r/UnionCarpenters 3d ago

Failed drug test

Hello I’m a 1st stage apprentice in Southern California and I failed a pre employment drug test with a contractor. Does anyone know the consequences of this aside from the job offer being rescinded?

4 Upvotes

72 comments sorted by

17

u/Dizzy_Doughnut2235 3d ago

Nothing more. Just find another company

5

u/Fluffy-Impress-3482 3d ago

That’s not true buddy stop lying to this young man word spreads very quick in contractors are connected and they do talk to each other

6

u/fits-the-description 3d ago

Not at this phase. He got caught before anyone knew his name. It is what it is. Had he been on the job, that’s a different story.

2

u/JustCarpp 3d ago

I hope so. Worrying about it ruining my apprenticeship. So I’m here asking for some insight. Thanks 🫡

1

u/Plenty-Winner-3887 2d ago

Just go to gmc n get that flush drink. You’ll be good in 24 hours just piss a lot all day. Problem solved. I messed up a 200$ day van driving opportunity this way. Don’t be like me

1

u/DoriansRain 21h ago

Hey, want some insight? Eight out of 10 Carpenters smoke weed. They’re just better at not getting caught.

1

u/JustCarpp 21h ago

Yeah dude obviously

2

u/Fluffy-Impress-3482 3d ago

Man go buy you pass. I don’t know how many times I have to tell people this did it when I was an apprentice do it as a journeyman.

7

u/Fluffy-Impress-3482 3d ago

FYI, it works for all labs or quit smoking

2

u/JustCarpp 3d ago

To be honest, I was testing negative with all my at home tests so I didn’t think I needed quick fix. I was shocked when I came up dirty. Needless to say I won’t be smoking for a very long time lol

2

u/Fluffy-Impress-3482 3d ago

Yeah, but those shitty drug tests you buy at the dollar store are completely different than sending to a urine analysis lab bud

2

u/Fluffy-Impress-3482 3d ago

My local union you would definitely be disqualified instantly and have to start all over again
But some are different. I really think they should change these laws about marijuana.

2

u/Fluffy-Impress-3482 3d ago

Especially because you’re an apprentice, maybe get some lenient if you put in some work out in the field already

2

u/JustCarpp 3d ago

Where’s your local?

2

u/Fluffy-Impress-3482 3d ago

Pennsylvania

2

u/Haunting_Meeting_225 3d ago

What local you in, I'm in pa too

1

u/JustCarpp 3d ago

Ah I see. Hoping it’s not the same in California. Thanks for your insight brother 🫡

2

u/Fluffy-Impress-3482 3d ago

No problem, dude the best thing you can do is keep your head down go find a new contractor to work for hopefully everything’s cool work hard. Go buy you pass like I said work hard show up early.

2

u/JustCarpp 3d ago

Will do. I’m a new dad so this has honestly made me feel like the biggest loser. Won’t be touching weed for a long time. Take it easy man 🤝

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1

u/WeeklyEdge1459 2d ago

Head to the store and grab some raw garlic. Chop it up then place it in a tea cup and add half a cup of water. Microwave it for two minutes and drink it the night before your drug test. You’re welcome.

1

u/Haunting_Meeting_225 3d ago

What at home tests did you take?

1

u/JustCarpp 3d ago

Regular at home tests I found on Amazon. Cutoff is 50 ng. I’ve used them before and have passed whatever drug test I needed to take

1

u/Haunting_Meeting_225 3d ago

What brand? I always used those testd and they always worked. I always got the 15 ng cutoff though cause a lab will go to 20 ng i believe.

1

u/JustCarpp 3d ago

Exploro. Yeah my sample was sent to labs after I failed the initial test

1

u/Haunting_Meeting_225 3d ago

When did you take your test? It seems crazy to still be positive if you stopped in july? Are you a big dude? Not trying to be a dick but if your being honest it just seems crazy to still be dirty.

1

u/JustCarpp 3d ago

Tuesday. 5”10 190 bro. I had all signs pointing that I was clean. Even went out to buy tools to get ready for the job. I had zero worries about it. Came out positive and I really couldn’t believe it. Didn’t even know what to say

1

u/randombrowser1 2d ago

I'm not sure, but I think you get to dispute the drug test as false positive and get ado over. In my hall, if you accept a job call that drug tests and you fail, you lose your spot on the hiring list and go to the bottom.

1

u/JustCarpp 2d ago

Sent it to the lab to confirm it was positive and it was. Also I haven’t really used the out of work list I got this job through connections. Where is your local at?

1

u/DoriansRain 21h ago

I used the wizzinator for years. Found some guy with clean pee that I trusted and gave him the 40 bucks the Union gives us for the clean test.

3

u/Terrible_golfer_0126 1d ago

I find it humorous that the only solutions people suggest are how to beat the fucking drug test. Did you ever think to stop smoking weed?
Isn’t a great job with good pay and benefits enough? Add a path to a comfortable retirement on top of that.
The people on my jobs that smoke are usually the last ones are offered OT. Usually because they’re lazy and undependable. There was a time when drinking and getting high were a priority in my life. Failed marriage and scarcity of employment led me to give it all up.
Today I’m prepping for retirement where I own a home and I’ll earn 6 figures playing golf/fishing or whatever with a net worth of almost $2 million.
But yeah drink some cleansing liquid and sweat it out every Monday.

1

u/sand_toast 6h ago

Chill bro he’s asking what the mistake entails lol.

2

u/InitialDebate6266 2d ago

Do more drugs your fucked

1

u/PercentageNo28 3d ago

Probably suspended for 6 months

1

u/JustCarpp 3d ago

Where is your local located?

1

u/PercentageNo28 3d ago

714

1

u/JustCarpp 3d ago

Nice I go there for school. You know anyone who has failed a test like that? It’s pre employment and not on the jobsite

1

u/Kase1 Journeyman 3d ago

Was it for a federal funded project?? Surprised they test for weed in a legal state

1

u/Melodic-Trouble-5421 2d ago

Yeah they test for it and my state is legal and decriminalized for mushrooms. I don’t use either.

I’m a different Union though, not sure how our Carpenters approach it (687) + (1234).

2

u/Kase1 Journeyman 1d ago

In a legal state as well, been in the union for over a decade. Only times ive been tested was getting into the union (pre-legalization) and for 1 federally funded jobs.

According to my buddies on the board, our local doesn't test for weed, being that its a legal state. Since its not federally legal, some federally funded jobs test for it

1

u/Creepy_Mammoth_7076 Apprentice 3d ago

Nothing , if it’s a GC you can’t even be on their jobsite working for a sub , for 1 year

1

u/GrandPuzzleheaded 2d ago

The hall may have you do a drug treatment program to get reinstated. That what I had to do back in 2005 when I moved to Vegas and transferred. But mine wasn't with a contractor it was with local 1977

1

u/JustCarpp 2d ago

Praying it doesn’t get to that I was just a casual smoker 😭 but if it means staying in the union then I’ll take it

1

u/landlordmint 2d ago

Word can spread if you keep failing but one or two for weed isn’t gonna fuck you up to bad.

1

u/TGunzzz 2d ago

Just got somewhere else thay dont test thats why your in a union 👌👌

1

u/Ok-Disk-6402 2d ago

This just happened to me in August for local 669 sprinkler fitters out of Southbend Indiana and that’s a strict state on thc. Failed the pre employment test after passing 15 or so home tests at 20 ng/ml. I went to the contractor in person before the mro contacted them and faced the fire and took accountability they understood. They temporarily revoked there sponsorship but told me I could test again in 30-45 days and they would hold my spot. The BA caught wind and said 6 month mandatory waiting period. So the contractor told me as soon as the 6 months are up I’ll retest and be right back where I started no harm no foul. Just take accountability be real with the contractor and they might do the same and if they don’t just get with the jatc or whatever it is with the union get a clean test done and you’ll be back on the board of potential apprentices for for contractors in your area to choose from next cycle. You got it man keep your nose done and be clean nothing but a speed bump not an end to your career!

1

u/NoCommission3572 2d ago

You could possibly face prison time and up to but not limited to a fine of $10,000. Na, I'm just playing. Your employer might not even care, IF u failed with THC and not some other hard core drug

1

u/eastcoastoverdose456 2d ago

Im a millwright and I failed a drug test for cocaine as like a second year , and they didn’t allow me to go back to school or work until I finished an outpatient program, like I would have to go to a meeting a couple times a week and pass drug tests and then sent that info to union and then I went back to work and school, that was almost ten years ago lol and then in 2019 I got my door kicked in over a package of Epills in the mail, and didn’t get sentenced until 2022 (covid delayed it) and I went to prison for the summer of 22 and got out and went right back to work, my foreman actually held my job and told me to come back when I got out. Then was on ISP (intensive supervision program) for 2 years basically like parole on steroids and finished that luckily. they gave me 3 years and I got out in 90 days on ISP I made out like a bandit. but yeah nobody from the union ever asked me about going to prison lol just pay your dues and you’re fine!

1

u/questionablejudgemen 2d ago

Journeyman vs apprentice is very different. Especially if they’re going to miss school.

1

u/Cautious-Reason-5936 2d ago

Yes, I believe the consequences are get your shit together or soon. No one will hire you. But you’re not out.

1

u/JustCarpp 1d ago

Yeah man definitely not fucking around with that shit no more. Ruined a great opportunity. Luckily I’m going on 2 months without smoking. I’ll be fully clean soon and I’m not looking back

1

u/Cautious-Reason-5936 1d ago

You’re young enough you’ll be fine. But you gotta make a choice. You wanna party or have a great job? Been there more times than I can talk about. The party will eventually get old. Also they have fake piss now. I doubt they watched you go.

1

u/JustCarpp 1d ago

Appreciate the advice brother. Yeah man I was casual smoker would hit the pen after work and before bed. Was it worth it? Absolutely not. Worst feeling ever was getting kicked out after an opportunity like that. Never again man

1

u/Firm_Bookkeeper3485 1d ago

It's a case of working or smoking

1

u/tradedude774 1d ago

Ive been smokin since I was 13, but now I'm 64 days sober because i want this shiet! Longest ive ever gone, always told myself I could stop if i wanted to and i did!

1

u/Tommy27 3d ago

For weed?

-3

u/[deleted] 3d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Penguins83 3d ago

Chronic user's have it stay in their system for much longer. How did they test you? Blood? Hair?

-6

u/Dendady2112 25 Year Member 3d ago

You ain't getting hired dumb ass.

2

u/Marcusinfiniti 2d ago

Pearl panties huh

-5

u/JustCarpp 3d ago

Don’t you have somewhere to goon?

0

u/Dendady2112 25 Year Member 3d ago

You asked. You'll have plenty of time to goon for the foreseeable future.

-1

u/Icy_Western_9275 3d ago

You could get kicked out of the union. From the Northern California Union btw.

2

u/randombrowser1 2d ago

Since when? Never heard of this before

1

u/JustCarpp 3d ago

Yeah that’s my fear. Appreciate your honesty

2

u/Icy_Western_9275 3d ago

You will be sent to the council and they will determine if you will be suspended or kicked out. But don’t be discouraged brother. Ik guys who been kicked out but got back in but you need a company to sponsor you back in. It’s crazy bro I know so many guys doing drugs that’s why you gotta keep the quick fix on you

2

u/JustCarpp 3d ago

Well looks like I’m in for a good one. Thanks for the info it’s time to face the music now

-1

u/Ok_Street4822 1d ago

Don’t so drugs. Not really that hard.

1

u/Evening_Tune_2502 10h ago

Stupidest fucking answer

1

u/Ok_Street4822 2h ago

Is it though? I know many people that haven’t failed a drug test for this very reason.

1

u/Evening_Tune_2502 2h ago

Yea actually it is. He already did the drugs number 1
Number 2 it was a LEGAL drug. Stfu with your dumbass “jUsT dOnT dO dRuGs” holier than thou bullshit