work

[Tima]

Anybody in the trades and been laid off for awhile?

I'm a sparky, off for 5 months now. Know others are worse

off. How's the job outlook?

[jltimm]

I'm a concrete man myself, have been laid off since November. Outlook not good! High gas prices and no job, isn't life great!

[fish2live]

i work for a concrete company as a driver/batchman and am just getting back to work after almost 4 months off. doesn't sound like it will be busy for some time to come.

[Roofer]

My Dad and I run our own business and have for 30 years, I've been with him for the last 12 years. We have had the last 2 weeks or so off with nothing big going yet. This is the first time I remember not working for so long, besides weather related issues.

[PerchPounder]

Tima, if you're willing to travel shoot me an email (its in my profile) I may be able to help you out.

[Roofer]

[Note from admin: Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you.]

[JohnMickish]

Tima, are you a union guy? 110 or 292? You can always sign book three with the 160's, they usually put people to work for the summer. If you are willing to travel there is a large demand for JW's that are certified welders. Seems that Iowa and Illinois have been putting alot of book 2 to work lately. There's always New Orleans...., but I'd rather go to S.D.

[Tima]

110. But have two small children, what I would earn from

traveling would probably only pay for daycare.

[PerchPounder]

We have jobs working four tens in Sioux Falls right now and will be for the forseable future. If your willing to travel to kansas they are working seven twelves out of witchita I believe and also Seattle.

[JohnMickish]

I feel for ya. Since you need to stay local I would hit up local 160. We (292) won't be into book 2 for any time in the near future. Take the time off to pick up as much education from the JATC as you can. Welding, HiVolt, HVAC control, PLC and anything else you can think of. Do what you gotta do to keep food on the table.

[Dozer]

Im an union equipment operator (49er). Been laid off since Dec 10th which is normal but with the housing market the way it is doesnt look good for going back any time soon. Lots of guys I used to work with have been told they will not be coming back at all this year. I was told I would be but havent really got a date as to when that might be. Not a good time to be a 49er, there is just no work going on right now.

[Tim Boomgarden]

Just got laid off last Tuesday, building houses is not a good thing right now. We have not built as house in a year and have been just remodeling and that stuff is running low. I hope to be back in a few weeks but like everyoone else time will tell.

[Ice chaser]

I am in excavating, got laid off in the middle of Nov. Will be going back to work but who knows when and for how long. We do mostly commercial work and that is slow as well. Good luck to all, hope things pick up for all of us. Should be one heck of a fisherman by the time things get back going.

[JohnMickish]

Get on the phone and call your local representatives, the MOA expansion package is on their desks. The news said it would create 7000 construction jobs for 4 years.

[Roofer]

For who?

[JohnMickish]

 Originally Posted By: Roofer

For who?

Laborer, plumbers, sprinkler fitters, electricians, iron workers, 49r's and so on. What do you mean for who? There aren't to many shops that can post a big bond like that so it would more than likely be the same shops that have done stuff like the stadiums, convention center, Medtronic, Target Plaza, airport expansion and so on.

[Roofer]

So, union work more less. That was my question.

[chasineyes]

So were suppose to do another subsidy to generate jobs for 4 or 5 years and then after that maintain a bunch of $9.00 an hour retail jobs? Don't think so.

[The_King48]

What is wrong with "union work"???? It seems to make sense to be that a guy/girl should be able to retire before social security and enjoy life... SS won't be there anyway when I get to that age.... I think that the work shortage is good... It will tighten some lose ends up. AKA getting rid of BAD contractors that drive the prices up...

[JohnMickish]

 Originally Posted By: Roofer

So, union work more less. That was my question.

My guess is the bond is going to be about 1 million dollars per major contracter. Any non union contractor that can post that should be invited to the bidding process. This is not a union Vs non union issue so don't turn it into one.

[JohnMickish]

 Originally Posted By: chasineyes

So were suppose to do another subsidy to generate jobs for 4 or 5 years and then after that maintain a bunch of $9.00 an hour retail jobs? Don't think so.

Any better idea to put people to work? Would you rather be taxed and working or not taxed and not working? DARN NEAR EVERYTHING that gets built gets some sort of subsidy, from tax breaks to tax dollars to fund the job to evironmental easments. An addition to the mall is no different than your local Walmart, Target or Home Depot. With a large retail store like that the tax dollars get repaid.

[PerchPounder]

 Originally Posted By: mnfishinguy

This is not a union Vs non union issue so don't turn it into one.

My thoughts exactly. Union jobs or not the more tradesmen employed the better we will all be. If the Expansion finally goes through maybe the entire work situation will finally start to rebound and return to what it once was.

It also makes me think that if the mall expansion goes then maybe there is still hope for Bigstone 2 which is scheduled to start in '09 and another power plant in Selby, SD scheduled to go in 2010.

The work in this area is steadily picking up I talked to my BA tonight and found out that two local contractors just got jobs with 2 million plus in electrical.

[Roofer]

I wasn't trying to start a war.

Just make sure you hire me over the lowball contractors even if my price is a tad higher.

We have bid plenty of jobs where a union worker says the same things you guys are saying, but when it comes to PAYING for labor it's a different story. They always go for the cheapest bid.

Union is great for the employee, especially on tax dollars.

I hope things pick up for everyone. As you can see, the ones who are still collecting unemployment are also whining the most.

I personally know of a few companies that went non union because they could not afford union pay and put up with union workers not wanting to work. I know it's 'stereo typing', but it's true.

[Roofer]

 Originally Posted By: mnfishinguy

With a large retail store like that the tax dollars get repaid.

Never thought of it that way..............But they are the ones paying $9 a hour to the employees.

[Neighbor_guy]

High end Non-union painting contractor... Now real work since the end of november. Loosing my house, no end in sight.