In 1988, Joseph Schmidt, took the welding and machine shop class here at Park, little did he know this would be his future for over 30 years. He has worked as a pipefitter for over three decades, working with union members nationwide. As well as worked as a pipefitter for 30 years, and he has been a member of Union 83 here in Wheeling. Being in a union comes with great perks as they improve their working conditions and argue for fair wages. Fighting for higher wages and safer work conditions ever since the 19th century is very inspiring, even to someone my age today.
Along with his experience with welding and machine work at Park and his own father motivating him, Schmidt graduated high school and served for 5 years in an apprenticeship that consisted of classroom instructing as well as on-the-job training, which conditioned him to provide the best quality work. After this, he returned to Wheeling, where his dad also served the local union 83 for years before.
“My father was a pipefitter so I decided to continue the tradition and follow his path, I mean the benefits are amazing, job safety is our top priority, and giving the customers quality work and great craftsmanship that we are thought to embrace, I can work anywhere in the USA that has a UA local, I’d say there are absolutely no downsides to being a union member, especially for this long,” said Schmidt.
Although very experienced, he continues to get new training and new methods on how to improve his work to keep up with today’s ever-changing construction industry.
“I like working with my hands and solving difficult problems that occur during a job, It’s been a great career and I would never change it,” said Schmidt.
Although Schmidt is usually traveling somewhere for work, he is doing what he loves and what his father loved doing as well.