Rent a tech Union debate

[alphadude]

most of us that left oconee didnt go on the road we did other things- this was pre TMI so the demand was low to no for techs - this was all techs not just rad.

the traveller comment was in reguards to some one that benefits from others doing the work such as getting the wage higher (union) and not paying the dues or joining the union. 


are u some of the Bear Swamp harris?

[Already Gone]

Ok lets see dosnt that cositute a companies reputation... If I heard that company a was letting employees go when there was no just cause or if I witnessed a company acting in that maner ... wouldnt that tell me and other techs that "that company" wasnt the place to work for... I realize some companies has a numbers game to play but if I was treated what I would consider unfair I would post it to see others opions on the subject and guess what that means bad publicity for that particlular company ... and after while they would be hard pressed to find good employees to treat unfairly ... that would do better then anything a union could impose at my expense.... I dont know of anything that would require a union to help except pay I might not have received that I was due... and the way it stands now I handle that with HR depts ...  at  no cost to me  like  union dues...

Have you actually read anything on this site?  Plenty of bad-mouthing goes on here about at least one company.  Still, any tech without a job will work for them when they are called.  You simply cannot enforce your rights as an employee by threatening to say bad things about a company.
The fact is that you don't have a contract.  If you don't want one, okay.  That's your choice.  But you have no contract, no recourse, no pension, and nobody who will try to get those things for you.
From what I have read of your posts, it seems to me that you don't understand what a union does or why.  When your membership voted to give up a raise, it was probably to get something else instead.  It is very likely that the members saw more wisdom in funding the pension, or healthcare, or some other important benefit than in just putting the money into the paycheck.  If you don't like the way that works, you are better off without a union.  If you are only out for you - and to hell with higher pay and better benefits for everyone else - the union is better off without you too.

[alphadude]

wow get to the point beercourt - you da man!  i think that should close this up nicely

[Already Gone]

Hey,
I didn't mean to offend no one.  But, please, don't tell me that the SAFETY CULTURE that we ALL have in our line of work...is here because of the Union.  I didn't mean to insinuate that the Union isn't safe.  I was at Pilgrim, escorting a HEPA unit from outside the PA, with a pipefitter.  He decided he was going to his locker to remove his jacket, before he crossed the RCA boundary.  I told him I would just place the HEPA unit across the line for him, and my job was done.  He fanatically tried to tell me that "this is our equipment, you don't have a right to touch my equipment".  I came back and told him that it is "Radioactive Material", which makes it MY material, and I will do what is best for the situation.  Of course his bully, mafia like tactics didn't fare well with me.  At Braidwood, working generators, the operators came to drain the bowl.  I briefed them on the conditions of the platform.  They asked who performed the survey.  I said I did, just 30 minutes ago.  They replied that they need a survey from a house tech.  Of course my HOUSE supervisor got involved, and ...well, they drained the bowl.  My point is, you are trying to use 1930 tactics, in a 2007 world.  I get paid what the Union gets paid, I get a bigger bonus.  Don't feed all these false acusations on pay, better work conditions, equal pay.  My insurance plan is the same as the Union plan, same doctor, same price, same everything.  When I traveled for shared resources, our mileage, per diem was the same.  If I get fired from my job, it is due to much more than a union can protect me from.  If anything, these roadies will be making what WE make during an outage, which would probably be a lot less than what they are making now.  Ask Tina, she sounds like she has lived it.....Both sides alphadude!!  The best a union would do for you is benefits, and that is it.  But, it will also endanger your pay and diem.  Remember, business is give and take.

I won't bother with this thread any more after this, obviously I am lowering myself by responding.  

What you refuse to admit is that you are benefitting from the union without the need to be a member.  The reason your company so carefully matches turn-for-turn the package that a union would offer is so that you won't join one.  If there ever comes a time when the possibility of your workforce joining a union goes away completely, so will all those bennies.
Look, I have been exactly where you are.  I was a house tech at a non-union plant.  We got all the goodies.  There were weeks when I would make as much money on a Sunday as the contractors did for the whole week.  The company even published an admission in the employee handbook - although they didn't intend to.  It said that they believed that their employees didn't need a union because they were already giving us everything we could get with one.  They never realized that people who were smart enough to split atoms were also smart enough to see that the converse was true - that they gave us all that stuff so we wouldn't feel the need to join a union.  It was also quite clear that if we did join a union, they could take it all away and make us bargain to get it all back if we could.
When the time came for a union vote - and that time did come - they managed to get the NLRB to make the vote company-wide.  Naturally, all those clerks and low-level employees, who felt that they were lucky to get things like pensions and health insurance, stuck with the company and voted no.
When a union vote goes down like that, the company gets the upper hand.  Almost immediately, stuff started going away.  The retirement plan changed.  Health insurance contributions got smaller.  Double-time days could get changed to your day off - no matter what day of the week it was.  The 40 hour week actually ended DURING a shift for the Friday shift tech.  Yeah, as soon as the threat of unionizing went away, the shift HP could be working a 12-hour shift and go from one pay week to the next in the middle of the shift so the company could work him 44 hours without paying OT.  (The pay week ended ar Friday midnight for everyone else, but 4pm for the shift HP.  Different rules for everybody just to save the company $50/week.)  There was no contract in place to keep them from taking away all the stuff that they so "generously" gave us.
It wasn't any union organizer or union literature that made me want to vote in a union - it was the company who "took such good care of me" that made me vote YES.
So, sit in your catbird seat and brag all you want about all you are getting.  Just make sure to crow as loudly when you're not getting it any more.

BTW, I'm still here.  The company no longer exists.

[klsas]

Once again, someone has tried to interject useless information into the discussion. The Nukeman, who appears to be anti-union, is so happy to point out that the poll indicates what it does. The poll is based on 85 total votes. This is still barely 10% of the available techs. In a bit of pure boredom, I have gone back to page one to see how many people have posted and what they posted. Only 61 different people have posted on this thread. Not all of those have opined one way or another on the subject at hand. The actual postings show the subject is about even. I realize that I'm not a moderator, but please don't try to argue or prove a point with useless facts.

Keith

[SloGlo]

The Utility says fine, we will give that if you take a 3.5% Teamshare....Tops.  The Union says yes.  Meantime, I get nothing less than a 3% raise, and an opportunity for a 7% Teamshare.  If the Teamshare is only worth 40% of our Max, I still get MORE. 

my turn ina idiot box..... wotinell is a teamshare? 

[SloGlo]

You can also quit w/ no notice.

this benny is available in right to work, as well as union areas, and employ at will contracts. 

[SloGlo]

Oh Oh, Union just dropped below 40 percent on the poll. Amost 2 to 1 against.!!

i'm looking at pro 39.1%, anti 60.9% witch according to my finger math is 3:2 against.  mebbe eye shud use my tows?

[SloGlo]

slo go i know you know my cuz  larry addis

larry, i never met a bike i coodent ride, addis?  yeah, eye nos him.  haven't seen him in a berry long time.  tell him i said hi.   

[jjordan]

You might WATCH work JJ, but I do what is necessary to reduce exposure, AFTER my HP duties are COMPLETE!!  Union, non Union, I will help pull a recirc pump, I will help transport CRD's to the rebuild room, whatever.  Again, your job is what you make of it.  Of course they deserve better than you.....you just WATCH!!

azkidd, very good. Once again someone makes it personal. My handle is my name and vice a versa. I never said I watch work for money. I like to think I do a very good job at what I do. When I worked in a union plant, we had enough help to do all of the things you say you asisted the workers with. I do the same thing at my plant, because the workers are always short staffed. Funny how that works! I work a lot inter-departmental, more than most anyone I know, and all of the other craft like working with me. I move fuel, have mechanics quals, do IV's for OPS, work with IT, etc. But you think they deserve better. i'll let them judge not you. attack me if you have to, to make yourself feel important. I sometimes wonder why I bother speaking up for the benefit of everyone, when there are people that don't appreciate my concerns. You obviously work in a right to work state, and have choosen to ignore the rest of your fellow workers. That's a shame! Sometime you'll need the union and they are obligated to protect you just the same as a dues paying member. That's the real shame! If I was one of your union officials, and had to deffend you, I would do so to the best of my ability. I'm just glad I don't have too. Hooray for you, I'm glad for you that you get the extra money. Teamshare is a unusual name for a vehicle to shaft you fellow workers.
JJ

[jjordan]

this is unreal... you act like roadies have no security or benefits because we are non union....I have a 401K plan matched by the company that hired me ... I have an insurance plan that Id put up next to anyone else... I get a good hourly wage w/ overtime... vacation and sick days too ... and should I choose not to take the vacation/ sick day package I get the money per hour on my wage so I dont do without .... all this and Im not union and dont pay union dues ...  I get travel in and out on a project and per diem ... there is not one thing here that a union will get me that I dont already have as well as their union dues  my company makes sure my quals are up to date and I have hazwhoper and 8hr refreshers for safety concerns .... even if I join a union I still am not "garenteed" work ...unions lay off just like companies do ... so being in a union is no more a work gartentee then not being in one ... if you can show me why I should pay a union dues and what they would get me that I havent gotten for myself I'm listening 

Tina,
You must have died and gone to heaven, because i'm not familiar with any rent a tech company with all of that. Be carefull you don't post any pertinant data about the firm, because all of your anti union buddies will snake you out of a job, because they can and would. BeerCourt, you are my hero! Awsome posts!
JJ

[UncaBuffalo]

...because all of your anti union buddies will snake you out of a job, because they can and would...

?

[jjordan]

UncaBuffalo,
If she tells them who it is, They'll have more resumes than file drawers. Her employers may decide that Tina needs to go, because lots have more experience, better degrees, younger, male, ect, ect. Being there's no contract, she would be very much at risk. Hell she makes it sound so good, I'm going to quit here as soon as I find out where it is!
JJ

[azkidd]

I've posted lots, but ya'll got blinders on, or you're all 13 years old and I can't tell you anything! azkidd, last i checked when i was a union construction worker at a Union nuke, being covered by both union hose techs and non union contractors. I took direction from the techs (both kinds), and did the work, you just watched! HP will watch work for money!

Whatever!!  Go 13 year old

[vikingfan]

JJ first off my hat goes off to you ! You have put in countless hours trying to keep folks informed about the pro's and con's of a union all on your own time. I also want azkidd to know that while working the refuel floor at JJ's plant 2 years ago it was JJ who was there to help us out wether we needed additional hp coverage or just an extra hand when we had trouble with crd's that would not uncouple. Or to help out during cavity decon operations when the decon staff was severly understaffed and needed some hp techs to help out. he also goes out of his way to make everyone feel appreciated while working there. once again JJ your the best !!

JJ

[jjordan]

JJ first off my hat goes off to you ! You have put in countless hours trying to keep folks informed about the pro's and con's of a union all on your own time. I also want azkidd to know that while working the refuel floor at JJ's plant 2 years ago it was JJ who was there to help us out wether we needed additional hp coverage or just an extra hand when we had trouble with crd's that would not uncouple. Or to help out during cavity decon operations when the decon staff was severly understaffed and needed some hp techs to help out. he also goes out of his way to make everyone feel appreciated while working there. once again JJ your the best !!

Thank You for the kind words. As for me being self absorbed, I don't think so. this isn't about me, it's about me trying to make things better for all of the rent a techs. Not JJ, but you all! Even Walt, azkidd, Tina, SGT, nukeman, GeorgeBadkitty, and any other anti union poster I may have forgotten. Tina, you never made it personal, always on a proffesional level. Thank You.if I've attacked anyone personally, please accept my apologies. I don't recall doing it, and if I did, it was unintentional. That's not really my style. As for disagreeing, this is a thread on a forum that I started. You had 2 options for or against. I didn't lock you out if you disagreed,. I tried to explain my feelings and positions through personal experiences, and reading lots of information on unions. I never expected everyone to agree, and never expected to convert everyone to my way of thinking. I do know that several posters have insulted me personally, but that's OK. I accept the fact that I'm just a mediocre tech. I do the best I can with what I've got. Come to Brunswick and see for yourself. BTW the wages are kind of low because we don't have a union here. But we treat you real nice. Try and pay your mortgage with that!
JJ

[SloGlo]

j..... mudder theresa..... jordan!  woodant cha know that peepel wood take off on yew because they can't git reel far on da subject!  yinz still gots weigh more patience than eye due. 

i worked off and on jjordan fer years.  altho its been a long time since we crossed paths, there is no one that i'd rather crew with.  none.  well, one, butt she gotta body that........... oops, anudder subject matter almost got in there.  anyway, this man has worked the shoes offa most people he's been along side of, 'n worked the butts of those who opposed him.  to take what he says as a plant creed item 'n bash him with it is..... fairly infantile.  'n not very fair, either.  this is one of the squarest shooters that i have ever worked with.  maybe not the squarest you have, butt jjordan 'n i go back to before u2 at the beav wuz finished 'n here's hoping we git anudder chance to do a job agin.   
as far as putting union beliefs on this thread..... duh!  that's the freaking topic. 
now, i'll put a number out there, sumbuddy tell me iffen i'm wrong, k?  i think an hourly rate package for a ibew union tech should be ~$47/hr.  is this close?

[jjordan]

j..... mudder theresa..... jordan!  woodant cha know that peepel wood take off on yew because they can't git reel far on da subject!  yinz still gots weigh more patience than eye due. 

i worked off and on jjordan fer years.  altho its been a long time since we crossed paths, there is no one that i'd rather crew with.  none.  well, one, butt she gotta body that........... oops, anudder subject matter almost got in there.  anyway, this man has worked the shoes offa most people he's been along side of, 'n worked the butts of those who opposed him.  to take what he says as a plant creed item 'n bash him with it is..... fairly infantile.  'n not very fair, either.  this is one of the squarest shooters that i have ever worked with.  maybe not the squarest you have, butt jjordan 'n i go back to before u2 at the beav wuz finished 'n here's hoping we git anudder chance to do a job agin.   
as far as putting union beliefs on this thread..... duh!  that's the freaking topic. 
now, i'll put a number out there, sumbuddy tell me iffen i'm wrong, k?  i think an hourly rate package for a ibew union tech should be ~$47/hr.  is this close?

That's somewhere in the ball park SloGlo. Somewhere in the mid 30's for wages, then the pension, and espeacially the hospitilization. The contract company needs their cut too. They do have a good bit of overhead. oh and thanks for the kind words too. you haven't called me "mother" for a long time! Miss working with you, but don't miss the PA winters. You're gonna have to come down here. we have this brewery!

[jjordan]

Just got my march copy of Money magazine. Here are a few interesting figures from it.
Boomers have more spendable income than their parents
.
Boomers.3 to 1 ratio of wealth to earnings
Parents 2.2 to 1

But only 39% have a pension plan now.
In 1981 81% had a plan

Male life expectancy has increased 1.7 years  since 1983

Out of pocket doctor bills as a % of social security benefits,

1980 7%   2030 20%

It also predicts without changes to Social security, The fund will be totlly out of money in the year 2040.

This may or may not impact you. I hope it does me! The unions would try to get you some sort of pension, and affordable healh care, which will probably impact us all the most as we age. I wonder if the out of pocket medical included viagra?
JJ

[biloxoi blues]

I just wish I could get the same pay as the Idaho techs.  Those techs must be something special to get all that pay.  Did ya see they even pay the motel bills on the travel path and what almost .49 cents/mile for travel?  My favorite company must not have bidded on that contract.

[vikingfan]

Don't all the companies pay .485 per mile when using your personal vehicle and 1-2 days diem,8 hrs travelpay at your payrate

[SloGlo]

Don't all the companies pay .485 per mile when using your personal vehicle and 1-2 days diem,8 hrs travelpay at your payrate

only iffen they go the max allowed.....
 
IR-2006-168, Nov. 1, 2006

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2007 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2007, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (including vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

48.5 cents per mile for business miles driven;
20 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes; and
14 cents per mile driven in service to a charitable organization.
The new rate for business miles compares to a rate of 44.5 cents per mile for 2006.  The new rate for medical and moving purposes compares to 18 cents in 2006. The primary reasons for the higher rates were higher prices for vehicles and fuel during the year ending in October.

The standard mileage rates for business, medical and moving purposes are based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. Runzheimer International, an independent contractor, conducted the study for the IRS.

The mileage rate for charitable miles is set by statute.

A taxpayer may not use the business standard mileage rate for a vehicle after using any depreciation method under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS), after claiming a Section 179 deduction for that vehicle, for any vehicle used for hire or for more than four vehicles used simultaneously.  Revenue Procedure 2006-49 contains additional information on these standard mileage rates.

Related Items:

Revenue Procedure 2006-49


Subscribe to IRS Newswire






   

[jjordan]

Don't all the companies pay .485 per mile when using your personal vehicle and 1-2 days diem,8 hrs travelpay at your payrate

Last I knew they only paid a fraction of that. Capped it at amonts like $150.00, no matter how far you drove. Some sites only paid one way, usually in. you had to wrk your way back across country. I had to do that once from San Onofre. went to STP, then Surry, then home. I don't need a union, I'm creative and flexible. See just bend me over!
JJ

[jjordan]

OK, OK maybe I've been out of the loop a little too long. I've been house over 8 years now. I'm just gauging by what we pay our contractors here (PGN) We are paying somewhere in the low 20's per hr. Not too many other perks either. i was just reflecting on how wonderfull Tina has it, and was wondering if there were lots of jobs like hers out there? It's got to be DOE or some off the wall little project. I think there are only 2 major players in commercial right now, Bartlett, and Atlantic, with a few new start ups. I don't think anyone in that space is paying that well with bennies like she is saying. I'm very curious though and thought I'd ask.
JJ

[vikingfan]

ok so the 2007 mileage rate for business travel ( i.e traveling from home to site x or y) then why are companies A,B, or C only paying about 2/3 of the federal rate ? and not paying folks 1 day of per diem for their day of travel to site, which should also include 8 hours of pay for the travel day.