Looking for Construction Career Opportunities in Northern Minnesota? Northern Mechanical and Iron Range Plumbing and Pipefitting Offer Joint Apprenticeship

Looking for a multifaceted career that involves troubleshooting, diagnosing, repair, installation, servicing and maintenance?

Consider applying for an apprenticeship with Local 11 and Local 589 of the United Association of plumbers, steamfitters, pipefitters and HVAC technicians. The joint apprenticeship between these two trade unions offer young people, who are at least 18 years old and have earned their high school diploma (or a GED), three different career paths, which include:

1. Plumbers construct and maintain the piping systems we all use every day to provide clean water, dispel waste and keep our homes warm.

2. Steamfitters/Pipefitters are licensed to perform work on high pressure piping systems. Settings where this skill set is in demand would include power plants, refineries, schools, pipelines, gas plants, paper mills and many other industrial and commercial sites.

3. HVAC Technicians Technicians install, service and trouble-shoot complex systems used for the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration of commercial and residential structures.

“Our training program has a rich history of providing quality craftspersons to mechanical contractors of northern Minnesota and Wisconsin,” said training director Jeff Brown. “Our rigorous, award-winning, registered five-year program, which consists of 9,000 hours of on-the-job training and more than 1,000 total hours of classroom study.”

Apprentices within the Local 11-Local 589 joint program will receive a total wage package that includes medical, dental and optical insurance plans as well as a variety of retirement savings programs.

“Minnesota is facing a shortage of skilled laborers in certain industries and our apprenticeship system offers an opportunity for you to start earning money instantly, gaining experience and salary increases through on-the-job training and classroom instruction,” Brown said. “This is a quality education because we are investing in you. Apprenticeship through Local 11 and Local 589 is an excellent opportunity to have a well-respected career without acquiring debt from student loans that you might acquire attending college.”

How to Apply

The apprenticeship application deadline is March 31, 2021 and will be updated to include some early April applicants. If you have any questions about this joint internship, call the JATC office at 218-733-9443 or email training@11589jatc.com. Unscheduled visits to the JATC office are not available at this time because of COVID-19. Link to Application.

“The earlier you get your application in, the better,” Brown said. “We expect to have smaller class sizes this year because of COVID restrictions and some virtual class assignments, too.”

Brown recommends that high school juniors and seniors who may be interested in applying for the apprenticeship program in the future build confidence in their math skills, specifically algebra and geometry. He also recommends taking shop or trade courses if they are available through the high school.

“Local 11 and Local 589 apprenticeship programs are incredible opportunities for youth looking to start an apprenticeship, especially during the pandemic because training is at no cost to the apprentice,” said Sarah Lechowich, senior director with the Construction Careers Foundation (constructioncareers.org). “It’s the equivalent of a $15,000-plus education all while getting paid to learn valuable skills in the field.”

Applicants also can visit the portal for more information on the apprenticeship program. Individuals will be prompted to complete a brief survey, which supplies the locals with your contact information as well as other relevant information such as experience level, hobbies, veteran status, etc. Visit the Apprenticeship Portal.

“After receiving this information, I will reach out to the applicant to answer any further questions they may have and guide them through the application process,” Brown said. “I highly encourage young people to use this resource to connect with me on their apprenticeship journey.”

JATC – UA Locals 11 & 589
Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee
Duluth Office
4402 Airpark Blvd
Duluth, Minnesota 55811
Get Directions
ph. 218-733-9443
training@11589jatc.com