Any Union workers sittin on the bench?

[SERVED_USMC]

Being a boilermaker also consists of being an iron shipbuilder. All of the structural work done to the barges that the horseshoe casino in Hammond now sits on was done by boilermakers. Im gonna start making phone calls tomorrow and try and line something up for at least the winter while its slow, and hopefully with a little bit of background I would be able to bring home a decent paycheck.

 

[Vigilant]

Just a question, but, is there NO work in your specific trades, OR is there no UNION work? What I mean is, are there non-union jobs in your trades that you can take, but will not? Not a flame, but I know several ex-union workers that are plying their trade year round. Union, non-union, is your choice, but I am curious to know if ALL the work is dried up, or all the work you, as union members, are WILLING to do is gone? Again, it is your choice, neither right nor wrong, I am just asking.

 

[clt46910]

I am a non-Union construction electrician. Been laid off for a couple months now. The work is dried up for most of us.

 

[joker7037]

They haven't laid off here, yet. Right now the are asking for people to go on voluntary temporary layoff (Jan. 5 thru March 30) . If that goes as planned there should not be any mandatory layoffs. I work for Cummins and belong to the Diesel Workers Union.


Chris

 

[turnandshoot4]

I have a buddy in the pipefitters 597 and he is pulling in 40 hours a week. He's just glad it isn't 80 anymore.

 

[SERVED_USMC]

Just a question, but, is there NO work in your specific trades, OR is there no UNION work? What I mean is, are there non-union jobs in your trades that you can take, but will not? Not a flame, but I know several ex-union workers that are plying their trade year round. Union, non-union, is your choice, but I am curious to know if ALL the work is dried up, or all the work you, as union members, are WILLING to do is gone? Again, it is your choice, neither right nor wrong, I am just asking.

As of right now there is no work. Since the auto industry has started to go under they havent been ordering any steel. When the mills have no orders they dont produce anything. Most of the mills around here make hi grade steel for vehicles and house hold appliances. No one is spending money on these things right ow so there is no need for companies to order the steel to make them. Now Im not saying that we only have work out of the mills, thats not the case. There were a lot of people that got laid off from maintence work (there all the time) and they cancelled jobs before they started to save money. I wont refuse to work non union if there isnt any work. Ill do what I have to to pay the bills. There is just nothing out there right now period.

 

[MrsGungho]

as USMC said, there is little to no work out there. Hubby would prefer to work in a non-union shop, he's sick to death of the politics of it all. When there's nothing there though, there is nothing there.

 

[BIG TIM]

Hello everyone. Just thought I would add my name to the list of laid off workers here. I'm a member of UAW local 1111.(Ford indy) I'm loving the debate on capital hill about loaning the big three money to save four million jobs. I BET IF THOSE IDIOTS WERE LOSING THEIR JOBS, MONEY WOULD BE NO OBJECT!

 

[SERVED_USMC]

I agree. It will hurt a lot of people in the long run. I dont think that this money is going to have that big of an impact though, people arent going to invest in a company who has already in trouble.

 

[Jack Ryan]

50 production and skilled mixed at getting laid off at GM Bedford today. That's 10% of the plants work force and my guess is it will get a lot worse. You can top that off with ALL OF THE OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS. All of the install work will be coming back in house now. It seems they are no longer in any big hurry to get it done.

Those contract construction jobs are good jobs, 25-30 dollar an hour union iron workers and such for the most part and I'd guess those average a couple hundred people's job of work that just disappeared. Those will never show up in the news papers, you'll just see 50 UAW members on permenant lay off this week. When they say indefinate or permenant lay off they aren't playing games. You are gone.

 

[SERVED_USMC]

Well congress shot down the bailout for Chrysler and GM, apparently Ford doesnt need it anymore?!? Of course Wall street continues down the slippery slope of inevitable failure. What more proof do you need that not giving them this money will be detrimental to the country as a whole? They were quick to give the money to the ailing banks, in turn they gained interest in the countries private sector. Riots anyone??

 

[Vigilant]

Well congress shot down the bailout for Chrysler and GM, apparently Ford doesnt need it anymore?!? Of course Wall street continues down the slippery slope of inevitable failure. What more proof do you need that not giving them this money will be detrimental to the country as a whole? They were quick to give the money to the ailing banks, in turn they gained interest in the countries private sector. Riots anyone??

Ford stated from the beginning that they did not need it YET, but that it would be good insurance to have. I disagree with the bailout of ANY private company by the government, we already have that in place with the Bankruptcy Code(not that that is much better). I don't have the solution, just my experience in small business. If you do not have the money for it, you DON'T do it.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Don't we already have plenty of bail out threads to argue that in?

Let's not clutter up this thread with it where people are doing their best to try to help each other who is looking for work.

 

[Lock n Load]

Just a question, but, is there NO work in your specific trades, OR is there no UNION work? What I mean is, are there non-union jobs in your trades that you can take, but will not? Not a flame, but I know several ex-union workers that are plying their trade year round. Union, non-union, is your choice, but I am curious to know if ALL the work is dried up, or all the work you, as union members, are WILLING to do is gone? Again, it is your choice, neither right nor wrong, I am just asking.

Its probably been answered, but UAW layoffs there is no work.... you are referring to a hiring hall like for the electricians locals IBEW, they go to different jobs/ sites. We work in a specific plant.

I am yet another UAW Local 98 International Truck and Engine (IHC) thats been off since May '08.

 

[possumpopper]

I work at Subaru of Indiana, a non union Japanese plant. They have added a few non-production days to us but we haven't been affected quite as much as some.

Here's my view on the big 3 - The UAW is going to bankrupt these companies. At one time the UAW was needed but now they have added so much more cost to every car produced by the big 3 they can't turn a profit.

Just said my piece - Don't mean to offend anyone.

 

[maniox74]

union guys arent the only ones suffering guys unfortunately. i am a former union member left because of the bad work three and a half years ago and work was great til now its hurting all over the board. good luck to all of you

 

[Lock n Load]

I work at Subaru of Indiana, a non union Japanese plant. They have added a few non-production days to us but we haven't been affected quite as much as some.

Here's my view on the big 3 - The UAW is going to bankrupt these companies. At one time the UAW was needed but now they have added so much more cost to every car produced by the big 3 they can't turn a profit.

Just said my piece - Don't mean to offend anyone.

Not offended, just want to present facts vs.. image.

UAW wages typically account for 10-12% of a large companies expenses, they wont cut the million dollar wages of the management, they cant buy their steel any cheaper.... they can only cut wages of the working man.

Our local has given up benefits, taken a wage cut in COLA (cost of living allowance, not pepsi for pay!!!) taken major hits in insurance out of pocket expenses etc..... but the company gave a $1.2 million hiring bonus to hire an accounting VP that never worked for or even performed work for them yet.... and I should take some cuts!!!

Pay and benefit cuts are never a solution for mismanagement!!!

10% in wages bankrupt a company..... thats like saying your utilities can bankrupt your household..... its the cruises, large car payments etc....

Back on topic.... funny that we have 600 laid off, and only 60+ workers in the plant, but no management have lost their jobs???? Does it still take 8 people in HR to take care of 60 vs 660 people??? They have moved supervisors to ther plants, but those plants have less workers too, less workers and more management!!! Whats this costing the Co.??? No savings could be found there???

 

[Vigilant]

Nevermind wrong thread

 

[SERVED_USMC]

Don't we already have plenty of bail out threads to argue that in?

Let's not clutter up this thread with it where people are doing their best to try to help each other who is looking for work.

I just meant to point out that with the bailout being shot down that its not going to go well for the working man who is going to feel most of the impact.

 

[Jack Ryan]

I just meant to point out that with the bailout being shot down that its not going to go well for the working man who is going to feel most of the impact.

Yep and they are feeling it right now. I'd guess at least 200 good paying construction jobs of all types just right here in Bedford in the past week alone, plus the 45 UAW people who worked for GM.

They've already put several million dollars in construction here retooling and already paid for several multi-million dollar die cast machines. One has been installed but they will never run melting for one machine.