Electrician's Union Update

[Junket]

So I checked out the local Union here in New Orleans.

If I had no experience and were to start at the very bottom, I'd be startin' at 10.55 per hour.

I'm already makin' 12, and am due to make 14 by the end of next month for 6 months of work.

I'm a bit torn, because while I was told my time and pay with this non-Union shop can count as credit for me, the idea of having to wait a year for a pay increase discourages me. They did say that they negotiate something with me if it's a drastic pay deduction. I don't like the idea of being held back in terms of pay, or in terms of what they will or won't let me do on the job site. I also don't like the idea of being hazed or treated like some bitch just because.

On the flip side, I'd like to learn more about the theory side of electrical work, so the classes would be great, and I'm feeling like the full benefits would outweigh the pay deduction. After all, breakin' an ankle after fallin' off a ladder would easily clean out at least 1/3 of my savings. Maybe half... Not only that, but when I move to a different city, I should be able to get in with their locals. Right?

I'm torn. But in the mean time, I'm waiting for my transcripts to come through, so I have some time to think.

Thoughts?

[anachronistic]

I'm not sure what to tell you... but you should consider studying electricity. That sounds like a good idea.

[shh!]

Aside from pay, what benefits will you get by joining the union? Health insurance? Pensions?

[Junket]

Aside from pay, what benefits will you get by joining the union? Health insurance? Pensions?

Yep, all of that.

[shh!]

That stuff is valuable.

[Aegis]

Yeah, health insurance is no joke...was awhile I didn't have health insurance...do you know how fun skiing is with out it? It's not. At all. I still did, but I skied like a freakin' grandma.

I don't have many of the facts, but it's probably a worthwhile investment.

[shh!]

I can't imagine doing this kind of work with no insurance. It's really awful anyone would hire you without providing it.

[anachronistic]

No kidding. Any hard manual labor you should be seeking out health insurance.

[Junket]

Aw, man.

I didn't even tell you guys about how I was installing an outside light fixture, in the middle of a thunderstorm, on a ladder, leaning against metal siding.

Or how I was 10 feet up on that ladder...on a 15 foot landing, 2 feet from the edge...when my co-worker slipped and knocked my ladder 1 foot closer to said, edge.

Yep, I almost fell 25 feet today.

And it wouldn't have been surprising had I actually gotten struck by lightning.

WOOOOOOO!

[shh!]

Get the insurance. It sounds like you are gonna need it.

[DoesntMatter]

I hate unions. Just throwing that out there

[Aegis]

Unions suck if you don't need anything from them, and they're great if they can furnish you with things that benefit you. Keyword being "you" or the individual to which the statement is applied.

[Gribble]

Dude. You cannot afford not to have the insurance. It is wroth many, many times more than a couple of bucks an hour.

[shh!]

I hate unions. Just throwing that out there

I do, too, but what choice does someone have when their employers are exploiting them?

[Junket]

I understand people's dislike of the Union, however, so long as Unions stay small, and people have the right to choose to join or not to join, it really brings some balance to society.

Socialism on a small scale, really isn't that bad.