Another Year, already?

During this past week's evening class, I spoke with a few other 4th year apprentices, and was reminded that we'll be getting our 5th year bump in pay very soon. In fact, it's much sooner than I expected! Because I'm a creature of habit, I had in the back of my mind that we would be re-classified as 5th year apprentices in August -- just like every year in the past. However, because we are in night school now, the re-classification comes in June, when we have completed our 2nd night course! That means I will be receiving pay at 80% of A-Journeyman scale within 3 months. I absolutely can not believe how fast these past years have come and gone. In other jobs that I've had before joining this trade, five years would have seemed like a lifetime! I suppose routine and boredom set in long before five years ever approached. As an electrician, I feel like 5 years has just barely scratched the surface. Even after three intense years of day-school training, and four+ years of on the job training, I honestly feel like there's so much more to learn and get my hands on. I've been lucky enough to have worked under various foremen who have allowed me the opportunity to jump right in, from prints to production, that I have a pretty strong grasp of blueprints and can basically do the work on my own, from "roughing-in" all the way through to "finish" work. But that's only one aspect of the trade. There's control work for mechanical systems, lighting controls for extremely large and complex systems, building automation that integrates mechanicals, hvac and lighting, hospitals, theaters, schools, emergency generation, telecom, data centers... and the list can go on and on. What's amazing is that for each and every one of these extra categories, there are special rules, regulations and specifications that go along with them. I've seen glimpses of these other aspects, but in no way could I say I'm an expert, and I would seriously question anyone who claims they are. Our trade just encompasses so many facets of the construction industry, you could spend a lifetime studying it or working on it and still have room to learn about something else. And that's just the installation side of it! Then there's the flip-side -- personnel management: overseeing a helper, running a crew, being a truck-driver, estimating, purchasing material, material handling, being a foreman, being a general foreman, superintendent, project manager, etc. There are so many opportunities to learn and grow in this field. It's rather astounding. So, to keep it in perspective, five years is nothing really.

Trades at Work

On the job where I am now, I get to work around lots of people. Particularly impressive to be around are the union carpenters. They're installing some gorgeous wood panelling (that we, as electricians have to coordinate with, in order to get our devices in just right). It's really heavy stuff, so there's an unusually large number of men working from the same shop all in the same little area. The electricians are completely outnumbered -- our 2 to their 12, all working in the elevator lobbies found on two floors. Not to mention the elevator guys who tend to pop in and out of their contraptions!

Needless to say, there's not much room to maneuver out there. I've been going back and forth on the fire alarm tenant fit-out on these two floors for the past few weeks, so we're all starting to get acquainted with each other. Being around these guys reminds me of the days when I worked on a "base-building" crew. The differences are astounding between "base-building" and "tenant" work. I find that these days, I end up working alone for long stretches, getting assigned to small projects, and working through until it's complete and I'm ready for another project. But on base-building jobs, there's always at least 3-4 other electricians you're working near, if not working together on the same project.

The carpenters reminded me of the comradery found in working together toward the same goal. You know, you joke around, make the day go by together, all in good fun, while still working steady throughout the day. The entire crew eats together and learns from one another above and beyond the trade -- they talk together about personal issues and about coping strategies, economic welfare and relationship strife. Because of the rapport that they share, no topic is taboo, and conversation runs the gamut. There is a wealth of knowledge out there, if only we take a breath, and listen.