Seriously, WTF is wrong with the union boys? Our local sprinkler fitters went on strike today. The HVAC union struck last month, and Chicago's laborers are striking. I can only speak for the sprinkler side but the current package that the fitters had was worth $123,000/yr including benefits, etc. Take home is $88,500 on the check. All of the office employees have taken (more like been forced) two paycuts since December to the tune of 10%. Our margins are razor thin, we all work 50+ hours a week, and the non-union competition is really starting to make headway into our market. The contractor offer was a wage freeze for first and second years unless they meet some employment goals (approx 80% employment), if they meet that they get a raise, then a guaranteed 3% on the third year. They want 3% a year no matter what. A hundred thousand a year to screw pipe together, WTF. Is our union really that short sighted that they don't realize that they are pricing themselves and their livelyhood out of a market? Sorry, just had to vent, and when it comes to unions venting, the dungeon is the place to be. :down:
This happened in the early 80s with Masterlock and other unions. Apparently, history is not a union's strong suit.
They will push and push and eventually push themselves right out of their jobs. Some jobsites are union only but if they're on strike and the job has to get done . . .
The employer dealing with the union should just say "no habla English" next time they sit at the negotiating table.
... I told a couple of the fitters that I'm friends with that I was going to scab it out to non-union. They really didn't like that. My buddies were non-union carpenters, they had shirts made up that read: "scab, it's a sign of healing" and "Jesus was a non-union carpenter." Those really pissed off the strikers.
When employment is high, striking is a great way to extort money from the owners. Whn unemployment is over 10% and higher if you consider underemployed, striking is pretty stupid.
Tell me there is an error there somewhere? That is mid-level to managment for an engineer salary range.
He's not kidding and there's no error. Unionized, skilled trades have really good salaries and bennies.
wow. This is what I dont get about Metro laborers. $123k?? Same job in the South pays $60k tops with overtime factored in.
southern cal is just slightly behind that... our HVAC union pipefitters get about 110K total package. i work for a non union hvac company, managing some federal work right now at $55.80 per hour prevailing wage. a 5 year journeyman, who cant seem to show up to work on time 5 days out of the week, makes 110K right now. its insanity. i have offered multiple times to give up my salary and weld pipe the boss doesnt like it.
I worked in the South for a non-union company and was I surprised at the labor rates down there when I took off my first job.
