Welcome!

Thank you for requesting an application to the Apprenticeship Program for the Heat & Frost Insulators & Allied Workers Local 82. The purpose of this letter is to provide a brief overview of the nature of the work, information about the apprenticeship program, and some of the requirements and responsibilities of an Apprentice Mechanical Insulator.

Nature of the Work

The work performed is construction-related and includes applying mechanical insulation to maintain existing facilities as well as installing protective coverings for new construction. The work also involves insulating mechanical systems such as piping used for hot and cold water, heating, cooling, drinking water, steam, and other applications.

Additional work may include insulating air-handling equipment such as boilers, ducts, flues, machinery, and systems requiring personnel protection. Facilities where this work may be performed include, but are not limited to: food processing plants, hospitals, manufacturing facilities, nuclear and fossil fuel power plants, office buildings, paper mills, refineries, schools, and retail facilities.

Work may be performed indoors or outdoors and may require working in extreme hot or cold temperatures, confined spaces, and at high elevations. Climbing scaffolding, working in a fall-restraint harness, and working from ladders—with repeated climbing throughout the day—are common. Insulation materials used in this trade may also be hazardous to one's health.

Work Areas

Work assignments may cover Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho, and the entire state of Montana. Applicants must be willing and able to travel and work within these areas. It is common to spend the work week away from home. Daily subsistence and travel pay may apply in some situations, with certain exceptions.

Apprenticeship Basics

This is a five-year apprenticeship program, most of which is completed on the job. Each year, apprentices are required to attend 160 hours of classroom training. These classes are scheduled in advance, run for one week at a time, and are held in Spokane.

The JATC provides 840 hours of structured training over the five-year program. After completing the full five years of training (840 hours) and working at least 7,500 hours during that time, apprentices advance to journeyman status and receive full journeyman pay.

As of August 1, 2024, the journeyman wage scale for industrial work is $47.51 per hour, while the commercial journeyman scale is $45.81 per hour.

If you are accepted into the program, your name will be placed on the “out of work” list. When a union employer requests manpower, apprentices are dispatched from this list to the employer. You may work until the job is complete, you may be transferred by the employer to another project, or you may be laid off when work concludes.

In any case, it is your responsibility to contact the union hall to have your name placed back on the list. You will then remain on the “out of work” list until the union dispatches you to your next position.

Periods of temporary unemployment are not uncommon in the construction industry. Factors such as the economy, politics, and even the weather can affect the job market. One advantage of being a union member is the opportunity to work outside our local boundaries. When work slows in this area, other locations may be experiencing higher demand. For those willing to travel outside Local 82’s territory, there is often still an opportunity to find work.

Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years of age

• Possess a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation

• Be able to read, write, and follow directions

• Successfully complete a trade-related math quiz

• High school graduates are preferred

Applicants who have not graduated from high school may still be accepted. However, if accepted into the program, you must periodically provide proof that you are actively working toward a High School Equivalency (GED) and that it will be completed before attaining journeyman status.

Applicants must also:

• Be able to lift 50 pounds

• Be able to stand for extended periods

• Be able to pass a pre-employment physical at their own expense

Once accepted into the program, a $250 registration fee is required before being dispatched to work. An additional $250 is due within 30 days of your first day on the job, for a total registration cost of $500.

To Be Eligible for an Interview, You Must Submit the Following Documents

Please submit copies of the following:

• Birth Certificate

• Valid Driver’s License

• Social Security Card

A High School Diploma or GED is preferred but not required for acceptance into the apprenticeship program.

Interviews are typically held once per year in July. If additional apprentices are needed before or after July, applicants may be contacted to arrange an interview.

Please email your documents to:

AW82JATC@INSULATORS.ORG

With kind regards,

Andrew Richman
Apprenticeship Coordinator
Local 82