EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Sun City Welding Academy and a regional union for tradesmen held a job event Thursday, July 17 to job-screen pipe welders and pipe fitters for a major industrial project near El Paso, and organizers said there is more to come.
“We’ve been waiting for this area to pick up and gain some traction for our local union and the type of work that we do, and that is coming to fruition now and it’s coming fast. So there is going to be a lot of work from the oil and gas industry, the building industry, and hospitals. So that’s going to employ not just welders and pipefitters, but also plumbers and that gas,” said Edward Sanchez, a welding coordinator for the United Association (U.A.), Local Union No. 412, which represents pipefitters, welders, and HVAC workers throughout New Mexico and El Paso.
The event was held at the welding academy located at 6940 Commercial Ave. in East El Paso. Day two of the event will be held Friday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The event serves as a pre-qualification testing, which aims to fill 180 positions including welders, pipe fitters, and apprentices for a large-scale industrial project near Orla, Texas. Orla is about 175 miles east of El Paso.
Owner and director for the Sun City Welding Academy, Scott Herndon, said it took hard work and constant communication with the union for about two years to make the job event happen.
Herndon and applicants at Thursday evening’s event said there aren’t many job outreach opportunities in El Paso like the one held Thursday, where local tradesmen can get connected to high-paying projects.
“This is proof that there is work here in El Paso. Even within the oil and gas industry, we always bring a lot of companies from out of town to handle this business. But why? When we have the trades here, the facilities to train them and the people here that are looking for work, that are traveling to look for that money. Well, we’re trying to close that gap to keep the jobs here in El Paso,” Herndon said.
“I haven’t seen an event like this ever in my life, so it’s really nice to have it here. Bringing light to what this industry, the oil and gas industry and pipe welding has to offer,” said Jorge Olivas, a professional oil rig welder born and raised in El Paso.
“So I work out in Morenci (Arizona). I had just gone out there and I was sitting in the hotel room when I see that this event was coming up, so I packed on my stuff, and I got here. That’s how important it is. I forfeited the position that I had to be able to come to this and have this opportunity,” said Austin Dirkx, a pipe fitter born and raised in El Paso.
Herndon said pipe welding is a hot job right now and that his academy cannot graduate students fast enough to meet the increasing job demands in the region.
However, Herndon said that the major industrial projects coming to the region are seeking tradesmen who have received advanced training in welding and other trades, but that there aren’t enough resources in El Paso that aspiring tradesmen can turn to in order to get the proper training they need.
“That’s what Sun City Welding Academy is trying to change. We want to educate the community that if you’re wanting to get into welding, you want to get into pipe welding. That’s where the money’s at,” Herndon said.
“There is talent here and we’re trying to do what we can, but it’s really coming down to funding. We have a lot of welders that went to other programs that do come in that are not making it. They’re not cutting the bills, and they’re wanting to get some more training, but they can’t afford it,” Herndon said.
For people interested in attending the event, you can find the requirements for the industrial project in Orla below:
- 5 plus years of experience preferred (apprenticeship may be required for those with less)
- Pre-employment weld test at Sun City Welding Academy (flip-flop 5G/2G with 6010/7018 or 2G TIG with 309 SS)
- OSHA 10 certification required
- Drug screening
- UA Membership (can be initiated during the event)
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