work

[Dozer]

Went back to work yesterday!! Thank god! Acctually got a call from the BA from the 49ers with an offer for anouther job about an hour after my boss called me back! Just driving dump truck for now but its a great truck, a yellow 02 Pete thats all decked out, even has a CD player!

I was talking to the boss last night and he said he figures the economy wont turn around till the end of 2010 if we are lucky! Theres alot of people that are in really bad situations right now, lots of forclosed houses and alot more to come!

[sparkyaber]

 Originally Posted By: Roofer

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.

I think you just started a war- Maybe you should come to work with me sometime and tell me that I "don't want to work". To lump all union workers into a lazy catagory is ludicrous. It may have been that way before, and I stress may, because I have only been in the union for only ten years, but I work with a bunch of hard working guys and gals. If anyone is lazy, they are sitting on the bench right now.

[Roofer]

Let me just say I have two best friends who are union workers and I don't knock them for it.

In every crew there are the ones who are the lazy ones. If you don't know who it is, it may be you.

I agree, right now is probably a time where the top workers are working, when there is work.

What kind of work do you do sparkyaber?

[riverrat56]

Reading this thread has me worried I won't be able to find a job when I get out of school next year....Going to tech school for electrical work, and not being able to find work out of school would really be alot of fun when I need to start paying back all these loans......

[JohnMickish]

Sparky is a sparky, like a few of us here. I can't speak for the other trades but I'm going to make the statement that in the electrical field we don't have to many slugs working anymore. We are not protected by a seniority system so pretty much anybody can get laid off if they are not producing (there are a few limited exceptions) so for the most part only the good stay working.

Even the non union side has alot of men laid off.

Right now is not a good time to be getting into the construction industry. You can move to where the work until the picture gets better here. If you plan on staying here I really hope that you paid attention in school and are a fast learner and hard worker.

[sparkyaber]

thanks mnfishguy- you are right, I have not worked with a "slug" for at least 6 years. There a few out there, but not many, and most, if not all, are not working right now. You are right on about the fast learner and the guys that pay attention in school, we can pick them out very easily.

[sparcebag]

 Originally Posted By: riverrat56

Reading this thread has me worried I won't be able to find a job when I get out of school next year....Going to tech school for electrical work, and not being able to find work out of school would really be alot of fun when I need to start paying back all these loans......

rat something I found in my construction years,I traveled all over the states working,When the co.or the sups.found I was from Mn I was normally hired.It seems that Mn. & colo have a reputation all over the country,That they put out some of the best trades workers.The requirements in Mn to reach Journeyman are far beyoun others,and they know it!

[riverrat56]

Well there is some hope then.... I had heard that about the MN Journeyman's test, also we were going over some of the job openings/offers for some second year students and I had come to the conclusion that moving out of state is a deffinate possibility.

[PerchPounder]

Riverrat when are graduating? If you are willing to move out of state the job outlook in Sioux Falls is very good for the foreseable future. The company I work for has almost guaranteed work for atleast the next three to four years. We are the biggest in town at the moment with close to 115 electricians and probably the second biggest in the state. If the power plant projects play out like they are supposed to we will have work around here until about 2015.

[papabear]

how is the plumbing and heating going for those in that trade?

[JohnMickish]

River, if your going to start out away from home make sure you do your homework and figure out where you might want to live. As an apprentice you don't get to many choices about your future. If you go union (you should, I've worked both sides and there is alot more job security on the union side for me) you don't get to change locals, you can travel but you only get one "home".

[riverrat56]

PerchPounder, I will graduate the spring on next year, so '09. I will deffinatly keep that in mind.

[Roofer]

 Originally Posted By: sparkyaber

 Originally Posted By: Roofer

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.

Maybe you should come to work with me sometime and tell me that I "don't want to work". but I work with a bunch of hard working guys and gals. If anyone is lazy, they are sitting on the bench right now.

An electrician?????????? LOL!

Not saying anyone isn't hard working at their job, but.......come on.............

[Farmboy1]

 Originally Posted By: Roofer

An electrician?????????? LOL!

Not saying anyone isn't hard working at their job, but.......come on.............

Become a sprinkler fitter, highest paid, lowest output trade around. Where else can you get paid to watch water drain for 2 hours every morning! LOL

[GSB Ice Man]

Did anyone see the channel 11 news last night? There where carpenters getting paid steel worker wages to hang a metal door frame on commercial buildings. Sounds like the state has there job descriptions screwed up which ends up costing the tax payers a lot more money.

[JohnMickish]

C'mon guys, there is no reason to attack anothers trade, and it's agains policy rules.

[GotOne]

C/Commando,

I watched that also, they say the unions love it-bet the workers do too. However, toward the end of the spiel, they said it was more of a government policy than a union issue. Can you believe a guy holding the stop and go sign at construction areas get paid somewhere between 23.ish per hour and can't remember the high end, but it was close to 30ish per hour. Bet they like lots of OT. This is just one example of the different trades they mentioned.

[Roofer]

 Originally Posted By: Crappie Commando

Did anyone see the channel 11 news last night? There where carpenters getting paid steel worker wages to hang a metal door frame on commercial buildings. Sounds like the state has there job descriptions screwed up which ends up costing the tax payers a lot more money.

Probably happens more than we think. Wait until Fox 9 gets ahold of that story.

[GSB Ice Man]

I am not rippin anyone's trade here, just mentioning what I saw on the news. It is the state's problem, and they need to address it. I hope Fox 9 News gets it.

[sparkyaber]

Yeah, channel 9 news is not sensationalized at all..... I think all trades should make minmimum wage, that would make tons of sense. Also, putting doors into a metal framed wall is carpenters work, no clue why they were getting iron heads wages.

Oh, I did spend a summer after high school roofing, How do you think I paid my way through trade school to become an electrician.

[JohnMickish]

 Originally Posted By: sparkyaber

Oh, I did spend a summer after high school roofing, How do you think I paid my way through trade school to become an electrician.

Ouch

[Roofer]

hmmmm, I didn't take that as a slam. I just figured he only handled it for one year and took on an easier job. Good for you though.

[dakotakid31]

Wow this is like being at work-all the different trades guys taking shots at each other..lol. I am a non-union plumber and we are-and have been busy(Boss man is a real pro at what he does) and i thank my lucky stars every day. I heard something about the plumbing union workers wanting to strike. Whats the story there? And for the sparkies that could go to Souix Fall if givin a chance- i would kill to live any where in S.D. and make a good wage-jump on it. And for the rest of you guys that are layed off i really hope this turns around-realy stinks hearing about highly skilled workers being out of work!

[Ice chaser]

Hey guys we are all proud of our work, so lets try not to knock each other. I have worked in the excavating, sewer, and water buisness for long enough to know that all of our $#!% stinks. Things are definetly slow with our industry, hope the times turn in a hurry.

[Surface Tension]

Ice chaser, right on.

If this thread turns south it'll have to go.