Re: OT: Kinda prying here, but what does everyone do for a living?

so when you were getting trained by your fellow boilermaker you were
at the facility on your own time? You weren't getting trained under an
apprentice rate of pay?

Yes, you said it right, on and off the job training. 4 years, six
months a year, 2 nights a week, all while working. The training center
is at the hall, ran by the hall and for the furture of the hall.



As a boilermaker, i did graduate the apprenticeship and that is
viewed as a equal to any college degree. I was trained by boilermakers
and now after 16 years, i am a trainer. I will offer my training to
any boilermaker apprentice no matter how much i like or dislike about
that "brother". The reason my union is strong is that we met the enemy
and gave connsessions to keep our work. The companys went the other
way, tried non-union labor and now they came back. The skill quality
was a major factor as well as saftey issues you so kindly posted. :o)

There is nothing wrong with what the UAW has negotiated. If it wasn't
viable the company would never have agreed to it. As you pointed out
you can go to another state and control the union, or can you?
concesions might have to be made but you sound like you want
everythuing to go to way side and allow the "Fat Cats" to reap the
cost savings.

Take a look at the overall package Eric. The company not only pays
you, its pays the city and state. The Fat cats will reap the benifits,
it is "their company"

Your union does the exact same thing as mine. They want the best for
their members.

The more I read your replies the more it looks like you are actually
jealous of the benefits that I have and how I should give up what my
union had fought for and earned.



But as much as it hits home for myself, it also hit Mr. Sarcastic,
Yourself, Mike and alot of other union members as this is your enemy.

No it actually doesn't "hit home". This isn't a war it is a TEAM which
is what you seem to fail to recognize. I'm not going to give up
anything if I don't have to. However, if my UAW union comes to me and
says "This is what we have to do" then so be it. Not you or anyone
else that seems to be jealous that i have a pension, vacation time,
insurance, and profit sharing is going to tell me otherwise.

Then do it, thats all i am trying to say. But your union, as stubbron
as it is, is not willing to give up enough to keep the jobs here in
the US, which is what your failing to recognize. Read the headlines
Eric, i see more auto plants closing than anything that concerns
myself. In fact, since i build maintain, modify and repair boilers,
refineries, and nukes i would say i am part of the US infrastructure
and my job being pretty secure, that i will not have to worry about
competing with this guy. Nor am i jealous of your benifit package, i
have rights, vacations, pension and annunity and a HMO. Do i get paid
for vacations, no. but with the wage i make i shouldnt need to !! Come
to think about it, you take a paid day off, the company has to pay you
and also the guy who took your shift that day. No, thats not hurting
your employer, not one bit.

This is who is trying for your job. This is a man who works for the
company, not for himself. This is the man who dont need a car, just a
bowl of rice on the table. This is a man just like you and i trying to
make a living. In this case, any way he can. Not only is the UAW
fighting this, they are also fighting automation.

I will never compete with this guy.



As much as you think you wont, you may not have a choice.

If you think you can survive on 75
cents an hour then you try it. After all that would help out the
companies you contract for, right?

My companies arent selling people out, firing mangement and escorting
them out of the building. Our companies are not laying people off
unless they want it. Our companies are not shipping our jobs overseas.
My companies are not closing plants. And most of all, my brother
boilermakers are not losing their jobs. I go to work to get paid. If
i dont preform, i dont get paid. My union is a hiring hall, that still
dont mean the company has to hire you. Most make their own bed in our
union. You want to work, you do it right the first time. You show up
everyday ready to work a full work day. Your breaks match whats on the
contract, not 15 minutes to walk to and from breakrooms.


I hope the best for the UAW, but they are fighting an uphill battle
against outsourcing. I feel bad for my wifes family, they all work
with Fords, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, Mother and her father.
Believe me, i fear for their jobs, but they are all living real good.
Right now !!

Do not give up hope, we all make changes with the times it just seems
like from what I'm reading from you that you want to go back 20 years
ago.


I will never give up hope, nor will the american consumer make all US
purchases. Im not saying stepping back 20 years, but if you value your
job like you say here, you've got to see somewhat into my point on
where i am going. and maybe a couple large steps like Fords and UAW
took in the 70's backwards can save a US automaker, as it has in the
past.

I feel were both chasing each others tail around like a couple of
dogs. I see talking union with you would take atleast 2 meals, a case
of beer and a couple 5ths to get us half way thru our debate.
Something i am afraid we will never come to terms on. But we both
agree on one thing, if the union says make concessions to keep the
work, we will both do what it takes.

And Jim, the National Labor Board recognizes this as a college
degree, as well as all Fords skilled trades aprenticeships,
pipefitters, electricans, carpteners yada yada yada Go look it up.

John
jdubbbs

.

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