Ironworkers Local 86 held tryouts in an effort to get more local apprentices working at the SR 520 Pontoon Project site. Of the 25 people that showed up, only 15 were able to complete each of the four tasks set up by the union. The most grueling test was "packing rebar," in which each of the tryouts teamed up with a union member in hefting a 100-pound bundle of steel back and forth across a vacant lot (about 200 feet). At each end, they had to drop and pick up the bundle multiple times in rapid succession. Within the first hour, this test claimed nine of the 10 dropouts.
The tryouts were taught to tie rebar then instructed to do it over and over again as fast as they could.
Probably the most backbreaking test was tying a rebar grid on the ground. Tryouts were dinged for using their knees to bend over because it was too slow.
Ironworkers Local 86 held tryouts in an effort to get more local apprentices working at the SR 520 Pontoon Project site. Of the 25 people that showed up, only 15 were able to complete each of the four tasks set up by the union. The most grueling test was "packing rebar," in which each of the tryouts teamed up with a union member in hefting a 100-pound bundle of steel back and forth across a vacant lot (about 200 feet). At each end, they had to drop and pick up the bundle multiple times in rapid succession. Within the first hour, this test claimed nine of the 10 dropouts.
The tryouts were taught to tie rebar then instructed to do it over and over again as fast as they could.
Probably the most backbreaking test was tying a rebar grid on the ground. Tryouts were dinged for using their knees to bend over because it was too slow.
Great photos and story!
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