Strength in Partnership History

Our instructors and managers have long-standing relationships from working in the boilermakers and pipefitters unions, we gained their trust by working alongside them for many years in the field. We opened Fusion Welding Institute in 2020 and were quickly approached by the boilermaker’s union to help solve a complex problem.
At this point union halls have been struggling to recruit younger apprentices into the trades. We determined that the low wages for 1st year, completely unskilled apprentices, were very low and unattractive to people interested in joining the trades. It was identified in conversation that part of the collective bargaining agreement, any apprentice that could pass the UA63 (.625” GTAW/SMAW) weld test would receive 90% of journeyman pay.
The solution at this point was clear, provide a welding bootcamp that emphasizes students passing the UA63 weld test. This breakthrough partnership provides our students with a direct line for excellent wages immediately following completion of the program backed by the strong hiring ability of the trade unions. To date, we are where the unions come to build their workforce.
Currently when students complete the Fusion Welding Institute training program, union representatives come to our facility, administer the UA63 to our students, facilitate their union membership and place them on a project as a welder almost immediately. The current starting wage is $31.79 per hour with overtime and per diem and benefits including health insurance, pension & 401k. The union has benefited by receiving a steady stream of new skilled members and Fusion Welding Institute benefits by being able to provide opportunities to our students that are unmatched by any other welding program.