union work or no work

[fiat41b]

You choose union or non union

What would you do? if you have a family to feed and to keep the house and bills paid ect.

you are a member of the operating engineers they have not got you any work times are tough you are not in the click so to say everyone has there favorites and they make sure that jumping joes excavating gets the first chance that comes along

Your unemployment has ran out and a non union coal mining project that is long term (years) has come up your buddy got you a job with good pay $20.00 hr if you want it what would you do?

 

[reaper020]

You choose union or non union

What would you do? if you have a family to feed and to keep the house and bills paid ect.

you are a member of the operating engineers they have not got you any work times are tough you are not in the click so to say everyone has there favorites and they make sure that jumping joes excavating gets the first chance that comes along

Your unemployment has ran out and a non union coal mining project that is long term (years) has come up your buddy got you a job with good pay $20.00 hr if you want it what would you do?

got to feed the belly somehow. I say take it till times change

 

[qball]

well, i have been on the list since sept 29th.
i am hungry.
but, i signed a contract.
my name is my bond.
i have brothers in the local that are hurting, and hungry. they are doing what they have to do.
i won't.
the union was here for me for 17 years. if all my brothers forget the contract now, we have no bargaining power.
i will survive.
it will get better.
i hope.

 

[Boophoenix]

I've never been a member so can't coment from that side.

From the non side though if I needed a job and one was offered one that was reasonable I'd take it.

" First off I'd say do what feels right for you and your family."

That being said the hesitation in your message gives the impression you are worried about what others may think. Does it matter at all what they think? Are they taking care of your family? Or are they planning on taking care of you and your family? If they are true friends they will respect what you have to do to survive. If they can't they don't sound like much of a friend.

If anyone faulted you for what you must ask them to talk to you about it when they were standing in your shoes needing to feed there family and pay there bills. If any one had a problem with me doing what I needed to for my family to survive they must have a deeper pocket than me and could go toss some rocks in their glass house for a while.

It's always easier for someone to condemn someone else from the outside looking in.

qball makes a valubale statement as well ( Posting at the same time ). I would respect either choice if they were made out of honor or necesaty to survive.

 

[Buckethead]

You choose union or non union

Yes, it's my choice. And I don't owe you any explanation for it. And no one owes me an explanation for their choice, whatever they choose. I try to avoid these discussions because they tend to become flame wars, but you are making it seem like we are all starving, or we don't want to work or something, and I don't appreciate it because that's not the case, at least not anyplace I know of. I wonder what this is all about, if you are trying to stir the pot :stirthepot, or if you are gathering information for some purpose. (probably involving lawyers) I'm not a big fan of lawyers.

 

[Boophoenix]

you are a member of the operating engineers they have not got you any work times are tough you are not in the click so to say everyone has there favorites and they make sure that jumping joes excavating gets the first chance that comes along

With this statement if it is factual and correct it apears they aren't honoring there end of things. I'm not quite sure how the system works, but if it taking care of the click and letting you starve I would hand them the rocks for there glass houses.

I think that's a lot of what's wrong with the world today "" the heck with you what about me, me, me ""!!!! It's ok for you to starve as long as they get to buy their new car or what ever.

 

[JD9520]

From what I gather there is a lot of Union members on the no work list? Is that b/c the economy or is the union losing work to the non-union contractors? Its seems like the non- union guys are doing more work than the union contractors. Thats the way it looks here in MO.

 

[Blue Collar]

It all depends on what geographical area your in, if you live in a weak union state or area and work union ya your gonna get your butt beat by the non-union contractors(bacis math). The dumbest thing ive ever heard though is to let your family go hungry because your ego. I am a member and i support the union, but nobody owns me.

 

[ddigger]

I`ll not enter the union discussion even though I am a proud 25yr member. It comes down to taking care of your family.

 

[dynahoescott]

I`ll not enter the union discussion even though I am a proud 25yr member. It comes down to taking care of your family.

Hey brother, why dont you drive a trailer or tandem or something not covered by the IUOE, so you wont ruffle any feathers and still feed your family.

 

[Buckethead]

Where do people get this idea that everyone in a union everywhere is literally starving?
Around here the biggest source of work for non-union operators is residential housing construction. And we all know how that market is going. A lot of residential contractors have laid off people. (I know they had to because of the economy, not badmouthing anyone here)

 

[Turbo21835]

Hey brother, why dont you drive a trailer or tandem or something not covered by the IUOE, so you wont ruffle any feathers and still feed your family.

Nothing like taking another unions work to ruffle some feathers. Not sure how the teamsters are in your area though. Also, we have several IUOE contractors in the area that have IUOE members running trucks for scale. It all comes down to how a signatory contractor awards the equipment and trucks in their fleet.

 

[JD9520]

I am sure that after hearing all the horror about how long union members have been out of work or their position on the list, would give them that opinion.

 

[Buckethead]

Nothing like taking another unions work to ruffle some feathers. Not sure how the teamsters are in your area though.

There is a lot of nonunion trucking, too, always has been. When I drove a truck, no one even asked me to see a book. And if a company that was signed with teamsters really wanted to hire him, they could probably get him a book with them.

 

[joispoi]

Do what you have to do to feed the kids and keep a roof over your heads...if that's what it comes down to. Will honoring your union contract prevent you from honoring payments on your mortage contract, insurance contracts etc? Which hit are you willing to take?

 

[dynahoescott]

Nothing like taking another unions work to ruffle some feathers. Not sure how the teamsters are in your area though. Also, we have several IUOE contractors in the area that have IUOE members running trucks for scale. It all comes down to how a signatory contractor awards the equipment and trucks in their fleet.

I never said take another locals paycheck away, but lets be honest about it. Do you believe every truck is driven by a union member? The trucks on residential sites around here are half driven by illegal aliens anyway,. So why not let this guy feed his family? He doesnt even have to work in the construction industry, go drop a roll off somewhere or deliver groceries, you get the idea. Times are tough and the name of the game isnt to save but to survive. I hope times get better but under this regime I have very serious doubts

 

[Speedpup]

You choose union or non union

What would you do? if you have a family to feed and to keep the house and bills paid ect.

you are a member of the operating engineers they have not got you any work times are tough you are not in the click so to say everyone has there favorites and they make sure that jumping joes excavating gets the first chance that comes along

Your unemployment has ran out and a non union coal mining project that is long term (years) has come up your buddy got you a job with good pay $20.00 hr if you want it what would you do?

First you made an agreement when you got a book. So when times get tough you bail on it? What else have you done to get a job outside of your agreement you signed? If you think you are getting shafted by your union speak up and man up! Kids to me or should I say young brave men are in a war to protect us. Sad if people cannot protect themselves against a union BA here in the USA. As a member and a union contractor now I never took crap from anyone.

It all comes down to your word and your balls! The union was made by people caving in, it was made by sacrifices. Things are bad we all sacrifice together equally. Equally is the main word.

 

[dayexco]

i've been watching this thread with some interest. i think all agreements between two parties should be honored....THAT said...i'm a business owner first and foremost, and my first desire is to insure that I make it. when it comes to a point that the people who work for me and i can't agree anymore on wages/benefits....we have to split the sheets, they need to find another job that pays them what they're feel they're entitled to, and i can hire people that can help me build my business and be able to afford.....and i shouldn't get beat up on that. my business is small enough, and i'm old enough...that i can't hire an "operator".....i need the person i throw on the seat of whatever machine he claims he's capable of running, to do it with some degree of proficiency.....and yet not be afraid to jump off that machine and help a laborer do whatever needs to be done. more power to those who get the huge wages/benefits..you negotiated it, and in reality...in your world...it's yours...i just can't afford you, and alas...i think this nation in the next 10 years won't be able to either.

 

[sandnsnow]

i've been watching this thread with some interest. i think all agreements between two parties should be honored....THAT said...i'm a business owner first and foremost, and my first desire is to insure that I make it. when it comes to a point that the people who work for me and i can't agree anymore on wages/benefits....we have to split the sheets, they need to find another job that pays them what they're feel they're entitled to, and i can hire people that can help me build my business and be able to afford.....and i shouldn't get beat up on that. my business is small enough, and i'm old enough...that i can't hire an "operator".....i need the person i throw on the seat of whatever machine he claims he's capable of running, to do it with some degree of proficiency.....and yet not be afraid to jump off that machine and help a laborer do whatever needs to be done. more power to those who get the huge wages/benefits..you negotiated it, and in reality...in your world...it's yours...i just can't afford you, and alas...i think this nation in the next 10 years won't be able to either.

Vary well said. I feel the same way and I too am a business owner. I had 1 seasonal loader operator position(snow plowing). Over 50 applications in 24 hours. This year there will be no BS from any of my guys thats for sure.

On another note a man has to eat and and support his family, contracts dont taste good and are not that filling.:Banghead

 

[qball]

i can only speak for me, and for me, the union has been excellent. i have never bowed or kissed heiney, don't have too. things are terrible here, we are 48% unemployed, and our trade is booming compared to the others. so, i work at our food bank. every thursday we fill a semi with food boxes for brothers who would starve without. i am fiercely proud of that. and my brothers that are staying true. and our leaders, though not perfect, they are trying.