So I finally got in...........

[solopony]

I have some mixed emotions right now when I should be ecstatic. After years of trying I finally was accepted as an apprentice for the plumbing&pipefitting union. I interviewed for the 5th time(once yearly) back in January and got the letter yesterday that as I was in . Problem is I had just taken a job at tool rental place last week. He wanted someone long term and expressed that in the interview. I told him I was the man and actually enjoyed the job. I interviewed for the apprenticeship back in January and was told they were taking 4 apprentices and I got my placement as 6th. Well sixth was good enough and I FINALLY made it after years as working as "helper" and a few layoffs. My new/old boss was upset he wasted the last 2 weeks and first asked if I was going to finish the day or week. I told him I could work for him till the 19th and it was up to him. He sent me home and said "they'll keep you busy for 4 months". I told him it's a 5 year apprenticeship and I get a degree and card when I am done and nothing else. I feel bad but should feel good. I hope I made the right decision. The union offers great insurance, a pention, paid schooling, 30+ an hour when a journeymen and many other perks. I just hope I made the correct decision. I think my new/old boss just got to my head a bit. Either way I guess I just enjoy my few weeks off till I report to my new contractor.

 

[JHZR2]

He's probably mad that he cant make such a rate with such perks for that kind of work, or that he can't find such a capable person to support his company without paying the high burdened rate that the union takes.

Did you alert him to the fact that you have been pushing to do this for a long time now?

 

[Steve S]

My dad was a union plumber. Do your work with pride and study hard there is lots to learn!!!

 

[Nick R]

He's probably upset because in his eyes, you may have "lied" to him. You told him you were in it for the longhaul, and you weren't.

 

[solopony]

Not in advance but it was mentioned today and when we talked about my job historyin the interview. I interviewed in January and was told they are taking 4 for sure, then got a letter in February saying I placed 6th so I continued my job hunt figuring it wasn't my year again. I got the letter yesterday, called to confirm on my way into work and told my boss when he got there and had a few minutes to talk. I was promptly sent home. I was available to work for exactly 2 weeks from yesterday and told him that. He didn't handle it like a man anyhow, you can't blame someone trying to better themselves.

 

[IndyIan]

I wouldn't worry about it too much, is the guy going to match your future wages? No. Also you've been there for 2 weeks and he can probably call the next guy down in his interview process, and he hasn't invested too much time into you yet.
If this is his biggest problem, he hasn't got much to complain about.

 

[addyguy]

After trying 5 times, it wasn't a guarantee you would get into the union job, so you never lied to your current boss - you were in it for the long haul, not expecting to do anything else.

Your boss should be kinda happy for you, but as others said, he's being a jerk b/c he is probably jealous that you will have more skill and better pay than him soon. Forget him.

Good luck with your new job - the economy today needs skilled, hard-working trade people to fix infrastruxcture, etc... that is just going to get older and more broken as time goes on. ou should be proud of yourself!

 

[eljefino]

The economy is getting better and your old boss got screwed by the decisions he and he alone made.

Some master plumber "up top" retired, or inhaled too much solder fumes and went crazy, and the queue worked its way through until a door opened for you.

Now your old boss, who thinks paying X gets good help that will stick with him for lack of anything better, is having his worldview changed.

Move forward and don't look back! This is going to explode with tons of people sick of their old jobs who stuck with them through the recession moving laterally if not upwards.

 

[bepperb]

If he doesn't care enough about you to let you take a new job thats better for you and what you want to do, why should you care about him?

But really after two weeks, who cares. Really?

 

[scurvy]

Originally Posted By: solopony
After years of trying I finally was accepted as an apprentice for the plumbing&pipefitting union.
...
Problem is I had just taken a job at tool rental place last week. He wanted someone long term and expressed that in the interview. I told him I was the man and actually enjoyed the job.
...
My new/old boss was upset he wasted the last 2 weeks and first asked if I was going to finish the day or week. I told him I could work for him till the 19th and it was up to him.


You did the right thing. The tool rental place was your Plan B as you had no reason to expect Plan A to work out. You even gave your boss a solid two weeks notice and left it up to him - not much else you could have done aside from find your own replacement.

It sucks for him, but that's why he gets paid as much as he does. Sounds like he had some sour grapes at lunch. Give it time, he'll calm down. And what's the worst that happens - he fires you?

Putting in your two weeks' notice in order to start a better gig is one of the most liberating feelings in the world. Enjoy it!

Originally Posted By: Nick R
[your soon-to-be ex-boss is probably angry because] you told him you were in it for the longhaul, and you weren't.


Utter bollocks. Getting accepted to the pipefitter's union is a game-changing event for solopony. He was in the tool rental shop long term until a major life event happened. The timing wasn't good but he had no control over that.

 

[ddrumman2004]

Like posted above...don't let it get you down.

Besides, if your boss showed this kind of management skills now, no telling what he might be like later if you had stayed.

My oldest son, age 29, got an apprentice position, went to school, got his state journeyman electrical license in 4 years, finished the program and worked for couple of electrical outfits during all this time.

He's now a locomotive electrician for the CN Railroad in Memphis TN.

I mention this because his former boss tried to make him feel bad when he left and went to work for CN.

So go forward and don't look back.

 

[PandaBear]

Don't think about it too much. This kind of things happen and you can't really be sure when you hire someone or accept an offer whether you are going work well together or not, and other things, and the percentage of people get laid off or quit is very high at the beginning of the hiring. That's why keeping someone even slightly below average around, or working with just an average job, is important because you never know whether it is better or worse.

Congrat and good luck. In this kind of economy your soon to be former employer should have no problem finding the right guy for the same salary. Keep your relationship good because you run into each other at work or may work together in the future.

 

[Schmoe]

Dude, be )amned PROUD you got that job. Notice, I said you, not anybody else. You had the wisdom, intelligence and insight to apply for it and try. Don't forget those values you did for yourself and don't ever forget WHY you did it. You believed in yourself and what you wanted to do, stick to your guns. It's what got you there. Now, go out and celebrate. That's a great field to be in. Sometimes you have to look out for number one, you, because nobody else will. If you were my son, I'd be super proud of you and would tell you to tell that other boss to kiss my arshe.

 

[frank2009]

5 years from now your previous job will be a distant memory. Do what's best for you and your family.

I was in a similar circumstance about 30 years ago; received a job offer for a better job on my first day of work. Finished the week and said good bye. I did give notice that first day. I felt a bit awkward as you probably do. A real boss would understand.

 

[Papa Bear]

Enjoy your new apprenticeship !!

 

[andyd]

Dont look back, you did what you had to do. Good luck in your new endeavor. It is best not to burn bridges, but sometimes you have to.

 

[Mr Nice]

How is the job market for a plumbing & pipefitting ?

I thought some skilled trades had too many folks out of work and working contract to contract job.

 

[solopony]

thanks for all the well wishes.