OPERATING ENGINEERS

Nature of Work

    Members of the International Union of Operating Engineers cover a variety of  job classifications in industries such as highway and building construction , mining and logging, pipeline construction and utility work such as water and sewer excavation.

    Whether working as heavy equipment operators, or surveyors, Operating Engineers can be found on any project using construction equipment. "Heavy equipment" is the blanket term for numerous types of machines: cranes, bulldozers, front end loaders, rollers, backhoes, graders, dredges, hoists, drills, pumps and compressors are just some of the equipment used by Operating Engineers.

    In most cases, if it can push, pull, pump or lift material, rolls on tires or crawls on tracks like a tank, it falls under the jurisdiction of the IUOE. Operating Engineers take pride in the fact that on virtually all construction projects, they are the first workers on the job and the last off. Their work is essential to a smooth-running construction project.

    Although each member has a favorite type of machinery to operate, Operating Engineers are masters of a variety of equipment. This versatility keeps them employable since employers' needs vary from project to project.

    Heavy equipment mechanics and surveyors also are very important contributors on any construction job. Mechanics repair and maintain the equipment used on the job, requiring a thorough knowledge of many types of equipment. Skilled mechanics are critical because if the equipment isn't running when needed, an entire project can come to a screeching halt. Surveyors use expertise in linear and angular measurements to lay out the geographical boundaries of a construction project. A surveyor must have a good command of advanced math principles because this type of work is extremely precise.

Working Conditions

    Almost all of the work performed by Operating Engineers, including some of the mechanics' work, takes place outdoors, in all kinds of weather and conditions. Members can expect to be cold in the winter, hot in the summer, and dirty, greasy, muddy, and dusty all the time.

    Construction work is directly affected by the climate of a geographical area. In certain climates - the construction industry as a whole has a slowdown or shutdown period during the winter season. The length of this period depends on weather conditions - it can last anywhere from seven weeks to several months. Applying for unemployment benefits during this slowdown/shutdown is part and parcel of being an Operating Engineer or, for that matter, a craftworker in any of the construction trades. With the right planning, this can be a positive experience, allowing the member flexibility to do things there was not time for during the peak working season.

    As in all construction jobs, the length of time a member works for an employer varies with the type of project. Larger projects, such as a new bridge span or tunnel, can employ an Operating Engineer for years, while more typical projects lasts less than one year, sometimes even just a few days or weeks. In general, a member can expect to work for more than one employer during the course of a year.

   In most IUOE local unions, members are dispatched to work from a roster which may be called a referral or an out-of-work list. This list is ordinarily based on length of time out of work, which means that those members who have been laid off the longest are sent out first.

    Also, remember that the construction industry is considered a barometer of the economy. In a nutshell, when the economy is healthy, there's lots of work, but when the economy slows down (such as during a recession), so does the availability of work, sometimes for a long period.

Working Hours

Sometimes Operating Engineers work projects that run around the clock, but even projects that operate during the "regular hours" of 7:00 or 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 or 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, can have overtime hours. Sometimes, employers want to make the most of favorable working conditions, or need to catch up on days missed because of bad weather.

    On many projects, Operating Engineers must finish specific tasks before other trades can even begin to work, and on almost every project, each trade is dependent on another to stay on schedule.

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