To UNION Or Not To UNION

MZ-HANDYMAN

I see the "PICK UP TRASH" point and I see the "BETTER HAVE CARPENTRY FOR ME" point but when there is work to do and you have some free time...DO IT! I don't care who you are or think you are.

One rule I made for myself many years ago is that if I see a GC or Foreman pick up a broom or start picking up trash... I'll take over. and when I see that, all I needed was to see that they cared enough to even attempt to help. A foreman or GC who will do what I do even if I pick up trash will get my full respect over a GC or Foreman who acts or even jokes that My job is beneath them.

If I have workers that are stricktly laborers and they want to run the table saw, tile saw, Airless or any other equipment or show any interest in a trade other than trash pick up and Gopher duty they will quickly become my new aprentice. I'll teach them like they were my next foreman and all of a sudden they got a pay raise and the other guys who want to just pick up trash or be helpers will still be helpers 10 years from now and probably making 1/3 of what my little apprentice makes. and they'll work for him.

Recently I had a kid with that drive and thirst for knowlege and was looking for a picture of him at my tilesaw but can't find it at the moment. He is now laying tile on his own.

ARI001

Western,
I don't have a problem with organizing to ensure a fair pay rate and good treatment. My problem is that a lot of union guys and unions abuse the employers. If you are a carpenter then yes it is foolish to have you do laborer work at a carpenters pay. However if your the only body available or that is all there is to do, and you refuse to do it then I would be foolish to not replace you with someone willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

MZ-HANDYMAN

Because the hole needs to be dug and he's available.

He makes more money so his hole will be better ha ha

sirfranky

The original post was to go union or not?
So here's my take if you go union you get to bid on public work projects and in this obama economy there alot of it out here. The next thing is no..... you make laborers do the cleanup, just because your on a schedule to go to the next thing being built. Duh

Here's the real kick in the pants to all the contractors out there you just got your dream job handed to ya 40 million dollar condo project and your guys all left cause you ran out of work and your holding nothing but a set of plans.
One call to the hall you got foreman, supers and as many trained guys as you need from start to finish and when your done they go on there way without a care and you count your cash and you don't have to teach them A.C. if they don't know there out of there.......

MZ-HANDYMAN

Hmmm... Smells like a PR!CK....Sounds like a PR!CK...Must be a......

Tom Struble

well more expensive for sure

__________________
Tom

westernexplorer

Let me break it down for you, like a small child. The LARGEST Electrical Contractors in the entire Untied States are UNION. So your idea that Union Contractors, are some how disadvantaged is a myth.

BTW, a guy like you, would never last a second with me, because you are the kind of guy who uses any tool in the tool box, like using a screw driver for a chisel. We hire people for there skills and use them for those skills and yes they are expensive, but they get the job done, on time and under budget........hence Wealthiest Electrical Contractors in America......Union Electrical Contractors......Stop listening to to bad businessmen....

Also, I get your point, about working together with your employer......all employee must be will to do that. We run a business, not a charity. I just learned to make money, without lording over my guys....

Brickie

Well sirfranky since 87%+ of all construction workers in the US are NON-Union your theory doesn't work

__________________
“Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country.” – Ronald Reagan

MZ-HANDYMAN

I guess the consensus here is.....

Wait what?!

If you're a Union member/family GO UNION...

If you're not UNION... DON'T Go UNION!

This wasn't supposed to be a debate...was it?

ARI001

I never said disadvantaged. Lazy, egotistical, and self serving yes. But I never said disadvantaged. Whatever you are doing you have to be smarter than the tool you are working with. Somehow I think maybe a screwdriver has the edge over you.

westernexplorer

That percentage is decieving....that counts everyone including handymen....

Every trade is different. With electrical it's not the same. Many state require the employee to be licensed to work for a contractor......drywall, painting, carpet layers, doen't have to licensed as employees and can be replaced by anyone, including illegal's....this is why many General Contractors have a plantation mentallity.

Brickie

Debate??? What for? The largest & weathiest construction company in the US happens to be NON-UNION

__________________
“Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country.” – Ronald Reagan

MZ-HANDYMAN

ok, i'll bite..... ?

westernexplorer

It's Ok, if I didn't have skills, I would have become a General Contractor too.......LOL

westernexplorer

I didn't say Construction company's.....I said Electrical Contractors.....

ARI001

If you had business skills and building skills you would have become a GC. Sorry, I forgot union.
FYI carpenter by trade.

Brickie

Halliburton

__________________
“Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country.” – Ronald Reagan

JustaFramer

Big Deal sweet tits. I work for these guys. How much volume did you do last year? You and the other two machine gun mouths with row boat ass's. Go circle jerk in blue house.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turner_Construction

MZ-HANDYMAN

westernexplorer

Yeah, it was all those welfare, I mean "NO BID" Republican contracts, that rewarded hard work.......boy that sure was good Republican Government guarding the tax payers. If I ever hear another Republican talk about the competition and balanced budgets to protect the tax payers, I think I will trough up......

Guys like you talk about GM and the Unions getting a bailout, but you had no problem with Cheney and Halliburton getting no bid contracts.....