CITY LABORER

PLEASE BE ADVISED:

The City of Milwaukee will multiple application periods for the City Laborer position in 2019. See the chart below. Only applicants who meet the minimum requirements of the job will be invited to the written examination.  

The top scoring candidates from the written examination will be invited to take the performance examination. Performance examination times and location will be announced after the administration of each written examination date listed above. There will be no make-up opportunities for the examination process.  

City Laborers are subject to seasonal layoffs. 

If you hold either a Commercial Driver License or a Commercial Driver Learner permit (see minimum requirements below) and are excited about the chance to perform a variety of physically-challenging assignments outdoors in a team environment, this may be the opportunity for you!

Under supervision, City Laborers perform light to heavy manual work. City Laborers are employed by the Department of Public Works (DPW) in the following areas: Streets, Sewers, Electrical Services, Sanitation, Water, and Forestry; assignment to an area is based on the needs of the City.

• Perform manual labor to assist in the construction and maintenance of the City’s streets and bridges, sewers, and electrical infrastructure: dig trenches and break up and dislodge rocks, concrete, asphalt, and other hard material at work sites using small and large air hammers and hand tools such as picks, sledge hammers, and wrecking bars.
• Shovel gravel, asphalt, dirt, and other material into and out of trenches, holes, wheelbarrows, and trucks using shovels and rakes; dig around sewer mains and catch basins using shovels and picks.
• Remove sod to expose underground conduit and cable boxes; push and pull cable through underground conduit.
• Use power tampers, plate compactors, and vibratory rollers to level/compact soil or other material such as asphalt and gravel; use hand tampers to level sod.
• Use manhole hooks to lift and carry manhole covers weighing from 50 to 150 pounds; assist in placing precast manholes and catch basins.
• Climb into and out of sewer holes to perform sewer cleaning and repair.
• Perform manual tasks, including mixing mortar or cement, carrying buckets weighing up to 50 pounds, pulling and dragging hoses, and cleaning coagulation basins, filter beds, and tanks.
• Perform street repair and maintenance duties, including blowing debris out of cracks and potholes using air compressors, distributing patching material into cracks and potholes, flattening asphalt using power rollers, operating concrete cutting saws, pumps, and concrete mixers, and manipulating concrete chutes in order to pour concrete.
• Perform general bridge maintenance including cleaning drains on bridges and viaducts, and installing metal guard rails.
• Clean construction sites of materials, equipment, and debris.
• Place traffic control devices, such as cones, barricades, trench plates, and excavation protection for work crew and public safety.
• Load and unload trucks; sort, move, and stack materials.
• Perform custodial work at various work sites, including sweeping and cleaning.
• Drive City vehicles between work sites; operate forklift trucks and skid loaders.
• Assist Sanitation workers by collecting solid waste, recyclables, furniture, brush, and appliances, and loading them onto a garbage truck; operate the hydraulic controls of the garbage truck.
• Perform light maintenance at various work sites such as water treatment plants, such as replacing light bulbs and fixtures, and making minor repairs to equipment, infrastructure and facilities.
• Serve as a water utility investigator helper, mason helper, an electrician helper, a carpenter helper, or a painter helper as needed to meet the needs of the department.
• Perform general clean-up, maintenance and development of boulevards and green areas by operating power, push and riding mowers, string trimmers, and leaf blowers, as well as by operating various hand tools, planting trees, grass, shrubs, and flowers, removing brush, grass and weeds, laying sod and mulch, and removing sod to build new planting beds.
• Participate in the City’s snow and ice control operations by driving trucks and operating snow blowers to remove snow and ice from streets, removing snow using shovels, and spreading sand or salt on icy streets and sidewalks.
• Perform all work safely, in accordance with departmental policies, municipal and state laws, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.
• Abide by City and departmental work rules and safety instructions and attend departmental meetings and training programs, such as safety and policy briefings.
• Complete required paperwork such as work logs and timecards.
• Use basic mathematics to calculate amounts of materials needed for various tasks and mix proper proportions of materials.
• Interact with citizens in a polite manner.

1. Must be able to work outdoors in variable and extreme weather conditions (e.g., heat, cold, rain, wind, and snow).
2. Must be able to tolerate various environmental conditions indoors and out (e.g., noise, vibration, dirt, pollen, and sewer gases).
3. Must be able to work in confined space settings (training provided).
4. Must be able to hear directions given in a noisy, distracting environment.
5. Must be able to see clearly both near and far to read signage and perform job duties safely and accurately.
6. Must be able to properly lift and move objects weighing up to 50 lbs. alone or up to 100 lbs. with assistance.
7. Must be able to perform strenuous physical work continuously for long periods of time.
8. Must be able to perform physical activities in work environments that require walking and standing, climbing stairs, ladders and scaffolding, crawling, crouching, stooping, kneeling, reaching, balancing, pushing and pulling.
9. Must have manual dexterity and strength to properly and safely use various hand tools and power tools.
10. Must be available to work beyond assigned shifts to respond to various emergencies. Snow and ice operations and other emergencies may require City Laborers to work at any time during the day or night, 24/7.

Reasonable accommodations requested by qualified individuals with disabilities will be made in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.

1.  Eighteen years of age at time of application.

2.  One of the following is required by the date of application period close and throughout the hiring process: 

• A valid Commercial Driver License (CDL) (Class A or B) without the Air Brakes restriction, OR
• A Commercial Driver Learner permit (CLP) without the Air Brakes restriction. This consists of two knowledge tests: 1) Class B/C-General Knowledge – 50 questions, and 2) Air Brakes – 25 questions. 

Passing probation in the City Laborer position is contingent upon acquiring and maintaining a valid Commercial Driver License (CDL) (Class A or B) without the Air Brakes restriction.

3.  A good driving record at time of application, throughout the selection process, and throughout employment.

NOTES: 

• Information about how to obtain a Commercial Driver License (CDL) or Commercial Driver Learner permit (CLP) can be found by visiting the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles website: https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/com-drv-vehs/cdl-how-aply/cdlapply.aspx or by calling 608.264.7447.        
• You must provide your CDL or CLP number by the date of application period close to be considered for this position. The CDL or CLP number must be provided on the online application; sent via email to staffinginfo@milwaukee.gov; faxed to 414.286.0203; or submitted in person to the City of Milwaukee Department of Employee Relations, 200 E Wells St, Room 706, Milwaukee, WI 53202. Not providing your CDL or CLP number by the application deadline will result in the application being rejected.       
• By law, persons in these positions are required to pass pre-employment drug tests and are subject to random drug and alcohol testing during the course of employment. Candidates must sign a release authorizing the City to receive the results of any drug and alcohol tests conducted by previous employers during the past two years if those tests were required by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

• Ability to read and understand documents, such as work rules, policies, and operating manuals.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to accurately complete paperwork, for example work logs and time cards.
• Ability to read and interpret street maps.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations accurately.
• Ability to learn about the materials, methods, and tools used in the construction and repair of structures, including streets, bridges, and sewers.
• Ability to properly and safely operate motorized and pneumatic equipment, such as pumps, concrete mixers, power tampers, plate compactors, vibratory rollers, air compressors, small and large air hammers, concrete cutting saws, and leaf blowers.
• Ability to properly and safely use hand tools, such as shovels, sledge hammers, picks, hooks, wrecking bars, and hand tampers.  
• Skill in raking, luting, and shoveling gravel, asphalt, dirt, and other construction materials.
• Skill in safely maneuvering a wheelbarrow filled with dirt, concrete, or asphalt.
• Ability to drive a car and to learn to drive trucks and heavy equipment, such as forklift trucks, skid loaders, and snow plows.
• Ability to safely shovel snow and operate snow blowers.
• Ability to perform general maintenance of green areas and boulevards and safely operate power, push and riding mowers.
• Ability to make minor repairs of equipment and infrastructure under supervision.
• Ability to perform basic maintenance tasks like replacing light fixtures.
• Ability to use brooms, mops, commercial vacuum cleaners, and floor polishers.
• Ability to exercise care and good judgment regarding safety at all times, abiding by safety-related policies, laws, and Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.
• Ability to monitor the work site vicinity, including pedestrian and vehicle traffic, to ensure the safety of the work crew and the general public.
• Ability to work effectively as a team member and interact with the public courteously.
• Ability to work cooperatively, effectively, and fairly with coworkers and citizens whose background may differ from one’s own.

NOTE: City Laborers are eligible for health insurance through the City of Milwaukee at the “limited benefit employee” (LBE) rate. After the completion of 2080 actual hours worked (approximately 2 ½ seasons), City Laborers become eligible for health insurance at the lower cost “employee” rate and additional benefits such as dental, life insurance, and long-term disability insurance at the “employee” rate.

THE SELECTION PROCESS will be job related and will consist of one or more of the following: education and experience evaluation; written, oral or performance tests; or other assessment methods. The Department of Employee Relations reserves the right to call only the most qualified candidates to the oral examination. Oral examinations may include written exercises. Selection process component weights will be determined by further analysis of the job.

This is a continuous recruitment. Applications will be accepted and interviews held during 2019 as often as required to meet the needs of the City. Qualified applicants will be notified by email of the date, time and place of the examination. Unless otherwise required by law, the City of Milwaukee will not provide alternative test administration. The applicant is responsible for attending all phases of the job selection process at the time and place designated by the City of Milwaukee. Employment may be possible immediately following the examination if positions are vacant at that time. The names of successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list in a rank determined by the final grade without reference to the date of the examination. The names of candidates who pass all phases of the selection process may remain on an eligible list resulting from a continuous examination for up to six months.  

Candidates may take an examination for this position only once every six months.

APPLICATIONS and further information may be accessed by visiting, www.jobaps.com/MIL.

• Applications and license documentation should be submitted no later than the deadline listed above.
• If you would like assistance completing an application, please contact the Department of Employee Relations at (414) 286-3751 or staffinginfo@milwaukee.gov.
• The Department of Employee Relations is located in City Hall, 200 E Wells St, Room 706, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

EEO = 802

The City of Milwaukee values and encourages diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.