union work or no work

[dayexco]

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.

and i have never kissed any heiney...nor asked anybody to kiss mine.....i don't have to either. qball, i wish you well, i hope the best for you...but in reality, this isn't the same america our fathers had in the 50's and 60's....times have truly changed and will evolve considerably more between now and the 2012 election. our nation as a whole, is broke, there is no money left, we can't keep printing money, the chinese own our azzes...the strong will survive...and people who draw a w-2....should remember who signs the front side of their paycheck. they're entitled to a profit just as much as you deserve what you feel you're worth of in wages/benefits. but a lot of union babble i hear is how bad the employers abuse their employees...sorry, in this day and age, i'm just not buying it.

 

[qball]

day, you are right.
i will be union till the end.
mine or the unions.
thats the way i was raised.
not saying i am better or right, just me.
but, i have always taken very good care of a contractor that takes care of me.
hell, i bled lindahl red for the 5 years i worked there, and still deeply regret quitting.
we are a team. the contractor needs us, we need them.
i just hope to work in my trade this year.
so, lets all agree to disagree, because i am getting heartburn and i am tired of having to drink myself to sleep.

 

[sandnsnow]

day, you are right.
i will be union till the end.
mine or the unions.
thats the way i was raised.
not saying i am better or right, just me.
but, i have always taken very good care of a contractor that takes care of me.
hell, i bled lindahl red for the 5 years i worked there, and still deeply regret quitting.
we are a team. the contractor needs us, we need them.
i just hope to work in my trade this year.
so, lets all agree to disagree, because i am getting heartburn and i am tired of having to drink myself to sleep.

Qball, I wish I knew more union guys like you. I wish there were more union guys like you but around these neck of the woods you just dont see it.:usa

 

[Buckethead]

Mocking people who are unemployed due to lack of work and taunting them does not show good character.

 

[Boophoenix]

I'm kind of impressed as in noticing that both sides have mentioned honoring or respecting in there posts. It does seem both sides have something incomon as a whole here.


One thing I didn't really notice and not intending to fuel any fires by any means. Just some food for thought.

Would honoring ones comitment to his family make him any less honorable? How would you chose? By which ever came first the job or the family?

If I was in the original posters shoes and enjoyed what I did, but wasn't working because of the economy I'd have to weigh the options.

The original post said:
"if you have a family to feed and to keep the house and bills paid ect"
"Your unemployment has ran out"

I likely wouldn't take the other job just to keep the lifestyle the curent job had given me. I would to provide food for my family and a roof over there head.

I'm not sure about how the unemployment is stuctured, but around here if you've maxxed it out you've cut your lifestyle by 3/4 or more already. I drew it once here for about 2 weeks in the late 80's or early 90's and haven't since.

I haven't worked in a month now and been off and on like that for the better part of three years. When I do get to work it's normally only for a couple of days. This time last year it was more like 5 months off. At 2 months I took a labor job for a couple of months with some friends in a totally non related industy to cover the bills for 1/4 of what I make when things are going ok.


I think in the end it comes down to each persons individual circumstances and not knowing all of those I couldn't truely form an opinion either way about another persons choices.

 

[dayexco]

Mocking people who are unemployed due to lack of work and taunting them does not show good character.

who is doing that? what'd i miss?

 

[joispoi]

who is doing that? what'd i miss?

x2 :beatsme

 

[l8eopr8r]

Times are not always going to be good with IUOE. But when you signed you probably had that no matter what attitude. You need to have that same desire now. You want work and (you are not favorites list) find it, it will not find you. IUOE and your Local, offers training through out the year. Pipeline classes such as side boom, hoe and dozer, and specialty classes, John Henry, Vac Hoe, Bending etc... offer a three week course mostly all winter long that will pay you $300.00 per week plus, put you up at a nice hotel and cater lunch! Locals also offer PSM and Hazmat and a whole list of other cert classes.
Take advantage of these, when one part of the industry is flailing other parts are booming. Also, go to the training site. There is always room for improvement. It is hard to overlook a star, favorite or not, the union wants to send a contractor the best person they have available for the job. When your area is slow call the locals from other states and get on their out of work list. As operators, the better we get the more complacent we get. In this economy we have to hone the skill and offer the contractor a true professional in the seat, not just an able body. Just a ladies perspective.

 

[Eric]

A union is only as strong and healthy as it's members. If it's members go bankrupt and have to leave the area what good did that do to anybody? Take care of your family. It's hard to explain to your wife and kids that your more loyal to your union than to them, good luck with that one.

 

[Buckethead]

who is doing that? what'd i miss?

The original post in this thread seems to imply that we are starving beggars, scrounging to survive. That is not the case. I have been an operator over 20 years and through all the ups and downs have never had a problem providing for me and mine, I am proud of that so I resent being talked about like a poverty case. The other implication is that we don't want to work, also incorrect. There are other jobs besides operator, and industries besides construction so saying you would prefer not to work as a non union operator, does not mean you don't want to work. Again I think this was an attempt on his part to stir the pot and make trouble and apparently it is working.

 

[jimmyjack]

The original post in this thread seems to imply that we are starving beggars, scrounging to survive. That is not the case. I have been an operator over 20 years and through all the ups and downs have never had a problem providing for me and mine, I am proud of that so I resent being talked about like a poverty case. The other implication is that we don't want to work, also incorrect. There are other jobs besides operator, and industries besides construction so saying you would prefer not to work as a non union operator, does not mean you don't want to work. Again I think this was an attempt on his part to stir the pot and make trouble and apparently it is working.

um think your the only taking it that way.......:beatsme

for me (not union) i say do what u need to do to keep food on the table

 

[td25c]

Charity starts at home.

Take care of your home & family first.Then you can help other folks in time of need.Dosent really matter if you are union or not,It works the same for everyone.

 

[fiat41b]

The union wont let me have a withdraw card
I dont have any benefits as the union would not let me have any as im a contractor that was not incorporated
i have not renewed any contracts in the past year
the only thing i use to have to do was pay my dues for the card
I started a new company not signatory with anyone. the other company is legally owned by my father.
I now have been fined how much ? i dont know, the reason not clearing into a local for working at a coal mine
Job, coal mine I never knew operators claimed coal mines that would be UMWA teritory.
I cant find it in the unions operators book
what can they do to me? anybody know? what would i be out as i dont have any retirement thru them or benefits. they can have the card.

they are trying to fine me for working at a mine.

 

[dynahoescott]

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?

Any work is better than no work fiat, like I said before you can opt to work outside the construction industry altogether and not make anyone upset. That seems like the way to go to me because you are obligated to your family first by virtue of being a man, and being a professional operator leads me to believe you have considerable intelligence that you could put forth in any field you apply yourself to. I have driven a grocery truck, pallet truck, delivered pizzas pumped gas and would shovel crap against the tide if I had to feed my family. I dont think you have to go against your local, you do have to feed your family, but if you look hard enough you should be able to find something satisfactory to all. Good luck and GOD bless you and yours:usa

 

[Buckethead]

Sorry if I overreacted.

 

[ddigger]

Best of luck.

 

[liebherr1160]

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.

HERE HERE !!!

Ive traveled here and there in my carrer ..Always have gone union ..I know what Im getting ,before I even get the dispatch to go ..and once on the ground ....there's no change's to the pay scale or otherwise ..

Some non-union co's in the past..before i went union .. have a habit of promising you the moon ..on a simple piece of paper and everything is upside down and backwards once your on the ground ..

If I gotta go ..its Union MHO..the non-union sector can pound salt ..

 

[sandnsnow]

HERE HERE !!!

Ive traveled here and there in my carrer ..Always have gone union ..I know what Im getting ,before I even get the dispatch to go ..and once on the ground ....there's no change's to the pay scale or otherwise ..

Some non-union co's in the past..before i went union .. have a habit of promising you the moon ..on a simple piece of paper and everything is upside down and backwards once your on the ground ..

If I gotta go ..its Union MHO..the non-union sector can pound salt ..

Ouch guess ill leave that one alone. I hope this is the end of this.ointhead

 

[JD9520]

liebherr1160, I thinks thats a little harsh. No one on here was bashing the union or non-union. I myself am non-union and proud of it. I don't fully understand the union and what they have to offer, but what I do understand in the bottom line. I had a BA in my office, tell me how great the Union was and what they have to offer . What I didn't understand was what they had to offer. From what I gather, you, the working class pay Union dues for insurance, retirement and so on, but why would you want to take a deduction out of your 40 hr work week check to pay for a BA salary? I am sure there is over 600 on the books waiting to go back to work, do you think your BA has taken a pay cut? I would say no. So what are you getting out of the union? looks like to me the union is the ones pounding salt, why us non union contractors continue to work and hire union operators that are out of work.

 

[Buckethead]

I myself am non-union and proud of it. I don't fully understand the union and what they have to offer, but what I do understand in the bottom line. I had a BA in my office, tell me how great the Union was and what they have to offer . What I didn't understand was what they had to offer. From what I gather, you, the working class pay Union dues for insurance, retirement and so on, but why would you want to take a deduction out of your 40 hr work week check to pay for a BA salary? I am sure there is over 600 on the books waiting to go back to work, do you think your BA has taken a pay cut? I would say no. So what are you getting out of the union? looks like to me the union is the ones pounding salt, why us non union contractors continue to work and hire union operators that are out of work.

It seems like you have been trying to start a flame war since you joined this forum, so don't get your panties in a bunch about Liebherr1160's comment. It's none of your damn business where others choose to work anyway. No one here owes you any apology or explanation.