News Archive: Ironworkers

Ironworkers Tell Their Stories on KBOO Radio

Ironworkers Coleen Lynch and LaChelle Pierce were the stars of the show as they were interviewed on KBOO Radio (90.7 FM) by OTN Executive Director, Connie Ashbrook. Coleen and LaChelle, both second year apprentices, are very proud of their professions. Coleen is currently working for Carr Construction. “They are a great company. I’m working on the 4th Street Towers downtown. It’s tricky because we’re building on top of an underground structure that is currently occupied with tenants, so there is some element of being careful with the load capacities.”

LaChelle is working in Beaverton for Refa Construction on a steel building that will be part of the Max line. “I’m putting in studs (I’m known as the Œstud shooter’). I have this machine - it looks like a hand held gun that you load with 3/4” diameter studs, and it welds them to the beams. Its a form of reinforcing concrete extensions prior to the concrete pour.”

They went on to explain that there are 3 elements of ironworking; ornamental, reinforcing and structural which is what LaChelle and Coleen are doing now - working with the structural shell of a building.
Reinforcing is the rebar - ironworkers pack, layout and tie up the rebar to make a mat of iron to reinforce concrete. Ornamental is decorative - fencing, railings, stairs, etc. A big part of all elements of ironwork is weldling.

They talked about how thay got into the trade. La Chelle explained that she was working in a coffee shop when the opportunity to get in the trade came to her attention, “I have always been one that liked manual labor. I don’t like working inside - I like being outdoors, being physically challenged - otherwise I tend to get a little bored with what I am doing.” Coleen said, “I’m a single parent, I have a 7 year old. I started thinking - gees - I’ve been in an office for a while - I’ve got no pension, no annuity. Where am I going to be in 20 years? I sure don’t want my child to have to take care of me when I get older! My father had a small sub-contracting company that fabricated and installed re-inforcing steel. My sisters and I worked in the shop, so I wasn’t intimidated by it - I thought well hey, I’ve got a little experience, lets give it a go and now I’ve got a solid future.”

They talked about their training - “On the job, we work with the journeyman,”explained LaChelle, “Its their job to train us.” Coleen went on to say, “We go to school for a month every year for four years. Its classroom learning, blackboard - the whole 9 yards - its no party time, its serious learninig. We learn a lot about safety.”

For more information about applying to be an ironworker call Ironworker Training Director Lee Worley at 775-0877 or stop by their office at 6701 SE Foster Rd. Starting wage is $13.91 and journey level workers make $21.40.