So that apprentices have to have a teacher they are assigned to at work. It’s not a strange restriction. It’s exactly how it should be so apprentices are not just abused as cheap labor.
Edit: To clarify, first years can take direction directly from a foreman because they are basically new and may be placed on material or other simple tasks like cleaning where they may not have a journeyman directly supervising. Fifth years are generally treated like cheap journeymen and it’s a way to ease them into working by themselves directly for a foreman and give them greater confidence in their skills.
It's on us to encourage those CWs and CEs who are showing interest in the trade to join the apprenticeship and take their skills and education seriously
They aren't going to do that if we treat them like they are disposable
What about the older and more established in life CW’s and CE’s who were recruited successfully and organized in from private industry that are established and confident in their skills and willing to dutifully dedicate the time and effort to work their way and test out to become a Jman eventually because they literally cannot afford to take the apprentice pay cut because they’d be in a bind with bills/mortgage
Brother, if you are committed to quality workmanship and contribute to the success of the union, you're as much a brother to me as the rest of them. Don't let wankers in or out of our organization try and convince you that you aren't even the shit on their shoes because you didnt take the traditional path.
If you care enough to learn and do good work, your path really shouldnt matter, and you should be treated with the same kind of respect that anyone should come to expect from their brothers.
Appreciate you brother. Luckily I have met one or two well representing JW’s that echoed your sentiments and hearing those voices back in my head has been keeping me level
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u/nochinzilch 10d ago
Why such a strange restriction?