Labour Work Up North
 

So we've all heard about how much coin you get paid up there, but that's all I practically hear. Money alone interests me in doing work up there. But before I jump into the pool without testing the waters first I would like to know more about it and if anyone has first hand experience or knows of someone who has doing work up there. (Fort McMurray is all know, where else could you get a labour job?)

Where could I start?
Any sites I could look into?
Seminars?
Qualifications?
Hours? (I know that they are long hours) 7 on 7 off?
Living expenses/housing?

Anything you know, I want to know as well! I have some friends interested in it as well, so I was thinking if we could go up together it would be better.

Thanks guys!

hate to say this but i dont think you'd be much value to anybody up there as a 'labourer' unless u have a trades background

you are right 604, unless you have connections up there, that's the way to go, if you think you can just go up and work at a "retail" type job, then you're wrong. It's labors, union, skilled workers type jobs, the more certification u have the better.

I'm talking to a friend of mine who is currently in the mining industry, and he says a lot of the oil rig/mining companies are hiring. IIRC, they also hire kids who've just came out of high school? I don't know much, hence why I'm asking.

I do have a level 1 background in a trades (automotive), currently doing general labour work in transportation safety, fork lift certified, WHMIS certified, first-aid.

Might find some related information here:
http://www.revscene.net/forums/66031...l-rigging.html

True, I'm pricing a job in Kitimat right now and keep in mind this is construction not work in the oil field. It's a 58 hour work week 18 of those OT in 2 week stints. $48 p/hour for the first 40 and $72.00 an hour for the other 18 hours. I have to pay the same regardless if you have experience or not so no way I'd send someone up north without experience. Won't be able to find anyone local so I'll have to send people from our Vancouver and Kelowna offices.

I'm in the Yukon right now working in a mineral exploration camp. I'm a geologist however, not a labourer. With most of the labour jobs, it's all about who you know. From your post it seems that you are looking for work as a driller. Look online for drilling companies and apply as a drillers helper, then you move up from there. You don't need any experience to become one, but it'll be tough to break in without any connections. Good luck!

Check here:

The Miner's Manual

if your a labourer living in Camp you would be lucky to get 25 an hour with LOA

if your living outside of camp, most places dont pay LOA to labourers, so living in edmonton, etc. paying stupid prices for rent, and food, etc. wouldnt even be worth it for most people

if your living at home, or have a decent rent situation, you would be better off having an 18/20 an hour job here than being a labourer there with no LOA

the only saving grace is the OT you work, but you'll lose that in tax in the end

the only place your going to make anything as a labourer is actual rig work, not at refineries in the oil sands etc

That was so full of stupid, its not even funny. Laboring in Fort Mac can be very profitable, as long as you get a camp gig. You dont usually get any more benefits then that, but between the 12 hour days and the 2-3 weeks your away from home working, you can make a good income. $25 an hour is about right on average for a laborer, but unless you are a retard you can usually move up from there fairly quick, and along up your pay rate. Dont forget you will be getting 4 hours OT a day, and no, you will not "lose it all to taxes". I paid 35ish grand in tax last year, definitely didn't lose it all in taxes. None of what I am talking about is rig work either. Get on a rig, you will actually have to bust your ass all day, get on with a major construction company, and you wont.

my buddy is a head of HR for JP driver, we worked it out and long term sure grinding out OT you will make money, but only because of the hours your working and keep in mind your not making money for the 7-10 days your off, so it's great to talk about making all this dough for 2 on 1 off, but if your clearing 3000-4000 in those 2 weeks, that means thats what you are making in a month due to time off

not that great if you ask me.

EDIT* although like i said, it is worth it if you get in on a camp, because your not spending anything and your getting LOA, if your living out then your not making shit in the long run.

Not too sure where you're getting your info but you're wrong about your last point. I work in Fort McMurray and laborers on oil sands sites can make pretty good cash. Plus, most guys that are laborers aren't laborers for long as so many people drop like flies and people move up fast. The radio was saying that the average yearly income in this region was 95k a year. Considering that's taking into account people working shit jobs in town, that's pretty fucking good. Most guys I know and work with are between the 110k-200k range. I know lots of guys that work 6 days on, 6 days off. 7 on, 7 off. 14 on, 14 off. 10 on, 10 off. I don't think any of them are making less than 100k a year and many of them are in camp, get free flights up here, so they don't spend a dime.

^
Considering many people that work here have to make their own way from Newfoundland or BC or wherever, it's not as obvious as you may think. Some only get flights from Edmonton and Calgary.

There is generally a decent amount of work in Grande Prairie as well. It's pretty cheap to live there too. Fort Nelson as well. Fort St. John to some degree too. Most companies will require a clean drivers abstract as well.

If you want to get work in Fort Mac, I suggest getting the following courses:

H2S Alive
Standard First Aid Level C - CPR with AED
Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
Oil Sands Safety Association Regional Orientation (Commonly referred to as "OSSA training)


The courses listed below generally aren't required right off the hop, but they will help:

Confined Space Entry / Monitor
Fall Arrest / Protection
Elevated Work Platform
Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)


What I generally suggest to my friends that want to come up here is to get a Class 3 or 1 drivers license. Drivers are never out of work and have the easiest time getting jobs from my observations.

you wany the above noted certificates.

FSJ Now! - Classifieds - Serving Fort St. John, BC, Canada and Area

I did pipeline construction and I had zero knowledge but I had a connection to get there.
When I took my h2s alive the instructor said it's stupid easy to get a job up in say for mac.

In his words he said if you go up there, go into a bar and make a cardboard sign and strap it around your neck saying looking for work you will leave the bar with a job. Obviously though with no experience expect a fucking shit job.

When I was in pipeline construction it was in camp, they gave me travel money I think it was 700 bucks, 10 hour days, 6 days a week. Monday through sat. Your best bet is get your basic tickets, h2s alive, the right level 1 first aid and get your ass up there.

From what a friend told me, he got his learners Class 1 here in BC and then was able to get his full class 1 license in Sask. in 3 months instead of a year. How does that work?

If all you are clearing in 2 weeks is 3-4k, you either need to find another company, or just leave altogether. 2 and 1 means you work 3 weeks a month, essentially. Last time I checked, there is usually 4 weeks in a month. I dont know about most companies, but I dont think they pay you LOA if you are in camp, no one I worked with got it, but things like that differ from company, to company, and mine sucked.

Get your CSTS and OSSA before you go up there, and the rest is site specific really. I never had to get my H2S alive as I was never involved with H2S. I did have my class 3 when I went as well though, and as for TDG, dont bother because it does not transfer between companies. First aid is a big one though. Any company that wont put you through fall arrest training or stuff like that though, fuck em. Lots will as its required in the mine sites.

When I first moved to Fort Mac I didn't have any CSTS, OSSA, TDG, and Fall Arrest Training. I work as a Fire Suppression Technician in an oil mine up here. The company I work for provided all those trainings required for me to perform my job properly. It's also good to know someone in the mines as they can refer you to their team leads to get you that position you desire. 12 hour shifts 14 on 14 off is what I have. Most sites now only do 7 on 7 off. Getting a job isn't that hard, just gotta keep looking, they're always hiring especially labourers.

Driver pays a travel allowance in camp, but yea no LOA

Most companies (big ones anyway) do 99% of their hiring online now. The filtering software they use to separate candidates generally looks for keywords. The more keywords you have the better. A lot of those key words are safety courses, 'degree', 'university', 'college', 'interprovincial', 'red seal', etc. Shit like that. Quite a bit of the smaller companies still do walk in applications or e-mail or fax. In all honesty most of those types of companies are the best for making a quick buck with.

Anyone company names people can suggest?

If you want everything done for you, here:

Alberta Gateway Employment Services Inc. :: Home

$2800 and anyone with any skill and work ethic can land a job. Whether it's any good or if you can hack it is up to you.

I know 2 people that had limited options down here, took the course and had jobs offers within 1 day of submitting resumes.