sparkboy

"Never blame the men. Everyone has to put food on the table somehow."

Thanks for stating that. Probably the first union guy I've heard say that. Most union guys I have run across call us scabs. Even though the union doesn't have enough jobs for everybody they don't care if you have to feed your family. You are a scab to them and you and your family can starve for all they care.

However, when the time comes to do unlicensed side work they say "hey, you gotta put food on the table somehow."

sparkboy

I want to say I don't mean that about all union guys, just the ones I run across in my area. And also, I was union but left after months and months of no work, got my license and am a non-union one man shop now.

randomkiller

Don't guess. Those were a lot of words to not answer any question.

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A Veteran - whether active duty, retired, guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."

"One Nation Under God"

Celtic

He was still Book I...but back in NC, not NJ.

Book I applies to your "home" local...once you pass it's borders and sign a book elsewhere ~ it's Book II.

__________________

randomkiller

I have been Union since 1986, never been laid off unless I wanted to be (to go hunting/vacation/etc). I have gone out on the road as a traveller a few times to change the pace a bit. There is always work somewhere. Yeah, we all have to eat and I don't know anyone that would hold that against you.

__________________
A Veteran - whether active duty, retired, guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."

"One Nation Under God"

Idaho Abe

No union shops in N Idaho

__________________
You keep doin' what you're doin, you will keep gettin' what you got.

nap

and how did that not answer your question. Truth be told there are myriad reasons as to why this happens. I gave you two expamples of why it does happen so what else do ya want????


the last guys they caught doing side work in my local got fined $5000 by the union. It is not acceptable...period.

sparkboy

IBEW does not accept it here either. However, it happens all the time. One guy I know is stupid enough to have business cards with his name on them.

oldman

no guessing...celtic is correct...when the guy signed in up here (in NJ) he was told 10-14 months (this was about 4 yrs ago)...

oldman

I know guys who will work 40 yrs in the union and only be off if there is mandatory furlough...but they are typically called "Mutts"...I call them smart...

brian john

In 37 years I have missed one day, 8 years open shop, 6 years union, 9 months PW, 23 years operating my own shop.

I was laid off from a union company, the book had a wait of 1 year or more, I asked what was I to do, I was told do what you have too. I had a job the next day prevailing wage (a friend worked there got me on) for 9 months as it ended a testing company contacted me about working for them. Many men sat on the bench for a year.

This was one of the worst periods in Washington DC employment history no work either side of the street.

brian john

Fact is you never discuss religion and politics and on this site maybe open shop VS union. The discussions are OK by me, but realize many/most have made up their minds and little you say or do will swing them to play with your team.

oldman

it's not so much about swinging them...it's more about making people think...nothing is right for everyone...but nothing is wrong for everyone either...

brian john

Point made, point taken.

HighWirey

I know three of those 'reverse polarity' guys, two former boss-partners, and myself.

And I have experienced dead heads in both fair and unfair quarters.

Drat Kids,
'Fair/unfair was one of my New Year Revolutions'.

Guess that was one that timed out early . . .

Best Wishes Everyone in 2008

__________________
Be Safe Out there

berkey

so there are no new union contractors here. i think if i ever went it would have to be when business is boomin

tpr

it all depends on what part of the country. n.c. and florida have signed a lot of contractors. the northeast i'm sure very few, the economy is down but new contractors are still signing up. agreements have changed quite a bit over the years .with market recovery,small works agreements,and "b" rate have made new and old signatory contractors more competitive.some locals have residential agreements and do most of the residential in there juristictions. you sound like your remotely interested in learning about it . just call the local in your area. you can be annonymous , just ask questions.

brian john

At this point with all the doom and gloomers in the news, Wall Street and government, I would think if my business was operating without any problems I would not make a move, unless I had a major project and needed lots of help quickly.

randomkiller

Your right about that. The company that took over the one I work for is pretty large. I can't believe all the stuff in the monthly newsletter. They have jobs worldwide and run an open jobs bulletin board that has some nice places to go with plenty of variety.

__________________
A Veteran - whether active duty, retired, guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."

"One Nation Under God"

liverstos

According to my former home local agreement, to sign book 1, an electrician has to have residence in the local jurisdiction, have worked 2000 hours in the local during the last four years, and have either served an apprenticeship, or meet the work hours requirements to obtain JW status. As I no longer lived in the area, and had not worked there for over four years, I was told by the office staff that I could no longer sign book one.