Any union guys?

[CanalStalkin]

Hey guys. I have a huge interest in learning to weld. I have been considering trying to join the local Union and do the apprenticeship route. On the other hand there is a dedicated welding school near by that gets really good reviews. I know ZILCH about unions and have been gettin two different stories from friends (some say it sucks and some love the crap out of it). I was told layoffs are a common occurrence and the benifits suck. I'd just like more pros and cons. I was under the impression of "if you want job security, go union".  (unitl I was told about the layoffs)

[Stasher1]

Unions vary from local to local and contract to contract, and much of it depend on the quality of the elected officials. There are also major differences between labor unions and trade unions.

A good union can be like a second family, a bad union is like...well...your in-laws family. ;D

[slonezp]

I'm a union pipefitter. The union classes are very thorough. You can learn alot. It shouldn't cost you anything but normal dues and book fees. As far as job security goes much of that is up to you. Right now the construction trades are slow. I'm in the service end of the business HVAC/ Refrigeration mechanic, and have not been unemployed since I joined the trades. When times are slow the best guys are working and everyone else is on the sign up sheet at the hall.

As far as benefits go that probably depends on the local. I have a great benefit program which includes top of the line health insurance, a pension, 401k etc.

[=Matt 5.0=]

I'm a union pipefitter. The union classes are very thorough. You can learn alot. It shouldn't cost you anything but normal dues and book fees. As far as job security goes much of that is up to you. Right now the construction trades are slow. I'm in the service end of the business HVAC/ Refrigeration mechanic, and have not been unemployed since I joined the trades. When times are slow the best guys are working and everyone else is on the sign up sheet at the hall.

As far as benefits go that probably depends on the local. I have a great benefit program which includes top of the line health insurance, a pension, 401k etc.

Good advice. Before going back to the Teamsters and UPS, I was in the Boilermakers Union as a rigger/welder. I travelled up and down the east coast working in many different power plants.

Best thing to do is go down to the hall and talk the the Business Agent. Can't hurt.

[FishingBuds]

After being thru some attempts of union starts and have to listen to both sides I ended up not liking unions, for me it was down to paying someone to hold a job plain and simple, so being a independent minded "I build it myself" kinda a guy I was turned off by them...............NOW

Im beginning to think they are needed more than ever with all the company's willing to pay for cheap labor and cutting out the American worker > Im mean someones gotta fight it cause our big Brother isn't

Seriously Im reconsidering my thoughts on the Union and see them very vital in this issue. They are the only ones that seem to fight and keep our jobs here in USA.

Then again some claim do to Union higher wages, it has forced companys go out of country

So I don't know :-/

[boneil]

If you just want to learn how to weld, go to a welding school.  You don't have to join a union to learn how to weld.  Unions will teach you a trade.  But before you join a union do your research.  From my past experiences I will not join a union.  I will not have my money go to support dems.  I think its disgraceful how they treat other non union trades on a jobsite.  I never understood why one trade, say a pipefitter wasn't allowed to work on a piece of steel becuase it should be worked on by an ironworker, eventhough that steel was holding pipe.  I know alot of union guys who get layed off 6 months out of the year.  It all depends who you know.   Unions are not the same as they used to be. Unions do have there benefits though, slightly higher pay, a pension that may or may not be there, and it's very difficult to get fired.  Good luck no matter what you choose. It's tough out there.

[Root beer]

After being thru some attempts of union starts and have to listen to both sides I ended up not liking unions, for me it was down to paying someone to hold a job plain and simple, so being a independent minded "I build it myself" kinda a guy I was turned off by them...............NOW

Im beginning to think they are needed more than ever with all the company's willing to pay for cheap labor and cutting out the American worker > Im mean someones gotta fight it cause our big Brother isn't

Seriously Im reconsidering my thoughts on the Union and see them very vital in this issue. They are the only ones that seem to fight and keep our jobs here in USA.

Then again some claim do to Union higher wages, it has forced companys go out of country

So I don't know :-/

It not just unions that sends jobs oversea. Just saying. Yeah the unions are a hassle to deal with for some companies, but it more than just the unions.

[CanalStalkin]

I am planning on taking a tour of this school http://www.caltradeweldingschool.com/high/index.html

This is the only one near by and I have heard good things about them. It was either pay more for this school (financial aid) or go to community college. I just didnt feel community college would give me the same quality as this school.

[Red]

I don't know alot about unions or anything. Several years ago I worked for a contractor as a carpenter. It was a small business run by four lifelong friends, maybe 30 employees total including office workers. Anyway, my company got hired to build a large commercial building, one that would normally be built by the union carpenters. All the other workers on the job were union, the electricians, plumbers etc etc. The carpenters union began protesting because they didn't get this big job and my small comapny did. The owner of the job told the carpenters union that if they didn't stop, he would hire all non union workers for the next two large buildings to be built right next door. They stopped, I guess because they didn't want all the other unions to get ticked when none of them got work on the next jobs. Thats my only experience with unions.

Cliff

[burleytog]

Any comment I could make would result in the immediate locking of this thread.   :-X

[Stasher1]

Any comment I could make would result in the immediate locking of this thread. :-X

;D

All I can add to this discussion is this: I served as both a steward and committeeman when I was a member of UAW, and I wouldn't go out of my way to do it again.

[SirSnookalot]

Not here to argue the pros and cons of unions, it's also a matter of geography, some states are right to work and non union areas.  As a business owner I gave the same basic benefits and hourly wage as unions.

I'm from Detroit, union country, and had lots of friends in them and my observation over the last 40 years or so this is what I would do.

I have friends now retired, in both plumbing and electrical unions.  Very good benefits and the hourly wage was good plus retirement pension 60-80k a year, don't know the exact number.  The upside in these 2 trades is that it is easy to go into business for yourself ( remain in the union).  One of my buds did just that and does little commercial work, mostly does handyman type work for residential, I know for a fact that he is a very solid 6 figure a year man, never a layoff and always busy.

I have a an electrician that does handyman type work down here in Florida, non union, works out of a van and lives in a $500,000 home and is always busy, many plumbers have the same story.

Whether it's union or not, you have to think out of the box and control your own destiny, some of the trades are a great starting point.

[Shad_Master]

CanalStalkin,  to try to steer the discussion back to your original topic - don't sell Community Colleges short and be cautious of those "trade schools".  The reason most Community Colleges cost less is because they are tax supported while the "trade schools" are not.  So the "trade schools" have to depend on getting you signed up for grants, but most likely student loans.

I work with a lot of guys who are changing careers because of an accident on the job.  Recently I became involved with a client who was half way through a training program at a "trade school" when I started working with him.  He was already heavily in debt to the school and would have had to start all over at the Community College.  In the end he graduated with the same degree, but was in debt for over $30K - where at the Community College the same degree would have cost less than $10K.

I'm not disparaging all "trade schools", but you need to do an apples to apples comparison on your own before drinkiing the Kook-Aid.

[FishingBuds]

CanalStalkin, to try to steer the discussion back to your original topic - don't sell Community Colleges short and be cautious of those "trade schools". The reason most Community Colleges cost less is because they are tax supported while the "trade schools" are not. So the "trade schools" have to depend on getting you signed up for grants, but most likely student loans.

I work with a lot of guys who are changing careers because of an accident on the job. Recently I became involved with a client who was half way through a training program at a "trade school" when I started working with him. He was already heavily in debt to the school and would have had to start all over at the Community College. In the end he graduated with the same degree, but was in debt for over $30K - where at the Community College the same degree would have cost less than $10K.

I'm not disparaging all "trade schools", but you need to do an apples to apples comparison on your own before drinkiing the Kook-Aid.

Good Point

[mrbassky]

I am with the union but most of my family is for the confederacy of the southern states. ;D

[bass or bass ?]

Any comment I could make would result in the immediate locking of this thread. :-X

X2.