r/IUEC

I overheard two maintenance guys working on one of the elevators at my job.

Maintenance guy: It doesn't matter if you're both just in it for the pussy, if you're two guys sharing said pussy, then it's automatically somewhat gay.

Other maintenance guy: I disagree.

Maintenance guy: You can have a completely gay threesome but you can never have a completely straight threesome. Do you understand what I'm saying?

Other maintenance guy: Why you always like this bro? I was looking forward to this shit and now you're telling me it's fucking gay.

Maintenance guy: I'm not trying to discourage you. I'm trying to do the opposite. Embrace the experience for what it is and stop asking me questions if you're not mature enough to unpack the answers.

Hi everyone,

I’m an apprentice with IUEC Local 89 in Montreal. I heard from the hall that Otis is looking for an apprentice, and I'm trying to get my details to the right person.

I have my ASP Construction card and a background in Computer Science/IT, so I’m ready to hit the ground running.

Does anyone have a direct contact name or advice on the best way to reach the Superintendent at the Gladstone office?

Ready to work immediately. Thanks for any help!

I’m currently a 4th taking my mechanics exam next semester. I’ve been working in NI/MOD with minor repairs during my apprenticeship. I took a route and feels like I’m learning an entirely new job. Any advice on the service side of our business. Useful tools for service. Methods for figuring out issues. Much appreciated!

Hey yall, first off, I found this sub a few weeks ago and honestly you guys have helped a lot with your answers and bringing up things I never thought about, I'd like to say thank you. Now a little about myself, I'm 19, and I found out about this trade through some career research I had done in a vocational program through my school. So, I did some research on my own time, and this trade really captivated me, I don't have that much construction experience, but through the vocational school, me and my class built a house under the supervision of a teacher, who had been in construction for 20 years, and he was great. I loved the work, anyways, I had asked my other teacher about how I could get into the elevator union, and he said he knew someone that worked for the elevator union, and she said they needed people, so he offered to connect me with her. Well, news flash, he never did, and every time i would ask, he'd say he would get in touch but never would. Point is, since then I've gone and done research on my own time. I have some notes on the types of elevators that exist, how they work, how their safety mechanisms work, and I also discovered a channel called MQ elevators on Youtube. The channel is pretty much an elevator mechanic that records himself on call fixing elevators. This channel helped me see what to expect when working in that field, and, when I saw him talk about anything I didn't understand, I would do research. What I noticed is that in most of his videos he would always have the prints for the elevators he worked on, and so I'm working on that skill. Regardless, through his videos I got to see how he would diagnose and fix the issues with the elevators, and I also got to see parts of an elevator that I hadn't known about. For about a year and a half now, I've been gradually checking the NEIEP website for their recruitments, and I had been waiting for applications in Local 2 in Chicago to open up. The recruitment got pushed back a year so instead I've applied to Local 55 in Peoria Illinois, and Local 34 in Indiana. I've looked at the EIAT study guide on the NEIEP website and it gave me a bit of an idea what to expect, but I'm also taking the iPrep study course to ensure I'm ready. Now, regarding the commute, the drive to Local 55 is about 2 hours from where I live, and Local 34 is a different story because I have relatives that I can stay with an hour away from Indianapolis. I am aware that the job takes travel, even more so in Local 55 because it covers 52 counties, so that's not an issue. I had seen someone in the sub talking about how you could apply to pretty much every local in the country and work there for a year or two, then try to transfer to a different local, but I was wondering how relocating would work. I don't mind moving at all, but I've just graduated from highschool a year ago, so I don't have a crazy amount saved up, or enough to just move in general. That being said, I know that some companies assist with relocation, so I was wondering if there was anyone in here that has had to move and how that went for them. If so, I'd like to know, and thank you guys for your time.

I feel a lot of pressure in this profession (that I have been so grateful for) to be on my A-game all of the time, and I'm trying my best, so making mistakes and being stupid hits a bit hard. Was just curious if any of you awesome mechanics had a rough time early on and when it turned around.

To the applicants and new apprentices:
The IUEC is a trade of problem solvers. If your first instinct when you have a question is to ask someone else before trying to find the answer yourself, you’re already behind.

Think of the search bar as your first diagnostic tool. In the field, you’ll have prints, manuals, and service tools. If you can’t navigate a Reddit history to find an interview rank or a dress code, you aren't going to navigate a complex controller at 3:00 AM.

The Reality Check:
• Resourcefulness is a requirement: Mechanics value helpers who do the legwork.
• Information retrieval is the job: Whether it’s a stickied post or a wiring diagram, the info is usually right in front of you.
• Don't be a "parts changer": Don't just look for the easy answer; understand the process of finding it.

If you want to be a mechanic, start acting like one. Check the Wiki, use the search function, and show some initiative.
Work safe.

If you’re a year 1 probie, and work gets slow and you get laid off (strictly because work is slow and not performance issues) are you put on a list to be called back when help is needed again or do you have to reapply to the apprenticeship and start over? I’m applying for my local next month, I currently have a pretty good job and will be taking a big leap to do this for a better long term future. I’m perfectly okay with the initial pay cut until becoming a mechanic, but the thought of potentially being laid off and not brought back,after giving up a good steady job is pretty scary to me. What’s your experience with this situation or what have you seen in the past?

Passed my aptitude test on May 6th! I know its a lengthy process, but any recommendations / advice for the interview when the time comes?

I used iPrep to study the materials, there is an "Interview" study portion on that website as well.

Anyone who has been through this process, and can hit me with your experience and advice, would be much appreciated!

Thanks

I've been watching local 6 Pittsburgh's window and it was originally for June 2026, then it changed to Nov 2026 and now just checking again its showing Feb 2026?

Does this just mean they are not recruiting this year now?

In my locals jurisdiction there are roughly 5000 units. My service route has about 250. There are a couple route mechanics in my area with 500 units on their route. Is this normal nowadays in other areas? I know the independents in my area have a rule to not go over 150 units per route. I work for a big 4 company. I have many units I have never laid eyes on despite the customers paying for quarterly maintenance. Some of the retirees tell me their first route was 60 units. I know things have changed a lot over 40 years.

I start tomorrow.

Does anyone know what’s going on with lay offs this past week

I’m looking to apply to my closest local next month when recruitment window opens. I take low dose prescribed adderall for ADHD, therefore would likely show up positive for amphetamine. Is this acceptable as long as prescription is readily available to be shown, should I bring it up prior to even submitting the test, or just not take it for a couple days prior to avoid unnecessary conflict? I’m not really familiar with how this works as I’ve been with the same company since it’s been prescribed. Any advice is appreciated.

Hey I wanna apply for the eiat exam when it comes out I just would like to know what documents should I have on stand by to fill out the application asap

Well, I pray this isn’t a preemptive post, but thank God. After nine long months of back and forth between myself and local union representatives, I finally got the call on Tuesday. Going to start working at Otis. Just finished up my urinalysis and I-9 verification. My Union representative is asking when I start and the manager at Otis told me it’ll be a week or so before the paperwork is completed. I’m so excited to get sworn in.

For those looking to join, here is what I think got me in:
-Joined the Navy. I was a Nuclear Machinist Mate with an honorable separation (applied on helmets to hardhats about a couple months ago though not joining through them)
-Consistency. I’d message my Union representative weekly for work. I’ll be honest, kind of felt like I was annoying him but I guess there’s nothing wrong with wanting work.
-Last and arguably most important *I was working with an independent elevator company*. This was likely imperative. I have experience in the trade.

It also helps this area is in high demand. Maybe I should have gotten hired much sooner. Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten hired at all. At the end of the day, I’m so, so grateful. Absolutely blessed by God for this opportunity. To all those looking to get in, I hope you get in soon!

My local is slow right now with a couple people on the bench. I know most locals are slow but just out of curiosity, any locals booming with work that may accept transients? For mechanics and apprentice.

Hey everyone,

I’m a high school student currently doing a co-op at a non union elevator company in Toronto. Currently doing installs, PMI, repairs, and mods. I’m looking to continue down this route and get placed after high school then do the EDM apprenticeship program at Durham College and work towards my EDM-A license in the next few years and organise into the union upon completion.

I had a few questions in regard to this but before I start off I want to thank the community and this subreddit. Without the useful advice and knowledge from everyone here I wouldn’t be able to get to where I am now.

To start off I wanted to know if the plan I had sketched out is doable, how difficult would it be to organise into my local after I receive my A license.

I am very interested in this trade but the only real concern I have is growth. I look to be an adjuster after I get organised with my local but I am concerned that there isn’t much growth after that.

Would I be able to take up more managerial positions and grow in the company like other industries. In other words, is the ceiling for pay, adjuster rates and how much OT I take?

My final question is would I be able to transfer to different locals in the states, more specifically Florida, after I am in my local in Canada? I know the amount of work that is available is a big aspect, but I have many friends and family in that state.

I’m sorry if the questions are vague and difficult to answer, I am still figuring things out as I go.

I have to decide between the university route or the route I’m taking now within the month. Any advice would mean a lot. This subreddit has been amazing help and it continues to be so I want to thank everyone here again for all their help.