Primary Skills

• Climbing school, tower companies, tree trimmers, utility companies, farmers, coal mines, military, etc.

Other Skills

• Communication – position requires apprentice to interact with customers.
• Computer skills are a plus but not required.
• Versatility – Candidates should have the ability to adapt quickly to their environment.
• Miscellaneous – Candidates will need to listen, remember, and perform directions from journeyman or supervisor.
• Applicants need to be physically fit. Position requires climbing and working many hours with your arms above your head. Apprentices also work underground in tight spaces.

Transfers

• Transfers from IL to MO are very rare and require special approval from senior leadership.
• Apprentices are expected to complete their apprenticeship before they transfer to other operating centers (Local702 may allow transfers but apprentices may or may not have bid rights).

Callouts

• Apprentices are on 24/7. Apprentice must take a minimum of 10% call outs. Callouts will include storm duty and may require extended out of town duty (within and out of state).

Overtime

• Apprentice will work overtime including holidays and weekends.

Domicile

• Apprentices must live within 25 miles of operating center. Candidates have six months to move. This applies to internal candidates as well. Some unions grant up to six months after candidates become journeyman to move.

Training

• 36 months or (4) 9 month steps. Test required after each step.
  • 1st 9 months – climbing school,
  • 2nd 9 months – cold or non-energized lines,
  • 3rd & 4th – work with primary and high voltage.
• Classroom training every six months.
• Apprentices must also study ALBAT (American Line Builders Apprenticeship Training) book and test after each step.
• Apprentices must pass Journeyman exam.

Primary Skills

• Mechanical aptitude (must pass CAST)
• Preferred Skills: HVAC, plumbing, landscaping, farming, construction, manual work, sewer, municipality, utility, military, etc.

Other Skills

• Communication – Position requires apprentice to interact with customers.
• Computer skills are a plus but not required.
• Versatility – Candidates should have the ability to adapt quickly to their environment.
• Miscellaneous – Candidates will need to listen, remember and perform directions from journeyman or supervisor. Applicants need to be physically fit. Position requires hard labor such as hand digging and operating a jack hammer.

Typical Day for Gas Apprentice includes:

• Construction Crew – The apprentice could be assigned to a Construction Crew consisting of crew chief (journeyman foreman), journeymen, and other apprentice. The crew may include co-workers from different operating centers (occasionally these crews may be assigned to other areas including travel and out-of-town work).
• Gas Technical Services – The apprentice may be assigned to a Trouble Truck. The assignment includes a journeyman and an apprentice. The pair performs Gas Technical Services such as gas leaks, connects, disconnects, etc. Note: Apprentice will receive a higher number of after-hours calls and overtime on this assignment.

Transfers

• Transfers from IL to MO are very rare and require special approval from senior leadership.
• Apprentices are expected to complete their apprenticeship before they transfer to other operating centers (Local 702 may allow transfers but apprentice may or may not have bid rights).

Callouts

• Apprentices are on 24/7. Apprentice must take a minimum of 10% callouts.

Overtime

• Apprentice will work overtime including holidays and weekends.

Domicile

• Must live within 25 miles of operating center. Candidates have six months to move (applies to internal candidates as well).

Training

• 27 months broken into three nine-month steps. Test required after each step.
• Most training is in the field. Classroom training every four to six weeks (class training requires one to two weeks on the road in Pawnee.) Must pass Journeyman exam.

Other

• Must become Respirator qualified.

Primary Skills

• Candidates should have a mechanical background.
• Applicants must be physically fit. Position requires climbing steel structure from 30 to 80 feet. Candidates must enter manhole-sized entrances as well as crawl and work in confined spaces. Applicants will be exposed to high voltage, heat, cold, as well as dead and live animals.

Note: Most apprentice positions are filled by internal candidates from the garage, power plants, and building services (building mechanics).

Communication

• Position may require apprentice to interact with customers.

Transfers

• Transfers from IL to MO are very rare and require special approval from senior leadership.
• Apprentices are expected to complete their apprenticeship before they transfer to other operating centers.

Callouts

• Apprentices are on 24/7. Apprentices must take a minimum of 10% call outs.

Overtime

• Apprentices will work overtime including holidays and weekends.

Domicile

• Apprentices must live within 25 miles of operating center. Candidates have six months to move (applies to internal candidates as well).

Training

• 27 months broken into three nine-month steps. Testing is required after each step
• Most training is in the field. Classroom training occurs every four to six weeks.

Primary Skills

• Must have an associate degree in Electrical or Electronics Technology.
• High level of computer literacy.
• Knowledge of data communication protocols (e.g. Modbus, DNP 3) a plus.
• Prior experience in electric, power plants, gas utility, or high-voltage industrial environment preferred.
• Applicants need to be comfortable working in a high-voltage environment and in extreme hot and cold temperatures.

Note: Recruiter should collect and review transcripts for AC/DC and math classes such as algebra and trigonometry.

Transfers

• Transfers from IL to MO are very rare and require special approval from senior leadership.
• Apprentices are expected to complete their apprenticeship before they transfer to other operating centers.

Callouts

• Relay Apprentices are on 24/7. Apprentices must take a minimum of 10% callouts.

Note: Relay Techs receive far less call outs than other apprentices. However, callouts increase in fall in winter.

Overtime

• Apprentices will work overtime including holidays and weekends.

Domicile

• Apprentices must live within 25 miles of operating center. Candidate have six months to move (applies to internal candidates as well).

Training

• 27 months broken into three nine-month steps. Testing is required after each step.
• Most training is in the field. Classroom training occurs every four to six weeks.

Other

• Substation Relay Apprentices perform the majority of their work on laptop computers.
• No CDL required for Relay Techs.

Applicable to: St. Louis and St. Louis County

Duties
Under direct and intermittent supervision and working with an Underground System Journeyman or Underground System Leader, perform a full range of work in the construction, maintenance, repair, modification, and demolition of the underground cable transmission and distribution systems; drive and operate a full range of equipment; full range of equipment; perform cable splicing or joint construction on all voltages; perform helper and general labor work for and with field crews when not assisting Underground System Journeyman or Underground System Leader, and do similar and less skilled work as required. In this connection, perform details of work such as:

• Transport and operate all types of equipment necessary to perform the job at hand; clean, lubricate, and make minor repairs to tools and equipment, as needed.
• Perform a full range of splicing, maintenance, and construction duties as outlined in the underground system training program.

Note: There shall be no limitation or restriction of any kind regarding the number or type of pieces of equipment that may be operated by an Underground System -Trainee during any work day or period of work.

Special Responsibilities 

• Exercising exceptional care to avoid damaging cables while working around them.
• Proper care and use of all equipment, tools, and materials while on the job.
• Cooperating with others in a work crew to insure a speedy restoration of service in case of emergency.
• Observing safety rules so as not to jeopardize him/her self, the public, or those working with him/her, with particular reference to risks of electrical shock from energized cables about or near which work is being done.
• As required, provide for adequate shoring, bracing, bridging, barricading, and warning devices.
• Greasing hydraulic rams to prevent rusting.
• Care to avoid accidents due to boom or other parts of equipment contacting passing vehicles, nearby structures, power or communication wires, or persons.  
• Care in operating equipment to prevent damage to structures or property of this or other companies and the public.
• Availability for and timely response to callouts are conditions for satisfactory job performance.

Contacts
Occasionally meet with customers, inspectors, and representatives of Ameren and of other companies concerning cable failures regarding the installation or removal of Ameren service and facilities.

Working Conditions
Exposed to outside weather conditions; at times, subject to work in cramped and crowded positions and on slippery or uneven surfaces. Subject to storm and emergency work at any time of the day or night.

Hazards

• Subject to hazards of shock, flash, burns or cuts while working on or around electrical cables and equipment; hazards of gas fumes and gas or electrical explosion when working in manholes; to the hazards of earth sliding or caving in while working in trench, manhole and vault excavations.
• Subject to hazards of falling when working on uneven surfaces or on elevated surfaces or structures.
• Subject to hazards of street traffic.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school or successful completion of a recognized high school equivalency examination.
• Must have excellent visual and muscular coordination of eyes, hands, arms and legs, be steady and alert, able-bodied and surefooted, have ordinary physical strength and be thoroughly dependable.
• Demonstrated potential to operate all hydraulic equipment and attachments safely and efficiently.
• Must have successfully passed the C.A.S.T. test.
• Must successfully pass the AC/DC test as defined in the Underground System Training Program.
• Must successfully pass the pre-evaluation test.
• Must obtain and maintain a valid Interstate Class A Commercial Driver’s License. 

Other
Candidates who cannot perform some or all of these duties because of disabilities will nevertheless receive full consideration for the job based on their ability to perform the essential functions.