I’m in the personnel business and have been researching this issue on the web at work as well as by phone with other agencies. The issue: some of our heavy equipment operators keep telling us they should be considered a skilled trade. We keep telling them they’re not because they don’t have an apprenticeship or have to have licenses, except maybe for a CDL. Other agencies I contacted say the same. My boss wants to know what the unions think (our union is AFSCME). We’re local government in Maryland. I suggested we call the union official; she seems reluctant to do that. I can’t find anything on the http://www. What do you say and, most importantly, do you have a link to a site, agency, or person I can call that will confirm our position. (Telling my boss I got the answer from the SDMB wouldn’t be satisfactory.)
The answer, no matter who you talk to, will be an IMHO, won’t it???
Have you ever watched a crane operator move materials into place, while sitting hundreds of feet from both the ground AND the materials, AND the area they are being moved to?
Have you watched a Backhoe operator cut a precision trench for piping while the spreaders are balanced on somewhat uneven terrain? These people are asked, daily, to thread a needle with a 11 ton sledgehammer and, despite some nefarious incidents, they virtually NEVER have accidents of any proportion.
I’d think any Union worker or official that you ask will tell you that it is a HIGHLY skilled trade.
I don’t disagree with you, but let’s face it – there’s “skill” involved in most jobs. Our position is that electricians, plumbers, and HVAC mechanics, which we consider skilled trades, have to go through an apprenticeship program for maybe years, and then take an exam with the state to get a license. Our equipment operators get trained on the equipment, on the job, and have no other license other than a CDL (and even that may not be required). How businesses categorize these jobs is not a matter of opinion. I’m hoping a doper who’s involved in unions will have a definitive answer for me.
Why is she reluctant to ask the union? And why is your office reluctant to call the HEO’s skilled?
Yes, HEO’s are considered skilled. I was in the trades (electrician) for many years before I got tired of having to work for my pay. Now I’m a tech. Gravy time. 
Peace,
mangeorge
Depends on the business and the contract between the business and the union membership.
For example, at my company fork-truck drivers are NOT considered a skilled trade. But, a “rigger” is (which is essentially a fork truck driver, but trained in other stuff). However, riggers no longer exist once all the riggers are dead or retired, since this is being eliminated as a trade, and millwrights and fork-truck drivers can do everything riggers used to do.
Also in the company, ALL skilled trades go through an apprenticeship (with one exception, below). If they’re a skilled trade, they’ve gone through an apprenticeship or are otherwise excepted (such a 5 years proven work experience).
The exception to our “skilled trade” rule is welder repairmen. They’re only on-the-job trained, and generally have come from the non-trades. This is in contrast to one of our competitors, whose welder repairmen were bona fide electricians FIRST.
So, in practical terms, “skilled trade” is whatever the contract says it is, regardless whether or not the job actually requires skills.
I’m assuming your heavy equipment operators are looking for a raise, and reclassifying themselves may accomplish this?