Did you know that the ball that drops from the roof of One Times Square on New Year’s Eve was fabricated and installed by union sheet metal workers? These skilled tradesmen are among the highest-paid workers in the construction industry, and the majority of them get their start as apprentices, according to the Sheet Metal Workers Association.
“An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn,” said Alan Still, training coordinator for the Georgia Sheet Metal Joint Apprenticeship Training Center (JACT) near Lakewood. The program takes applications year round for the program that starts every August.
“The work and the benefits are attractive to a broad range of people. We’ve had former auto workers, delivery drivers, school teachers and policemen, as well as young high school graduates, go through the program,” he said.
Sheet metal apprentices learn how to design, fabricate and install heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, as well how to make utilitarian and ornamental metal pieces like hand rails or elevator doors.
“Most of them construct ductwork on construction sites, so they need to like working outdoors in hot or cold weather,” Still said. “They also need to be physically fit, good at working with their hands, dependable, hard-working and committed to the job. Math skills are essential.”
The Georgia Sheet Metal JATC finds jobs for new apprentices with union contractors. Apprentices work during the day and attend free classes one or two nights a week.
The program includes 800 hours of classroom training, 40 hours of U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration construction safety training and certifications in welding and other skills. Apprentices also take project management training that enables them to become foreman, supervisors and project managers.
“When they graduate as journeymen, sheet metal workers will have credentials and skills they can take anywhere and earn a good living,” Still said.
For the first two years, apprentices take core classes. Then they choose a career path and spend the next two years specializing in HVAC design, fabrication and installation, industrial welding or TAB (the testing, adjusting and balancing of HVAC systems once they’re installed).
Apprentices start at $14.50 an hour (half a journeyman’s wage) and get a 5 percent salary increase every six months if their work meets industry standards. They also receive full medical benefits.
Applicants must be at least 17 and have a valid driver’s license, birth certificate, Social Security card and discharge papers from the military, if applicable. They must complete reading comprehension and math tests before undergoing an interview. Veterans receive an immediate interview. Applicants are ranked according to test scores and past work experience.
At the moment, job prospects for sheet metal workers are fair.
“About 35 percent of our local union members are unemployed currently, because of the economy, but the long-range prospects are good. Contractors report that bids are up and many baby boomers will be retiring soon,” Still said. “Construction always has ups and downs, but this is still a great career path.”
For information, call 404-753-6466 (ext. 100) and ask for Debbie Crosby.
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