Frasbee

Seems like I struck gold (for the moment). The new company I switched over to has me on a prevailing wage job where I make 15.63 an hour (my base pay is still 12), with overtime available.

I've been busting my ass, which wasn't hard last week with all the heat/no rain we had, but these guys aren't riding my ass like some naysayers said they would.

However, despite being told that that job was all about safety, I spent all of today at the 2nd to top rung of a 12 foot ladder reaching up to drill holes for drop in anchors to mount a pipe rack...4 of which were over a 3 inch pool of water. I won't get into the details, but it was anything but safe. Better that I'm wearing a constricting harness with nothing to tie off to.

At least I'm getting better with dealing with heights.

This job should last about a year and a half and with ABC school starting in September, I'm going to do my best to soak it up.

MDShunk

That's great. That sounds like a jobsite where you'll be able to learn a lot of new stuff.

Maybe next time you overhear that someone's going to the shop for something, you can have them bring you a taller ladder.

__________________
-Marc, ABC, XYZ, PhD, 1-2-3

-Someday, I'll wear pajamas in the day time.

steelersman

IMO they should provide a lift to drill all those holes. Would make it much quicker and easier. Win-win situation. Oh well. Sounds like a rat company.

Frasbee

Tell me about it.

I made the suggestion today, though I'm sure they've already heard it from the other guys. He said "they're supposed to bring us one".

Not that it matters since we'll be done with this rack by the time they ever get to having one out there.

Seriously, they could have had 1 man do this rack and have it done today, but there's 2 of us. The journeyman marked the holes, I started drilling, he doubled back to install the trapeze. And we're only half way done.

Oh well, at least it pays by the hour.

steelersman

Sorry if I came off sounding negative. Things like that are just irritating to me though. But at least you are working and making the best out of it. Good luck.

MDShunk

A year and a half job and there's no lifts on the job? Wow. I just assumed you were in some nook where you couldn't get a lift, like maybe a basement. Jobs of that scale typically have a freaking parking lot full of all manner of lift equipment to pick from for your day's work.

__________________
-Marc, ABC, XYZ, PhD, 1-2-3

-Someday, I'll wear pajamas in the day time.

Frasbee

It's the biggest new construction job I've ever been on. I was literally in awe when I walked onto the site the first morning thinking "what have I gotten myself into??".

But yeah, I think we're the only company there without a lift. Those things are driving all over the place they practically need to install traffic lights for them. I would guess they're a little overwhelmed, they just started roughing in a tiny corner, and just Monday night they poured half the slab on the 2nd floor of the school. It's been a hiring blitz, I started with 3 other guys my first day and there's supposed to be more guys on the way.

I talked to one of the guys that got let go from my old company, he was called by my new company a day after the old company hired him back. He's thinking about making the switch, and I know he'd be valuable since he spent many years as an industrial electrician and can run the 2''-4'' like it was nothing. It's hard to turn down prevailing wage.

NolaTigaBait

Welcome to the world of New Orleans contractors.

NolaTigaBait

What school is it?...Not Holy Cross?

rlc3854

You really didn't have too use that term We are all electricians here sharing knowledge and experiences. Some State's are right to work states and the companies pay and benefits are very close either union or open shop. Safety is a personal responsibility as well as a company.

steelersman

Well I call them how I see them. They should have at least one lift. Is that too much to ask? And FYI a union contractor can be a "rat" company as well. Sometimes the company I work for does "ratty" things. I sometimes refer to our company as a rat-union hybrid company.

Frasbee

ABC school in St. Rose I believe, I think that's also near (or is) the ITT Tech school down there.

walkerj

Thank you, sir.

That means a lot to me coming from you

__________________
Jason

LawnGuyLandSparky

Frasbee, keep saviing your paystubs until this project is over. It's possible your employer is supposed to pay you prevailing JOURNEYMAN'S WAGE not apprentice wage. You are NOT YET an indentured apprentice, what with school starting in September, that's 3 months away.

drsparky

Second that.

__________________
"Pay attention son, this is for your own good." - Foghorn Leghorn

LawnGuyLandSparky

And not that I want to throw a wrench in the works here, but in all liklihood he's getting laid off BEFORE the tuition is due... and a whole 'nother round of "apprentices" will be hired in September, with "school starts in January..."

nolabama

unless he went to local 130 and got onboard he's not doing holy cross - i believe that's sharps job - i don't know how H T E did not get that job

hey frasbee what school is it that your building?

Frasbee

Man, I can't think of the name, S&P is the GC, and it's right off the bridge on the Westbank in Algiers, on LB Landry Ave. Got 2 big ol' cranes you can see from the bridge.

And to Lawn, I've mentioned before I'm always wary of what employers say anymore, however, I've talked to some of the the guys and they didn't have much bad to say. He was trained Union, had a Union shop, then switched to non-union, which is pretty typical down here it seems.

And to be honest? If they really didn't want to pay for ABC school, at 650.00 or so a semester, I could pay for it myself, even if I wasn't making prevailing wage (though it would be a little harder). But I'll keep the pay stubs nonetheless, I have the majority of my old employer's stashed away as proof of employment should I ever go the Union route.

Frasbee

I didn't want to create a new thread, so I bumped this one as an update.

So it's been...almost 3 months now?

Things have been going alright. Pay is great, and most of the guys are alright.

I had a rocky moment early on when I was late two days in a row, both cases I was trying to get McDonald's iced coffee. Besides that I think I've managed to increase my productivity since these guys keep closer tabs on that kind of thing.

I feel like I've made progress, because today I was told that I was requested by name to go to another job site along with "any other journeyman". So I guess I'm doing something right. I've already seen this company fire people like nothin'. Personally I'd like to continue making prevailing wage, so I'm gonna do my best to stay.

InPhase277

Either skip the iced coffee or get up earlier! Get your ass to work, son!