Would you trust all of your fellow techs to boycott a specific plant on their word? I think you would find that even though it was agreed to in advance, most plants would get enough techs to get by with. A lot of locals would work no matter what. The utilities would be able to work around a non union organized boycott. Hell they probably will survive a union organized boycott.
Exactly why it didn't work in 90. So why will it work today?? Stuck my neck out then, watched a LOT of BIG talkers drive by the line every morning at VCS! Think I would do it again?? Not!Most nuclear workers would have a tough time in the real world, since some of the skills in a nuclear plant would be on the lower income bracket in non nuke, say decon/houskeeping.
Which is another reason the plants don't have to pay, it's not all rocket science!!! Thought Fitz was crazy for hiring folks off the street to release items from the controlled area (notebooks, handtools etc.), truth is, they probably did a better, more thorough job than I would have done sitting there all day!The reason your wages increased so much over the time you sat out is twofold. #1 you were grossley underpaid to start out with. #2 The law of supply and demand.
#2 pretty much says it all, huh? If you tell me, as a utility, you would generously pay MORE than you had to, to get a qualified person, you are fooling yourself, not me. How about some of the CEO's and VP's give a few million back, and distribute it to all of the worker bees?
Yeah, RIGHT! Come on JJ! Wake-up and smell the resin! justme and biloxi, one thing a national union can and will do, would be to assist with health care. If everyone is paying into the same fund, it will provide economy of numbers. Maybe they can line up several naitionwide providers so that you can use it anywhere.
Maybe the CEO's will give back some of those $$$$$$'s too!Not meaning to slam you sir, but after living through the last fiasco, this is still a real sore spot. I can say that it did wake me up a little. Started looking at everything, including my fellow technicians a little differently! Realized if you just follow the cow in front of you, you will end-up on someone's dinner table!
I've got my "cushy" house job. Good bennies, decent retirement (if I live long enough).
If I could start over with what I know today (starting to sound like the old coot that I am) I would have stuck a small piece away from every paycheck, and I would be retired today. Even in the old days when I was so drastically "underpaid", as you say, there is no excuse (other than my dumb self) that I am still working today. Can't blame Bartlett, Numanco, IRM, RAD, IBEW, etc.(told you I was old), or unions or non-union jobs.
If you want a better job and better pay, do something to separate yourself from the crowd. Whether it's more schooling, or just simply push for a job or position slightly off the same old path. (Industrial Hygiene has been berry, berry good to me!) Whatever comes of this, I truly hope it all works out for the best for those of you involved.
Walt