Rent a tech Union debate

[SloGlo]

iffen it dawnt say union made, it ain't union made.  iffen it sez union made, eye yam betting it's made ina u.s.  over sees stuff ain't union made, don't say union made. 

[Marlin]

iffen it dawnt say union made, it ain't union made.  iffen it sez union made, eye yam betting it's made ina u.s.  over sees stuff ain't union made, don't say union made. 

We are not on the same wave length. I am saying that there is a lot of work previoulsy done by union labor now being done overseas in sweat shops with little or no safety or environmental oversight even if it is on the books for that country.

[SloGlo]

We are not on the same wave length. I am saying that there is a lot of work previoulsy done by union labor now being done overseas in sweat shops with little or no safety or environmental oversight even if it is on the books for that country.

ooh, eye sea.  sew da unions shud make udder countrees have safety 'n environmental oversight?  !!!!   iffen yer warried about dat stuff, yinz shud make yer own while trying to comply with da applicable regs.  iffen yer want two make yer dollar go further, by chinese.  if ya want more dollars to go as far as da few ya gots now, go union.  iffen yinz wants nuke power, build a plant.  iffen ya wants udder countrees to have power, build them a plant.  then watch two see witch plant lasts longer.

[Marlin]

ooh, eye sea.  sew da unions shud make udder countrees have safety 'n environmental oversight?  !!!!   iffen yer warried about dat stuff, yinz shud make yer own while trying to comply with da applicable regs.  iffen yer want two make yer dollar go further, by chinese.  if ya want more dollars to go as far as da few ya gots now, go union.  

   Dang we still aren't on the same wave length. I am not proposing anything these are statement of facts. If anything could be inferred by this, it is that the unions failed to represent their people in a responsible manner. Cost of transportation is not cheap, going overseas for labor should make it prohibitive. The Japanesse have no problem using US labor, union or otherwise, to mitigate the cost of transport and gain good will. Most are not union but they tend to pay union scale to keep them out.
   

[LaFeet]

 Most of you that know me know that I do not like to get angry, and that it is very difficult to piss me off..  I actually took offense to this  statment....

so which one of you renters is going to pay monthly dues to stay afloat in the union-most are addicted to unemployment and a few even hit the welfare line when hunger sets in.

I personally loathe using unemployment.... keep me busy, pay me for what I am worth.... and I will CONTINUE to provide for my family.  Fortunately for me and mine... I managed to retire once and the benefits will help shelter my family until Congress takes that away beause they might feel under paid again.

I continued reading and realized I might have allowed myself to be exposed.

so which one of you renters is going to pay monthly dues to stay afloat in the union-most are addicted to unemployment and a few even hit the welfare line when hunger sets in.

as any great organizer knows it take guts and stamina to be in a union and make it work-i don't see that in most techs.

Okay Alpha   Ill be your Omega.....  I would pay those dues... and I am ANTI UNION.  But I do not see anyway that we can continue to provide ADEQUATE services with at least COMPETENT people without some type of UNITY.   

Sign me up, pencil me in, put me in Coach.... I really love this work.  But I think our future is in perile.

[Marlin]

   Dang we still aren't on the same wave length. I am not proposing anything these are statement of facts. If anything could be inferred by this, it is that the unions failed to represent their people in a responsible manner. Cost of transportation is not cheap, going overseas for labor should make it prohibitive. The Japanesse have no problem using US labor, union or otherwise, to mitigate the cost of transport and gain good will. Most are not union but they tend to pay union scale to keep them out.
   

   After taking this detour a point to be made is that any union now to be successful has fit its application. Traditional unions for renta-techs would not have provisions in it for tool boxes and not having to supply your own tools on a job as the one with the last effort by the IBEW. The union should be able to provide some benefit to the utilities as well. I worked in outage management at one plant where it proved to be beneficial to use the trade schools to satisfy job requirements and the union made it possible to hire only those specifically trained for one facility. The last effort to organize had the IBEW expecting the techs to stand up to the plate and the techs thought the union would take of business and as a result nothing happened.
   After that diatribe I still think that it is unlikely that a union will happen due to the nature of the job and the fairly independent nature of the people in it.

[alphadude]

yes marlin as we have stated for the last two years on here ... this horse is not only dead but the K40 in its bones have decayed off totally..  maybe we can cover this dead topic with 6 feet of dirt... IT AINT GONNA HAPPEN

[biloxoi blues]

Don't let them get to ya LaFeet it seems there are a  minority of people who are  house or go house that they are able to throw stones at  poor rent a techs and sometimes their heads or so far up their own tails they don't even know they are doing it.  (forgive them) And as far as rent a techs who are addicted to the unemployment wages I know a millionaire or two who have no problem cashing those gov't checks every two weeks.   Hey,  I earned that too.   Alphadude is right about the rent a techs not becoming union, but one of the main reasons is that there are a lot of rent a techs  who don't want the union, me included. (I probably wouldn't mind if I was union if I were an house tech).  For the seasonal techs who would like a job under the table I have been in a corporation for 6 years now and are group is looking for non-degreed professionals (so we can keep our wages down). If you can turn a light switch on you can be our electrical engineer, if you been on/in a court you can be our lawyer (basketball players welcomed) and of course if you have hung caution tape or wore a hard hat/safety glasses you can be our safety engineer.

[RADBASTARD]

biloxoi blues i heard your 1 of those millionares that cash's those checks still.

[DJ@Retired]

yes marlin as we have stated for the last two years on here ... this horse is not only dead but the K40 in its bones have decayed off totally..  maybe we can cover this dead topic with 6 feet of dirt... IT AINT GONNA HAPPEN

One thing I learned in life. Things do change. I'm working on gettin a union. I can't give any facts yet but it will be though a different route then RP Techs,

[Rennhack]

You're a house tech and already have a union!  Why are you working on getting a union?

He has a big heart, and is trying to help others.

[Rennhack]

I don't remember anyone asking for help!  Why is it that 2 house techs, him and JJ, are so worried about getting us into a union?

That's a good question.

[Moparmaniac]

I don't remember anyone asking for help!  Why is it that 2 house techs, him and JJ, are so worried about getting us into a union?

Perhaps they have seen the benefit and want to share it with others?  They've got more fortitude than most have, that's for certain.  If I was in their shoes I'd say screw it if ya'll don't want the help, fine!  I wouldn't put up with the whining & crying against it that's gone on in here. 

As far as nobody asking for help you're right.  The original question is would you want to join a union or not?  The pros & cons get discussed and if it could ever get past the discussion stage then it could still go to a vote and be defeated.  I don't think it could get that far because I don't think ya'll can agree on what to have for a dinner, much less on somebody trying to get a better deal for you.  Just knowing that fact I don't know what everyone's scared of.

[LaFeet]

My daddy taught me years the only person who has your best interest in mind, is yourself.  Anyone else probably either wants something or they have their hand in your pocket.  Sometimes both!

That may hold true for most... but there are those that look at the big picture.  I always envision a TEAM apporaoch.  And one aspect that seems to always help is that when I take care of my people, they take care of me.  I want me group to be productive, safe and fun.  But for this to happen, they have to work together -  heck, they have to work - period.  As for a Union, I dont like it personally, but Id gladly join if it would better our pay, benefits and work.

[Already Gone]

I don't have your best interest at heart - at least not so much as my own.  By posting here, I'm looking out for ME and MINE.
There may come a day when I'll be swinging a meter again to pay my bills.  If that ever happens. I want the best that I can get for my family.
A lot of discussion happens here about how the ren-a-techs get the short end of the deal, but nobody offers any constructive advice about how to change that.

By trying to get you to fight for your best deal, I am also trying to get you to fight for me too.  In exchange, I'll fight for yours.  This only works when we do it together.

We use the word "we" a lot around here.  "WE" are getting under paid.  "WE" don't get enough work every year.  "WE" don't get good benefits.  "WE" don't get fully compensated for out travel.    ......etc., etc.

If "WE" are getting shorted together, then "WE" have to pull together to get out of this mess.  There is nothing wrong with looking out for number one.  Sometimes though, it is necessary to join the strength of the crowd in order to benefit from it.

I jumped into this discussion mostly because I see that there is a lot of complaining about the inequity, but nobody wants to do what it takes to change that.  If you don't want a union, don't join one.  But, talking it over first won't hurt you.  I hoped for years to make the best possible living without a union (I don't like their politics, and I have a lot of the same misgivings as many of the people here who are against unionization.) but that didn't work.  For now, I don't need a union, and I don't want one.  If I become a contract RP tech again, that will change.

For those who "didn't ask" for any help, I don't recall any forum rule that makes it necessary fo one to be asked before posting an  opinion here.  If you don't want to read what I post here, then don't read it.  But nobody (that is NO-BODY) needs your permission to post on NukeWorker.

[alphadude]

I beg to differ.. i always state that the way to improve things is to get more education.. process change..

but the choice of being a rent a tech is just that a choice.  its a vocation you chose with eyes open and its a situation that is iconic in that RATs are always RATs. otherwise become a safety person, an IH person, an EMT and so on. HP RAT is a good job... pay is above average, you only sweat because its hot not due to calories burned, you work with highly educated people in most cases (notice I didnt say highly intellegent), its a fairly clean work place, there is a corrective actions program that if you know how to work it -it gets results, whistle blowers are protected, exposures are low- (remember 12 rem a year) and so on.  no one get whipped, no one gets cancer dose, (if you do its your own fault) you get paid for what u agreed too, !!!!!?  It boils down to some people dont like the special treatment others may get from company owners or providers.  Life sucks sometimes, put a sock on it an go on. You could be a greeter at Walmart.

[DJ@Retired]

I don't remember anyone asking for help!  Why is it that 2 house techs, him and JJ, are so worried about getting us into a union?

Try this on for size. I was a contractor for 19 year's. The most I ever made was 12.50 @ 50 a day. Our union Contactor techs here get over 30 an hour and almost a 100 a day. That's what I've done as steward here negotiated with Bartlett. I would like to see everyone get these benefits. What is in it for me? Brotherhood, Strength in numbers and Satisfaction in knowing that we have a union finally for all.

[Moparmaniac]

My daddy taught me years the only person who has your best interest in mind, is yourself.  Anyone else probably either wants something or they have their hand in your pocket.  Sometimes both!

Thanks for your profound opinion and insight.

That's not necessarily a bad way to keep your back covered, even if it's not necessarily true.  There are actual people living on the planet right now who would sacrifice their well-being for someone elses.  Sounds like daddy didn't trust anyone.  You don't usually get screwed that way but it's hard to make friends if you trust no one.

Thanks for recognizing the profundity, simple though it may be.

[Eric_Bartlett]

Try this on for size. I was a contractor for 19 year's. The most I ever made was 12.50 @ 50 a day. Our union Contactor techs here get over 30 an hour and almost a 100 a day. That's what I've done as steward here negotiated with Bartlett. I would like to see everyone get these benefits. What is in it for me? Brotherhood, Strength in numbers and Satisfaction in knowing that we have a union finally for all.

DJ, your welcome. 

[alphadude]

Eric is a sound business man-as long as his margins dont suffer-he will provide. Sorry to say but it all does come down to the numbers.. been there still doing it.

[DJ@Retired]

DJ, your welcome. 

I wish I could take credit for it all. Bobby Dean, Johnny Johnson, Ken Frick IBEW 51 all Put the contractor together,  But thank you Eric and Bruce

[SloGlo]

Eric is a sound business man-as long as his margins dont suffer-he will provide. Sorry to say but it all does come down to the numbers.. been there still doing it.

eric duz union hp techs when da contract calls for them.  bin der, dun dat, woar out da tshirt.

[UncaBuffalo]

since they ain't listed here under training, perhaps yinz should start a thred listing them. 

I did start a thread for the EITC program when they fired it up...think it's in "Colleges".

The other three are ISU, that Duke Power thing that was being advertised on here about a year ago, and the program that's affiliated with STPEGS (this one  I haven't researched at all, but was told about by two seperate sources, so took it on faith...).

[jdnuke]

Hi out there.

Would like to know if others received emails from the organizers of the NPUA, not to work this spring?  My friends here in the East coast, received them.  These top organizers want people to not work, while the top 2, with significant others, are working the best paying plant in the country!  They are making there 38 to 40 dollars/hr and 160 a day, while asking others not to take the average 23/hr and 100 a day. It will take me both seasons (spring and fall) to make the amount they will make in one season. (and I don't want to hear that they are willing to sit out in Fall, they can afford it making their $45,000 in spring; this is accurate, I got the numbers from friends working out there).
A bit hypocritical, wouldn't one say.  They should be leading by example, not the do as I say, not as I do theory.  Are they the only ones with bills and families to feed?  They are making their money, but want others to sacrafice.  Doesn't sound like they care about anyone but themselves.
  Any expenses they may have in organizing (website etc) are not an excuse.  I don't recall being included in the decisions they make.  This thing is starting to sound like a corporation who have top executives who profit on the toils of others ( you know the big million dollar bonuses). I am not totally against unions, but this sounds like a crock.

Again, you should lead by example.

[shovelheadred]

..I didn't receive the mentioned email, but it sounds more like the walkout we tried in the 90's, that didn't work,,,only made long time arguments, from long time friends..although I haven't worked as an RP in a few years..I agree, this sounds like a crock. I am more in tune with what Beercourt has said about a better arrangement financially, and career wise concerning schooling, training and persuing better avenues outside the RP world, I did, and haven't had to call Eric in years( not dis-ing you Eric, as you have always treated me with respect and professionalism)..as I have worked with union labor over the last few years, they are better trained, have better benefits, insurance, retirement and have an agent that finds their work for them, whereas RP's are searching the internet and contacts for the best deal...so with my simple minded attitude, that only suits me, I would vote for a union, should it be technician oriented, verses a few top dawgs making a dollar off my labor..this is just my opinion..and this is an open website..so there you go...red