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Ongoing union discussion - Was "What's you local"

56K views 77 replies 45 participants last post by  Bad Electrician 
#1 ·
IBEW L.U. 106 (western NY state), First year apprentice, Inside Wireman.

(Apparently I don't get inducted into the union until the end of my first 12 months).
What? that's kinda weird
 
#4 · (Edited)
You can take a job for anybody you want, but there are penalties.

I have worked with several DIE HARD union members, FIGHT FOR THE BROTHERHOOD, these guys moved into management at a large contractors and what a bunch of hard asses they became. Treating the men poorly. I never understand how seemingly good people can flip so drastically.
 
#5 ·
You can take a job for anybody you want, but there are penalties.

I have worked with several DIE HARD union members, FIGHT FOR THE BROTHERHOOD, these guys moved into management at a large contractors and what a bunch of hard asses the became. Treating the men poorly. I never understand how seemingly good people can flip so drastically.

Well long story short----I got F&*Ked by the BA and the foreman running the last job I was on---My wife was severely injured, having to take her to specialists during the week, meant taken days off---going from running jobs, to showing up and never missing anytime, I sat the Foreman down and told him my situation---He told me, to bring him a doctors note everytime, I go to Doc--I said sure, no problem, after a couple days--BA, came on job and said I am costing the hall, H&W Money, and I should take a lay-off, and here is the kicker---He stated he did not want to hear my "Sad Story" about my wife..... So, funny how after I told him to go F&^K himself, I was "laid-off"..... So, being the man that I am--I took a job at a NON UNION shop, as a Estimator... Currently, I am taken a $8 Million school project from local 743.... :eek: Wonder why people get pissed? So, now I am taken 18,000 man hours from the H&W fund!!!!:thumbsup:
 
#8 ·
They were probably no good to begin with.... :eek:
I know. but I just can not understand how any body F's with another man. I mean there are times when I like to kick the crap out of a guy. But to mess with guys on regular basis just because you a small minded D-head. I do not get it.
 
#10 · (Edited)
I have worked for some excellent people and some S-bags, I always try to treat people like I always wanted to be treated.

Treat them fairly.
Give them a fair chance.
Pay them well with decent bennies.
Never yell at them.
Never give them something to do I would not do myself.
Safe vehicles and working conditions.
Good tools, what ever they feel they need.

BUT I WANT good quality work, 8-4-8, no lying, no bull ****. If you are late TELL ME, not Oh I am just around the corner when in actuality you are 40 minutes away.
 
#15 ·
I have a friend who works in Local 11 as an apprentice and he says that they are not taking many apprentices right now but many aprprentices in the local are working.

I know there is alot of construction going on in LA right now. So it could be a decent local to be a member of right now.

From what I heard it is not easy to get into.
 
#18 ·
You complained about out of towners in your jurisdiction, yet you say the best was when your local traveled??????

and you are a 3rd year apprentice yet you complain about new comers????
Is it just me or do people form a habit of only reading HALF of a post ?
To answer your question , I do believe you're talking about the thread of me saying NON-LICENSED out of state workers coming in and trying to work....am I correct ? I DO NOT complain about travelers coming into our state as long as they are MONTANA STATE LICENSED . Which is a requirement to do electrical work in the STATE OF MONTANA . If you would have read the post I did on this thread...you would have also read that I stated that's what I was told by most of the good journeymen who have been in my local for 15+ years . Please read before you try to bash my integrity . I don't type just to see myself type..... I say things that are true to the best of my knowledge . As far as being a 3rd year...... do you think I just spout things off ? I listen , observe , and get pis#ed when I have to teach a so called (organized) JW how to wire up a switch or bend conduit . I'm all for helping out....but it only goes so far .
 
#22 ·
then your goal should ultimately be to get the non-union contractors customers to open their pocketbooks and to also give the non-union contractors incentive to go union...

however, the ideas put forth by some visitors today, are a big part of the reason that some contractors hesitate/refuse to go union...

people will tend to do things that benefit them...you went union for higher wages, better benefits, etc...things that benefit you...

if you want contractors to become signatory and hire you, show them how it benefits them...

to many guys/gals in the trade (Kons, rats, shoppies, hallies) are, and always will be, myopic...

change hearts and minds, and actions will follow...
 
#34 · (Edited)
IBEW Local #136, Birmingham, Alabama.

There are bad people everywhere. I treat people with respect and treat them like an adult. If they screw me, then I drop the hammer. However, I have to live with myself and treating someone like a disposable razor is not good for anyone, it says more about you, than the person getting the shaft. I have run large electrical jobs and brought them in, on time and under budget, without treating the men like crap. The key is to start with good men, who know a good deal when they have one, and they will give you 8-4-8 and keep it straight. When I have paid a guy an hour or two here and there for a doctor's appointment or let him go an hour early to pick up his kid from school, he was the hardest working guy on the job, the next week.....
 
#35 ·
guess this thread is pretty much dead...

l.u. 46 seattle, 3rd year apprentice but only 3k hrs. so far due to 3 month injury loss (not L&I, thank you) then layoff.

around 700 on the books in the hall and 150 in the jatc...bleak picture; I'll be starting my 3rd year classes in December and not sure when I'll ever get my next pay raise at 3500 hrs. only worked 4 months so far in 2009...

the books have been taking 4-5 months to move thru but my last call was only 4 months (foreman/journeyman had no clue why they would lay me off; was making 55% JW rate and was running my own project every day with almost no supervision).

If this is what union work is then I'm probably just going to get my admin's license and go out on my own when out of work; not being allowed to work or find employment and collecting less than subsistence from the govt. is not my idear of living.;)
 
#36 ·
heywood:

What do you mean you are not allowed to find work?

Laid off I'd find something.


I cannot speak for your area but in the other Washington layoff are rare, even in slow times there is government work.

Was on the news yesterday the largest government building project since the Pentagon broke ground on Friday. Homeland Security at the old nut hut St. Elizabeth.
 
#37 ·
heywood:
I cannot speak for your area but in the other Washington layoff are rare, even in slow times there is government work.

Was on the news yesterday the largest government building project since the Pentagon broke ground on Friday. Homeland Security at the old nut hut St. Elizabeth.
strangely enough, even with around a dozen cranes in the sky around here there still isn't any work; and as far as government projects in the Seattle area most of that is in Bremerton/Bangor and it never seems to happen that those projects get off the ground...guys have been holding their breath for 1.5 years for those projects to man up.
 
#40 ·
I would think not working would be depressing. In our last recession, I found a Davis Bacon job, I knew friends that worked two jobs others took jobs in facility management. Two things sitting around is not good mentally and time goes faster if you are working.
 
#47 ·
L.U. 551 Santa Rosa, California. 4th year apentice, 12 year electrician. I worked in Seattle non-union for 8 years and joined the union when I moved to California.

Only way this would float is if they PAID you above the scale for apprentices.

You were in the trade 8 years and became an apprentice. I surely would not be BRAGGING on this local and their ignorant use of your time.

That is an INSULT to any decent working man.
 
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