo work in the union, you are always part of a crew. You are just a number. When I walk into a Union project at the start of the job, then come back a few months. There is about 50% turn around. They quickly weed out those they do not want on the job.
Story I heard about the union, locally. From a guy on the inside.
Once you are "in" as any trade you can take courses the union offers to learn other trades. Which sounds good. One of them is a 3 day course on surveying. After which the union considers you qualified to fill open surveyor positions. If a union employer has a need to hire a surveyor, and such a guy is the only "qualified" person in the hall, then the employer must hire that person or no one at all.?ÿ
I've worked with the union guys and most of them are extremely good at what they do. Which is construction staking, period.?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ
Norman,
What you describe is, locally, for the carpenters union.
The operating engineers union has a full journeyman "tech engineer" ,aka surveyor classification. In order to qualify as journeyman tech engineer, the person needs 3 years qualifying experience prior to joining or completion of the apprenticeship program.
Story I heard about the union, locally. From a guy on the inside.
Once you are "in" as any trade you can take courses the union offers to learn other trades. Which sounds good. One of them is a 3 day course on surveying. After which the union considers you qualified to fill open surveyor positions. If a union employer has a need to hire a surveyor, and such a guy is the only "qualified" person in the hall, then the employer must hire that person or no one at all.?ÿ
I've worked with the union guys and most of them are extremely good at what they do. Which is construction staking, period.?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ
I think the union that surveyors fall under varies from place to place. These "survey technician" positions have fairly rigorous training requirements, including a lengthy apprenticeship. Other unions, often allow their members to do some measuring with survey equipment in support of their core duties. That sounds like what you are describing.?ÿ
As far as the original question... Union surveying is not a good way to move towards a professional license, but if you like that kind of surveying (I detest it) and don't mind the hard cap to your earring potential, it can be a good career. It certainly will pay more than working as a crew chief (do those still exist?) for most boundary surveyors.?ÿ
