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Where are the labororers?

Cropduster

Active Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2008
Messages
26
Location
State of Confusion
OK. I am in New England. Weather is good right now. We have work, we pay fair wages, benefits. Supposedly economy sucks, and no one has a job, right? We can't get laborers. Up until last year, we would get college kids home for vacation in the summer, and always had people asking for full time. Now they just want intern jobs at insurance companies. We aren't asking them to drive a truck, run a machine, just stop traffic or run the old PH shovel. The people we have on board have all been there for years, but we can't get any laborers. What up with that?
 

oisinirish

Active Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2008
Messages
28
Location
Maryland
We have the same problem. Move from state to state at least once per year and the headache of finding decent labor almost makes it worthwhile to pay travel and keep the same labor.
I don't know what's wrong with some people these days but I started at the bottom and much better for it. Too much instant gratifcation as seen on TV I guess.
 

JPCobra105

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2008
Messages
67
Location
long island
Occupation
owner/operator jpexpress demolition and excavation
i have the same problem here on long island. get a guy to show up for a week gets the first pay check and never here from them again... its all college kids who only need a few bucks and dont wanna work. most of them will flip burgers in the a/c for the 7$. its getting to be a pain. i dont know about where you guys are, but the mexican labor here is 120$ a day cash (8 hours) plus lunch and transportation. what can you do.
 

digger242j

Administrator
Joined
Oct 31, 2003
Messages
6,628
Location
Southwestern PA
Occupation
Self employed excavator
We do try to stay away from ethnic sterotypes and commentary here at HEF.

I do think it's fair to say that immigrants in general may bring a strong work ethic with them to anyplace they relocate. It's why they've bothered to chase opportunity outside of their native lands.

That's what made America great in the first place, isn't it?
 

OneWelder

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2007
Messages
483
Location
Derry, New Hampshire
Cropduster where are you located ? In southern Part ?
One thing about New England - drive 5 min. and the weather is different. Yesterday is the first day this month that did not rain hard at least part of the day. By the fifth of the month we had already recieved monthly average, and right now are tied with the fourth all time yearly record. Should be easy to break with four more months to go.
Work ethics ( and peoples Att.) have changed a lot since I entered work force. Back then if you were not in hospital employers gave you major att.- Now a dentist app. for the kid is considered a good reason for a day off. So not surprising they take easy over money
 

digger242j

Administrator
Joined
Oct 31, 2003
Messages
6,628
Location
Southwestern PA
Occupation
Self employed excavator
Makes me wonder what made Australia Great Mate!.......All my ancestors came her on a free ticket...you know, the Governor's pleasure:rolleyes:

Well, it just makes a very harsh criticism of the English legal system back then, that they could misjudge so many fine and hardworking individuals and punish them so unjustly. :mad:

(Either that, or it's a real feather in the cap of His Majesty's penal system, that they could turn such a bunch of rif-raff into solid citizens...)

:cool2
 

curly

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2008
Messages
220
Location
Sioux Falls,SD
Occupation
loader operator
We do try to stay away from ethnic sterotypes and commentary here at HEF.

I do think it's fair to say that immigrants in general may bring a strong work ethic with them to anyplace they relocate. It's why they've bothered to chase opportunity outside of their native lands.

That's what made America great in the first place, isn't it?

Well how can I raise mischief then?:cool2
 

tonka

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2008
Messages
1,555
Location
Longview WA
Occupation
Equipment Operator
Just hit up a Home Depot and pick up your day labor.......
 

bear

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2008
Messages
541
Location
South Central Kentucky
Occupation
Math, Physics, keeping out of trouble and doing od

oisinirish

Active Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2008
Messages
28
Location
Maryland
I hate to say it but people have become complacent and believe they DESERVE all the benefits of the american dream.
I believe they saying is..."the pursuit of happiness". To me that means it must be earned. But lately it seems that if you can fill out the application and show to work on the first day it should be given out like candy on halloween.
If you're lazy fired. I have taken a harder line in recent times and have much less patience for this "I'm owed the easy money" attitude. I'll glady run the revolving door even if it means I have to spend more time training and "hovering" to get and keep good people.
 

mikef87

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2007
Messages
433
Location
waltham
Occupation
owner/operator/mechanic/laborer/truck driver
Understood, but I would rather work on a job site for 20 an hour than flip burgers for 7.

I've asked my sons friends if they wanted a job for the summer paying them good money, teach them a thing or two, but when you tell them "yeah, be down the shop at 6 to pick the tool truck up and drive to the job." They back down, even though I'd be paying them for that hour. Kids are spoiled these days, when I was that age all my friends were in construction.
 

curly

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2008
Messages
220
Location
Sioux Falls,SD
Occupation
loader operator
I've asked my sons friends if they wanted a job for the summer paying them good money, teach them a thing or two, but when you tell them "yeah, be down the shop at 6 to pick the tool truck up and drive to the job." They back down, even though I'd be paying them for that hour. Kids are spoiled these days, when I was that age all my friends were in construction.


That's crazy. When I was a kid I helped a friend and his dad break up a driveway, mow lawns and helped another friends family demo and remodel their house. Oh did I mention I got paid NOTHING for that? It was fun and educational, the little turds now want nothing to do with learning, cause it's cool to be a fool it would seem.
 

SKOAL

Active Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2008
Messages
35
Location
new york
lol every time i went to a company i had to prove my self as a laborer first ,and most of the time it was with operators with no feel or grade percetion
 
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