Day 2: Apprenticeships + Trade Unions
Lesson Overview
| Time | 50 minutes |
| Objectives | Explain the apprenticeship pipeline (apprentice → journeyman → master); research the role of trade unions in construction; compare apprenticeship to the 4-year college path |
| TEKS | d(3)(G), d(3)(H) |
| Deliverable | Apprenticeship vs. College comparison chart + Union research notes (1 union) |
| Materials | Chromebooks, printed Apprenticeship Pathway infographic, printed Apprenticeship vs. College comparison chart, projector |
Warm-Up (5 min)
WARM-UP: Would you rather spend 4 years in college paying tuition, or 4 years in an apprenticeship earning a paycheck while you learn on the job? Write down your first instinct and one reason.
Collect 2-3 responses. This frames the whole day. Students often assume college is the only "respectable" post-high-school path, apprenticeships challenge that assumption.
Activity 1: The Apprenticeship Pipeline (15 min)
Introduce the apprenticeship model using the projected infographic. Walk through each stage:
- Apply: Usually requires a high school diploma and a passing score on a basic aptitude test. Some unions have waiting lists.
- Apprentice (2-5 years): You are a paid employee who works on real job sites AND attends classroom training (usually evenings or once a week). Starting wage is typically 50% of journeyman wage. Pay increases as you complete phases.
- Journeyman: You pass a licensing exam and become a fully trained, independent worker. You can work anywhere in your trade at full wage.
- Master: The highest level. Masters can pull their own permits, run their own business, and train apprentices. Takes 2-5 additional years of journeyman experience.
Key numbers to share:
- Union electrical apprentices in DFW typically earn $16-22/hour starting wage, rising to $30-45/hour as journeymen.
- Apprenticeship is free: union programs pay you to train. No student loans.
- At the end of 4-5 years, a journeyman is earning roughly the same as an entry-level college graduate, but with zero debt.
Students fill in the Apprenticeship vs. College comparison chart:
| Apprenticeship | 4-Year College | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free (you get paid) | $40,000-120,000 typical |
| Length | 4-5 years | 4 years |
| Starting wage during training | $16-22/hr | $0 (usually) |
| Ending wage | $30-45/hr as journeyman | varies by major |
| Debt at finish | $0 | Average $30,000+ |
Facilitation Tip
Do not present apprenticeship as "better than college." It is a different path that suits different students. Emphasize that both are valid and the best choice depends on personality, interests, and career goals.
Activity 2: Trade Union Research (20 min)
Source: Union websites + BLS occupational profiles
Assign or let students choose one trade union to research:
- IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers)
- UA (United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters)
- UBC (United Brotherhood of Carpenters)
- Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA)
- International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE): heavy equipment operators
For their chosen union, students collect:
- Full name and main trade: what trade does this union represent?
- Apprenticeship length: how many years to become a journeyman?
- DFW local number (search "[union name] DFW local"): is there a local chapter in Dallas or Fort Worth?
- Benefits of membership: wages, health insurance, retirement, ongoing training
- How to apply: age, education, other requirements
Students record findings on their Union Research Notes sheet.
DOK 3: What is the value of union membership for a new construction apprentice? Name three specific benefits a union provides that a non-union job might not.
Activity 3: Think-Pair-Share (7 min)
Students pair up with a classmate who researched a DIFFERENT union and compare notes. Discussion questions:
- What do both unions offer their members?
- Which apprenticeship is longer?
- Which starting wage is higher?
- Would you personally apply to either? Why or why not?
Exit Ticket (3 min)
EXIT TICKET (Comparison Matrix) · Printable PDF:
Use my Day 2 Apprenticeship vs. College chart to fill in the matrix.
| Apprenticeship | 4-Year College | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost (who pays) | ||
| Length (years to finish) | ||
| Wage during training | ||
| Debt at finish |
Bottom line: Which route fits ME TODAY, and why? Use one specific cell from the matrix to back the pick.
My route: _____
Why: ____________
ONE specific advantage of the OTHER route that I am CHOOSING to give up: (d(3)(G), d(3)(H))
Differentiation
- Support: Pre-select one union per student and provide the website page ready to go. Limit research to the 3 most important fields (name, length of apprenticeship, starting wage).
- Extension: Research the history of trade unions in America. Why did they form? What role did they play in creating the 40-hour work week?
- ELL: Bilingual union research template. Pre-teach: Union = Sindicato, Member = Miembro, Benefits = Beneficios, Apprentice = Aprendiz. Pair ELL students with bilingual peers for research.