Should I go union? negatives and positives?

[neophytes serendipity]

Anything worth being done is getting done by the lowest responsible bidder be it union or not.

The only part I question is the word "responsible".

[allstar08]

The union shops in my area are very busy.

[ersham]

I'm doing an analysis and will post soon to prove in I'm doing an analysis and will post soon to prove in this day and age the union is a farce his day and age the union is a farce.Union=Welfare mentality=Entitlement=Lazy=Less for me More for Them=Union

I have better benefits, Better retirement, Better wages, No Dues, I get free breakfast every Monday morning while my service van is being wash and the oil changed by the company, All tools provided, uniform service and red wing boots. You dont need a union.


chillpro is not being truthful.
no tools are provided to techs where he works only recovery and torches..
breakfast meetings 630 am Monday non payed not mandatory but if you are a new tech.. will you get a raise???
Better retirement is the biggest lie of all 401k only 2 mutual fund choices are rated above average returns and below average risk.30% match started this summer
I know a field supv works his ass off and is not making journeymen wage..Looking to go elsewhere...
just received red wing boots.. because so many techs leaving to the union
just were told they will provide tools but all employees were asked to submit tools they dont have those tools will be provided
if you want new tools according to 2yr tech this will affect you getting a raise so all 3 yr techs and below said they have all their tools and wont need the company to purchase them.
just raised the price for crappy benefits will be paying over 3k a year plus co pay...
if he is service supervisor he gets to have his rainbow sticker washed on his prius.
no uniform service.
Also 100k salesguys when techs here do all the sale after the company signs contract most good techs here bring in these customers. but get no compensation.
they have lost alot of guys to the union.
I would love to work for his company or any other company union or non that can be truthful

[allstar08]

I don't know what you are talking about? I am not sure what union you are referring? Your situation is unique, and congrats to you. I am not sure if you are looking for a pat on the back or what?

The unions in my area offer pensions and 401ks. The pension will pay out 3800 a month after 15 years of pay in, and your vested after 5 years. The wage packages are amazing and the befits are to match. The only thing I am having a problem finding out is why isn't everyone union? If we were all union, imagine the possibilities.

Further note, in the area I am in all tools are provided with one union even hand tools, the other union does not provide hand tools. Still awesome.

[ersham]

I don't know what you are talking about? I am not sure what union you are referring? Your situation is unique, and congrats to you. I am not sure if you are looking for a pat on the back or what?

The unions in my area offer pensions and 401ks. The pension will pay out 3800 a month after 15 years of pay in, and your vested after 5 years. The wage packages are amazing and the befits are to match. The only thing I am having a problem finding out is why isn't everyone union? If we were all union, imagine the possibilities.

Further note, in the area I am in all tools are provided with one union even hand tools, the other union does not provide hand tools. Still awesome.

just trying to learn more about the union in my area. seems you cant get the truth from either union or non
and I dont like people who have to lie about whos better..

[Lash]

just trying to learn more about the union in my area. seems you cant get the truth from either union or non
and I dont like people who have to lie about whos better..

Give each a try then.

[allstar08]

I have done so much research on this. I get all my info in writing. Go to the local hall you are interested in, and find out what you want to know. I will tell you this, my financial advisor was very impressed with the local unions packages as far as retirement. If your employer puts 20k in a retirement plan for you every year then stay where you're at.

The health care is pretty good, but not the best. I have been most impressed with the quality of the people I have met. You hear the term brotherhood thrown around, but it really is.

[ersham]

Give each a try then.

not out of work
just seeking better options.

hey lash
i have another post about the union and would like to know if you can take the journeymen test without having a job with a union shop?
please check my post on union questions.
thanks

[allstar08]

It sounds like you have it made? Why would you be looking for better options after you said how great you had it? I am confused..

I am pretty sure you need to be in the system to take the test. If you don't pass you can always opt out. Or you may be able to make other arrangements with your employer.

I would just like to know what to study for? I am tired of getting the usual answer, just study the refer a/c guide. That book has a lot of info, and a lot that you just don't use on a daily basis. Is there a study guide or a prep class?

[ersham]

Union=Welfare mentality=Entitlement=Lazy=Less for me More for Them=Union

I have better benifits, Better retirement, Better wages, No Dues, I get free breakfast every Monday morning while my service van is being wash and the oil changed by the company, All tools provided, uniform service and red wing boots. You dont need a union.

chillpro is not being truthful.
no tools are provided to techs where he works only recovery and torches..
breakfast meetings 630 am Monday non payed not mandatory but if you are a new tech.. will you get a raise???
Better retirement is the biggest lie of all 401k only 2 mutual fund choices are rated above average returns and below average risk.30% match started this summer
general foreman wage 41.05 not obtainable at the company..supv 36.00
just received red wing boots.. because so many techs leaving to the union
just were told they will provide tools but all employees were asked to submit tools they dont have those tools will be provided
if you want new tools according to 2yr tech this will affect you getting a raise so all 3 yr techs and below said they have all their tools and wont need the company to purchase them.
just raised the price for crappy benefits will be paying over 7k a year plus co pay...
if he is service supervisor he gets to have his rainbow sticker washed on his prius. Or his cool element
no uniform service.
Also 100k salesguys when techs here do all the sale after the company signs contract most good techs here bring in these customers. but get no compensation.
they have lost alot of guys to the union.
I would love to work for his company (in his world) or any other company union or non that can be truthful

[sysint]

That was fixed 2 contracts ago. No banked hours were lost (they froze them temporarily until the problem was fixed)....we just had to contribute more into those funds....

The contractors bailed you guys out. Not every classification had a freeze in banked hours. Some people lost hours and you had to put virtually everything on the next contract into the funds.

[slimwoodie]

Give each a try then.

WINNER ..!!!

[allstar08]

How scary is it to switch over to the "dark side" ?

[josh0813]

I just started an apprenticeship with my local union, and the shop I work at is busy, and there are a lot of guys that have come from non-union shops cuz the pay is better. Right now, in WI, resi journeymen are making a little under $26 an hour, and comm journeymen are making just under $34 an hour. Plus, our pension and insurance is separate from our hourly rates. I'm love my union Local#18

[supertek65]

I'm doing an analysis and will post soon to prove in I'm doing an analysis and will post soon to prove in this day and age the union is a farce his day and age the union is a farce.Union=Welfare mentality=Entitlement=Lazy=Less for me More for Them=Union

I have better benefits, Better retirement, Better wages, No Dues, I get free breakfast every Monday morning while my service van is being wash and the oil changed by the company, All tools provided, uniform service and red wing boots. You dont need a union.


chillpro is not being truthful.
no tools are provided to techs where he works only recovery and torches..
breakfast meetings 630 am Monday non payed not mandatory but if you are a new tech.. will you get a raise???
Better retirement is the biggest lie of all 401k only 2 mutual fund choices are rated above average returns and below average risk.30% match started this summer
I know a field supv works his ass off and is not making journeymen wage..Looking to go elsewhere...
just received red wing boots.. because so many techs leaving to the union
just were told they will provide tools but all employees were asked to submit tools they dont have those tools will be provided
if you want new tools according to 2yr tech this will affect you getting a raise so all 3 yr techs and below said they have all their tools and wont need the company to purchase them.
just raised the price for crappy benefits will be paying over 3k a year plus co pay...
if he is service supervisor he gets to have his rainbow sticker washed on his prius.
no uniform service.
Also 100k salesguys when techs here do all the sale after the company signs contract most good techs here bring in these customers. but get no compensation.
they have lost alot of guys to the union.
I would love to work for his company or any other company union or non that can be truthful

i do not care who is union or not!
if you are happy, stay where you are.
my dues are $50.00 a month
my boss puts $16.00 per hour towards my benefits.
My boss puts $8.00 an hour into my retirement , and pays for my medical.
Boss gives me $37.20 an hour
time and a half after 8
double time on Sunday and holiday
triple time on Labor day
4 hours for being on call
OH YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A REAL GOOD XMAS BONUS
when on call time and a half from the time I take the call until I get home.
Nothing comes out of my pay check. Nothing all my money! except uncle Sam
Boss gives me vacation and holidays
I have never paid for any medical except they send me a bill for $15.00 visit. I do not need to bring my wallet to the doctor.!
Boss pays for all tools even screw driver.
Boss pays for uniforms
Boss pays for boots
Boss pays for unlimited cell phone
Hell! he even pays for my RSES dues!
I have not owned or put gas in a personal car for years.
of course I work 3000 hours a year and never do any thing personal, I do not have a life!!
I do have a brand new van
Boss pays me back for washing it every week. $10.00
boss pays me by the hour to have it serviced.
Boss pays for training
Boss has most training catered when in town usually Zarda barbecue.
pays for out of town training including wages air fare, food drinks etc.
Boss will reimburse me for lunch when I take a customer, maintenance man, property manager.

sounds like you have a good job!
Do you have a better job than me? I don't know!
Maybe you do.
I hope your company stays in business for ever and you love your job and can retire with a great nest egg.
There are most likely some non union jobs better than my job.
What I like is that he can not pay me less or less benefits if he is not doing well or is unhappy with me.
I will go to another shop and get the exact same thing and my medical , retirement and 401k/local contributions will not change!

It is good for me.
I know a lot of non union guys that are happy too.
Frank

[allstar08]

The main thing I am worried about is being shelved. I have it pretty good now, but I worry about not progressing in my life and career. The union contractors in my area work on all the big stuff. I would love to see my career move more towards that area. I am tired of working on nasty restaurants and rooftops. I spent 13 years at a dead end job mostly residential, and 1 1/2 years mostly commercial. Commercial is the way to go.

[ScottG]

As an ex field tech here is my 2 cents. After I went to work for a union contractor, I made more money had better benefits and the type of work was large commercial work which I found far more challenging and interesting than another strip mall routine maintenance agreement. I say go union.

[timebuilder]

Union=Welfare mentality=Entitlement=Lazy=Less for me More for Them=Union

I have better benefits, Better retirement, Better wages, No Dues, I get free breakfast every Monday morning while my service van is being wash and the oil changed by the company, All tools provided, uniform service and red wing boots. You dont need a union.

Rather than simply chastise you for an unlikely post, I will agree that there are some exceptional non-union employers, and yours would be one of them.

In Philadelphia, AFTRA has been trying to bring Channel 6 TV into the union fold, but they have been frustrated at every turn. Why? They routinely pay great, have wonderful benefits, scholarships for the kids, and are generally great to work for. BUT, they are very unusual in that respect. Every other decent place to work in town, radio or TV, is a union shop.

So yes, if you are a very fortunate guy like Chillpro, you could step in some steaming pile of Gold. Most of us would be stepping in something else, which is why I am making my next post in this forum.

[allstar08]

OK boys

I was evaluated as a journeyman down at the hall. After 15 years of working residential and light commercial, I am just about ready to take the plunge. I have done a lot of install and about 3 solid years of service. I am excited and scared at the same time. The way I thought about it was, it is now or never. If I don't give it a shot then I will never know what I was capable of doing. The contractors are bigger and they do a bigger jobs, and there is way more responsibility. Wish me luck! I just hope I am ready, it just seems like the union journeymen that the hall is turning out are very skilled. Sink or swim I am in it to win it.

[tinner73]

you'll be fine......and don't look back.