Union Jobs

[Junket]

So I'm gonna be finishing up the building maintenance course at my Tech school at the end of September. The plan is to move to Lawton, Oklahoma with my brother October 15th, at the earliest.

I'm gonna need a job, and just e-mailed somebody in the Oklahoma City Carpenter's Union. I have no idea who, I just found an e-mail and asked if they could provide me with information, or at least point me in the right direction.

I'm basically going into this blind.

Does anybody here have any experience with Unions? I heard they can be hard to get into if you don't know people. Least that's how it seems to work here in Philly.

[Gigabitch]

I was in Seafarer's International Union for a few years. There was a bit of cronyism, but I really found it to be pretty straightforward. Just pay your dues, that's Rule #1.

[Junket]

I've been lookin' on-line for jobs in that area. Unlike Philadelphia, very little is listed. I know there's jobs out there, but employers don't seem to be so internet inclined as they are here in Philadelphia.

I hate the mid-west.

I've been questioning my sanity by pullin' this.

[Gigabitch]

Um, why are you guys moving to Oklahoma?

[DoesntMatter]

Hey, now you can hang out with Steve while you're in Oklahoma. You'll already know people!

[Junket]

Um, why are you guys moving to Oklahoma?

I would be about 2-3 hours away from Amy in Lawton. She's North of Dallas.

My brother (he's 26) has been living in Lawton for the past...2 years? He's in the Army, and that's a big Army town. I figured I'd stay with him and his wife for a bit, help them with their bills and shit, and try to get into the construction field and maybe continue more tech school for a year.

All the while being that much closer to Amy. She just moved back to Texas and is currently looking for a job.

[Junket]

Hey, now you can hang out with Steve while you're in Oklahoma. You'll already know people!

That's true!

She could potentially be the first LF person I'd meet considering it doesn't seem like I'm gonna make it up to NYC to meet Tiay.

[anachronistic]

careful, she might steal you from nola.

[Tiay]

heh, aww, well, that's ok.

[ftheunion]

my username says how I feel about unions. They started off with good intentions, but now are communist and demand money and contracts for certain occupations. Just political bs. They just crave power over companies and workers alike.

[Junket]

my username says how I feel about unions. They started off with good intentions, but now are communist and demand money and contracts for certain occupations. Just political bs. They just crave power over companies and workers alike.

I'll take benefits over no benefits any day. That's why they'll never be rid of unions.

[Junket]

THREAD REVIVAL!

So here's the deal, I stopped by the Gulf Coast Construction Career Center (GCCCC) today, and applied for their program. It's a pre-apprenticeship program. They gave me a book with brief descriptions of all the trades they offer training for, and my original intent was carpentry. But everyone I've talked to in the building trades, says to go with electricity. So I decided to go with electricity.

HOWEVER

Looking through the book, Operating Engineer doesn't sound too bad. You basically get to operate all the large construction equipment, bulldozers, backhoes, cranes. As well was repair/maintain them.

So now I'm caught between Operating Engineer and Electrician.

Electrician might require more mathematical prowess than I currently possess, but I'm sure I'd do well enough if I'm eased into it.

I dunno what to do.

[vashti]

I was listening to an NPR show about the lack of skilled workers that can build "green" houses or can make existing houses environmentally friendly. I wish I could remember what they were called... apparently, they can write their own checks. I think they had something to do with electrical something or other...

[Junket]

So I worked a few hours today to help Barney (carpenter) finish up some work left over from last night.

Jack Bennett (architect), who owns the house and is essentially my boss, had an electrician there. While we were talkin' I mentioned that I was doing that state program which would get me into a union and such.

He then asked me: "So, are you...loyal to Bennett?"

"No, not at all...why?"

"If you don't mind, how much is he paying you?"

"10 bucks an hour."

"I'll pick you up for 10 bucks an hour, but you'll learn everything you need to become an electrician."

He said he used to work union, but he didn't like it because as a supervisor, he got a lot of shitty workers.

Monday I'm supposed to take that aptitude test for that state funded program at 8 am.

I'm supposed to meet that dude for the application at 7 am.

This is an opportunity I don't think I can let down.

I'm gonna go apply.

Funny how that shit works out.

[vashti]

Training is always a good thing if it leads to more $$$.