There are times in the field when you meet someone and can’t help asking yourself, “How do they just keep going no matter what?” There is a tenacity inherent with being a tradesman, but there is also a raw strength and drive that creates a craftsman we can be proud to call brother or sister.

One thing every organized member of a Union hopes for is not just an apprentice who comes in and learns the trade from a journeyman but also one who is engaged with the membership and wants to be part of the conversation and volunteerism that comes with being organized.

In our trade we use lots of words as part of our professional code: loyalty, dedication, perseverance, and many others. When it comes to working in the electrical field, a steadfast ability to learn from your mistakes and to hold yourself to the highest standard is absolutely paramount.

For some electricians, nothing beats having to only explain things once. On top of that, having the reliability of a high-delivering apprentice who works well in concert with you and who also has a great attitude to match is quite the double threat. So it is with Nick Sanchez, September’s Apprentice of the Month.

Becoming a Union electrician is about quite a bit more than pulling conductors into conduit and installing receptacles. It involves a sea change in how you view your work life, an intense journey of learning the skills and knowledge necessary to work as a professional in our field, and a dedication to your brothers and sisters that proves why organized labor is one of the most vital heartbeats of American life.

Many apprentices come into our fold with little to no experience—which is not to say they lack talent, but without knowledge or skills frontloaded. This of course is by design in many aspects.

No matter the circumstance, apprentices have just as much a voice as a journeyman. Union meetings are one of the most sacred places for our members and it is in our hall that we have the chance to hear from leadership and to make our own voices heard at the microphone.

Every year, the fifth-year apprentices gather on a Saturday for a comprehensive, labor-intensive, cumulative assessment. The day-long endeavor is comprised of different tests that span the entire apprenticeship from motor control to 3-way switching to advanced conduit bending.