Ironworkers Local 512 hosted the North Central States Ironworkers District Council apprenticeship competition last month. Judging from the competition, the future of the trade is in good hands.
Participants competed on various Ironworker skills including a written test, welding and burning skills, rod and knot tying, all capped off by the dramatic 35-foot tower climb.
“The four-year union apprenticeship program is what separates us from nonunion workers,” said Mike Baker, president of the district council.
Local 512 was also helping host summer meetings, and Ironworkers from around the Midwest stayed in a union hotel and met at Clyde Iron in a nod to the occasion. Baker acknowledged the hard work Local 512 did to host the meetings. Baker said about 50 apprentices were on hand for the competition in Duluth from Minnesota, iowa, Nebraska, the Dakotas and Wisconsin. In addition to an opportunity to travel to Chicago as well as bragging rights, competitors were chasing thousands of dollars in cash and prizes donated by contractors, Locals and other supporters.
Overall winners were:
Nathan Becker, Local 67 (Des Moines, Iowa)
Jason Fox, Local 21 (Omaha, Nebraska)
Cooper Graser, Local 21
Justin Vinkemeier, Local 512
These four will travel to Chicago this fall to participate in the international competition.
In the speed burn Anna Cochran of Local 512 took the honors, while Jason Fox won the rebar runway.