I Joined a Union
I joined a union. The United Brotherhood of Carpenters to be exact. I am joining as an apprentice millwright at 37 years old. Typing that out just sounds insane, especially since I currently have a white collar job in a law firm that pays me well and is low-impact. However, it's not very stimulating or fulfilling for me- very champagne problems, I know.
The millwrights are a part of the carpenters' union because of the historical ties between woodworking and building, repairing, and maintaining mills. Because of some previous experience in the trades as a carpenter building single-family homes, I'll join as a second-year apprentice millwright. All of my training and certifications will be paid for by the union, and the contractors pay for most of our benefits. It's a pretty sweet deal if I'm being honest. Much of the work in my local comes from the power plants and mines in the area, which means I'll get to learn all about pumps, turbines, and the like, but I will have the opportunity to travel and work out of other locals once I get a bit of time and experience under my belt.
This is all very new and exciting for me- not to mention a huge shift in what my day-to-day will look like, which creates a bit of fear. There is a lot of uncertainty, but I am ready for the challenge. I plan on writing more about it as I start down this path.