union or non union

[greenhornetn]

what is the best way to go stay with a non union company that just got bought out or go union.

[fitzyfitta]

Did your shop get bought out by a union contractor?

[greenhornetn]

no

[hvacker]

Here we go again. Where is that dead horse at!!

OK, I'll just say I've applied for my union pension and I probably wouldn't have any if I had been non-union.
Oh, did I mention 4 years of schooling.
Oh, and fully paid health insurance.
Oh, ongoing training
Oh, employer contribution to my 401K
Oh, highest pay in the industry with few exceptions.

That was when I worked for someone. Before some of you guys think about starting a business all that stuff goes away.

[greenhornetn]

what was the pay scale? do you love by a large city? I am 2 hrs from DC

[jayhawker]

This topic needs its own section for all who are concerned about it.

[mallron]

You'd probably do better by doing a search on the subject. After about a week of reading all threads started here on the subject you'll be tired of talking about it too.

[d_griff]

O Boy

[greenhornetn]

what

[snipe70e]

Spare us Spare us



This topic comes every few months and it always reads the same. Some are pro union and some can not stand the union. And if not carefull we will stand on our soap box and repeat the same thing over and over.

I think most of us are tired of it. That is what.

[inferno300]

Hey guys I'm new to the message boards. Wanted to weigh in on this topic Ive been a union guy for a little over 4 years now and theres really nothing that compares to being a member. Free education, great benefits, higher wages and they're just goin up every year, and not to mention annuity options for your retirement . If I were you and I had to choose, I mean I wouldn't even think twice about joining if you have the opportunity

[bustawrench1]

Here we go again.:eek:

[greenhornetn]

i am just trying to see the pay difference and benis

[Mikeylikesit]

so, punch in the terms "union" and "non-union" to the search engine on this page, put on a pot of coffee, and have a nice evening of reading.

Im usually quite the smart alec, but I am serious.....lots of information.

[joecool23]

union is always better, strength in numbers!

[bustawrench1]

Y'up.........

I give it an hour or two, 'till everybody gets beered up, then this thread is a goner for sure.:D

[greenhornetn]

No Thats Funny Wrench Lol

[roadgear16]

One thing I have heard some union fitters/plumbers in my area complain about, is that they are making scale, while some moron who has his time in, but still doesn't know a pipe wrench from a putty knife is making the same money.

[mallron]

One thing I have heard some union fitters/plumbers in my area complain about, is that they are making scale, while some moron who has his time in, but still doesn't know a pipe wrench from a putty knife is making the same money.

That's the complaint everywhere. But I always consider the fact that this trade is extremely competitive in the sense that mechanics always want to compare their knowledge to that of the next guy and the next guy is always the stupid one. If this moron is making the same or more than the guy complaining, then who is the moron?

[Lash]

If this moron is making the same or more than the guy complaining, then who is the moron?


lol...well said.


Thats signature material right htere...lol.

[greenhornetn]

well said is it true you have to bounce around to get the pay we deserve?

[mallron]

It depends on what you feel that you deserve. If you're good, and I mean actually good, you'll get job offers all the time.

[the007]

Having been on both sides of the fence now, I can say they both have their pros and cons. Being union was good, about the only benefit I took away from it was the training. Outside of that, not too much to be said. Flip side of that now is the benefits are way better now than when I was union. Like it was said before, if you are good at what you do, you'll get job offers and the compensation you deserve. Just now, I can control how well my retirement does. Oh and the strength in numbers, well, talk to some of the hvac techs who keep getting screwed by the majority in their locals who don't do what we do. Yeah, I put sprinkler systems in, but it takes a lot more to troubleshoot a chiller surging and tripping taking care of an emergency room, and get paid the same?! Well, I'll let y'all think about it. Have fun with it....

[x-wrenchturner]

what is the best way to go stay with a non union company that just got bought out or go union.

I'm going to guess it's ETI?:)

I heard JCI just bought 'em.

[greenhornetn]

I work for a company that pays for any class i want to take at the tech college and just this winter i have been in about 7 claases for chillers, boilers, control syst, etc. My only ***** is the pay isnt there we have a guy that has 10 yrs exp and only making $24/hr but if you work near DC they make with unions you make well into the $30's and they pay health coverage.will the pay eventually go up due to the union wanting to get a piece of our area?

[jschaible]

Unions? Who needs unions!! Hehe!!

[joebear]

i work in richmond and belong to local 10 union,check out the benefits not just the money on the check. paid health insurance,40 hour work week,overtime after 8 hours,double time on sunday and holidays,holiday pay,vacation(thru jci),free techanical training,and most important to me,a pension for my retirement.

[greenhornetn]

we have anything over 8 is overtime, double time Sun and holidays, we pay $400/mth for health care. The pay just doesnt compare we have guys @ $14 up to $25, I think that should be higher

[greenhornetn]

what do you have to do to join a union

[bustawrench1]

what do you have to do to join a union

Call one of those numbers I gave you in the other thread and ask them.

[the007]

i work in richmond and belong to local 10 union,check out the benefits not just the money on the check. paid health insurance,40 hour work week,overtime after 8 hours,double time on sunday and holidays,holiday pay,vacation(thru jci),free techanical training,and most important to me,a pension for my retirement.

I really don't want to rain on your parade joe, but when you add in the health and welfare package to you hourly wage, plus the dues, plus the death benefits and all the other things associated with union membership, it is still LESS per hour than what some non-union shops are paying their guys after they pay their own insurance (which 90% of the time way better). I researched all the locals around me and this is the case. Yes, the pension credits I have are nice, but with the history of the local here, there is no guarantee that it'll be there when I hit the magic number. With my 401k, I can direct it and with some limited advice, make it grow well beyond any pension credits. I hope that everyone reading this takes this one thing with them.....do what is right for you. Again, have fun with it.

[chiller rob]

green,

we all go thru a period of frustration in this industry when we dont feel that we are rewarded enough for all the things that we need to know to do the job... this is especially true during the early years between 5-8 years of experience

if you can be patient, the pay will come along with responsibility...

ask yourself How much do you bill annually for your company? A good tech will bill more that 300K a year...

it sounds like you need experience more than training. dont let this phase in your career get you so frustrated that you burn bridges...

remember what you think may be alot of money now will be very small when you look back in a few years...

good luck and keep your cool...

[referteacher]

greenhornetn: what do you have to do to join a union


Go to www.ua.org and click on "union links". Scroll down to the area you're interested and click to get the local web page. Have fun.

[greenhornetn]

rob

right now i bill just in contract calls alone over $300 and that doesnt include time and material, they are my contracts i answer the calls , do the pms, deal with everything, i dont even have another tech around for a 2 hour drive

[Samuel Rock]

I have just started in commercial world.. i have been an offshore electrican for a few years.. GMC services came out to swap out our units on the platform i worked on.. well by the end of the job they wannated me to go to work for them.. by joining the union i got a $4 per hr pay increase. over my old job.. most of the bennies are same as old job.. i have been with GMC for 2 months now.. and enjoy it. i dont find the chillers too hard to work on but i have a good electrical/PLC background. louisiana is a right to hire right to fire state so there is not too much union work here.. i like the idea of the schooling as we did not get that offshore, if you wannated so learn something it was out of your pocket.

Just my .02

Rock

[Lash]

I really don't want to rain on your parade joe, but when you add in the health and welfare package to you hourly wage, plus the dues, plus the death benefits and all the other things associated with union membership, it is still LESS per hour than what some non-union shops are paying their guys after they pay their own insurance (which 90% of the time way better). I researched all the locals around me and this is the case. Yes, the pension credits I have are nice, but with the history of the local here, there is no guarantee that it'll be there when I hit the magic number. With my 401k, I can direct it and with some limited advice, make it grow well beyond any pension credits. .


Prove it. I want to see these numbers that you've researched. Most package rates are in the $4x.xx/hr. range with $3x.xx going on the check. The ONLY thing that comes off the check is taxes, dues, and any OTHER 401k option that you have enter by your choice. Everything else has already been paid for in the wage package. I want to see what these non union guys are making if the still make more even with pulling money out of their own pockets for health insurance.



Also....

I have a pension AND a company matched 401k with the option to enter another 401k through the union. How you like them apples? ;) You don't have to rely on the pension only....in fact, you'd be stupid to. It's just an added bonus.

[greenhornetn]

i just want to make the money we all deserve and $16/ hr isnt enough.

How much would you guys ask for?

[bustawrench1]

i just want to make the money we all deserve and $16/ hr isnt enough.

How much would you guys ask for?

Well, that dependes on your definition of Commercial work.

Are we talking 3 ton splits and 5 ton rtu's on top of the local strip malls and quickie marts??

Are we talking packaged units, built ups and chillers in the 10 to 200 ton range?

Or are we talking high tonnage 200 to 2000+ ton centrifugals??

Each one has it's own pay range.

What you know also makes a difference..........are you a filter and fuse changer..........or do you tear down centrifugals and run 12" weld pipe all day...........maybe a control guy?

Just too many variables with not enough info.

[greenhornetn]

5 trane chillers 500 ton, have worked on 2 trane centifigels, 250 wshp, steam boiler,8 boilers,poolheaters,air cooled thru the wall, vavs rtu100ton, iam weekest on chillers but i still get send on the calls. no iam not a filter changer i am a service tech, on call, taking calls

[bustawrench1]

Well........if you've got 5 - 10 years in and can pass the Journeyman's test.........I'd say you're worth somewhere between $28.00 to $35.00 per hour, depending on where you live, although I can't see the DC/Baltimore/Richmond Metro areas being much different than Philly/So. Jeresy, and that's pretty much the going base rate around here. Some make more, some less........but that's about average for a knock around service guy.

[the007]

Prove it. I want to see these numbers that you've researched. Most package rates are in the $4x.xx/hr. range with $3x.xx going on the check. The ONLY thing that comes off the check is taxes, dues, and any OTHER 401k option that you have enter by your choice. Everything else has already been paid for in the wage package. I want to see what these non union guys are making if the still make more even with pulling money out of their own pockets for health insurance.



Also....

I have a pension AND a company matched 401k with the option to enter another 401k through the union. How you like them apples? ;) You don't have to rely on the pension only....in fact, you'd be stupid to. It's just an added bonus.


Lash, call the UA in Virginia, ask them to send you all the pay scales for the following cities...Chattanooga TN, Knoxville TN, Nashville TN, Birmingham AL, Atlanta GA, Memphis TN, Asheville NC, and you will get an idea of why I said what I did. When I was shop steward, I tried for 2 years to get onto the negoitiating committee here to make a change. As a service tech and in the severe minority, I was pushed away. The locals down here do not have near the power they do up there as I have been a member in both areas. The locals tend to push through just the things needed to get the welders and pipefitters happy. I know Local 120 in Cleveland Ohio does NOT have a 401k, and most companies there do NOT offer one (knowing this because my father, uncle and two brothers are members). Local 43 here in Chattanooga is the same (knowing this as a former member). The company you work for must be caring of their employees, a rare find this day. Like I said at the end of my thread, you've gotta do what's right for yourself, and being where I am, I am way better off going non-union.

[the007]

as a side note, scale for L.U. 43 here about $23.50, after I pay my own insurance I am still over $30.