off topic: anyone here a union ironworker?

[speadfreak]

I just did a 360 degree career swap this week, after driving truck for 9 years.....so far it frickin sucks. Just wondered if anyone else here has made it through being a "punk". For the first 27 years of my life, if someone repeatedly insulted me, it was real easy.....they'd get hit in the mouth, then usually they shut up. This whole "punk" thing is a little different though. Just thought someone else has been in my shoes might be able to offer some encouragement.

 

[kevin2m4]

so you changed jobs and punched someone out at work?

 

[jrichker]

I think he is referring to the hazing given to newbies in the ironworker craft.

 

[Strype]

I went through hell delivering parts to mechanics shops... that made me decide to take out a student loan and finish college sooner. They were evil a$$hats for the most part. I've hated mechanic shops ever since

 

[speadfreak]

I think he is referring to the hazing given to newbies in the ironworker craft.

correct. Pretty much can't stand the fact that I am a grown man who gets treated like a twelve year old all day long. I may be their "punk" (what they call an apprentice), but I'm nobody's bitch. I have a wife, two sons, newer cars to drive,a pretty nice house and made enough money at my old job to support all of them and still have play money. Its hard to be treated so poorly at work all day long and then come home to your family and feel like the man of the house. I think alot of people that get into this apprentiship have absolutely nowhere else to turn(maybe younger kids), but that is not me and I'm thinking I might have made a mistake. I guess this abuse is just their tradition, but I just call it B.S. Scale in this area is 29.25ph with over 18.00 on top of that in benifits and it's supposed to go up to 36.00 soon.........just so you know why I was even interested in the first place. Like I said, just thought maybe someone else has "been there"

 

[speadfreak]

so you changed jobs and punched someone out at work?

LOL...no...but felt like it. That would pretty much get my fired on spot.

 

[RYC CUKR]

Not a union ironworker but I am a union electrician.

The first few years of being an apprentice were a little rough. They kinda try to weed people out. But most of the electricians I know are no where near as rough as the ironworkers. You guys are a crazy bunch of bastards.

Good luck. The only thing I can say is give it some time and it should get better.

 

[pistonhead351]

basically my whole family has been and are still ironworkers. they started out back in the day though so i dont know about hazing or ****. there all pretty crazy to.

 

[speadfreak]

Not a union ironworker but I am a union electrician.

The first few years of being an apprentice were a little rough. They kinda try to weed people out. But most of the electricians I know are no where near as rough as the ironworkers. You guys are a crazy bunch of bastards.

Good luck. The only thing I can say is give it some time and it should get better.

I sure hope so........my wife tells me that there aren't many things that scare me, but there are alot of things that piss me off......probably not the best recipe.

 

[kevin2m4]

i have worked at an auto assembly plant though, seems similar, i was 18 years old, making 15 an hour and the full time people were making close to 30. i just finished working there after 5 yearsmaking 18 an hour and they make over 30 plus bonuses.

i believe they are just busting your balls trying to see what youre made of. you must understand that working anywhere -especially in a boring factory - your whole life starts to turn black and white, boring.and soon as some new blood comes in its time to try to pick some excitment up. i had people saying all kinds of **** to me to see what i was made of, what i would do, people screwin up my process, tightening bolts and putting clear tape over places where i was to install mouldings, and didnt have time to fix it. i found myself flirting with every skinny married/single woman in sight.

just learn who they are, and i opened up to them, eventually everyone liked me once they realized i was no-ones ********** or bitch.

 

[85GTlover]

I am an Ironworker have been in the trade for 11 years now. Started at 21. I never really had any problems like that, I guess I was lucky, but I know many that have and I bet the guys bugging you had it happen to them, likely worse. I know it must bug you but I would say just let it in one ear and out the other and %$# them. Don't let it bug you after work either,it is a waste of energy. Just go to work everyday , work hard, learn all you can and take pride in your work, and try not to give the pricky guys ammo to bug you. Before long you will write the test get your c of q and if anyone bugs you then you make them pay, if you lose your job just go to the hall and get another one. Try to not let it show your bothered by the idiots, if they don't get a rise out of you they may stop as the fun is not there for them. Just don't give it up, finish the apprenticeship then you got something to fall back on even if you decide to do something else. And get your welding ticket, it really helps get work. I am just working on mine now, sure the money is good but you only get paid when your at work and around here it is hard to find full time steady work and most welders are usually always working. Also remember most of those older pricks are going to be retired in the next 10 years or so and then us younger guys can be the pricks if we should choose to. But me, no, I give respect when given respect and see no thrill in unwarranted abuse. These guys are supposed to be "brothers". Anyway that's my 2 cents from a fellow union brother, just have tough skin and think of the money and realize those guys are nobody in your life and and who cares about them.

 

[joeyd0730]

Like ryc, i am a union electrician here in ny, local3 i.b.e.w. eveyone has to deal with being a apprentice at one point, but when its all said and done, you have a good career ahead of you.

 

[Grn92LX]

Like ryc, i am a union electrician here in ny, local3 i.b.e.w. eveyone has to deal with being a apprentice at one point, but when its all said and done, you have a good career ahead of you.

I see you're home late for a friday

I used to be IBEW local 25, but we did a lot work in the city. How is work in your local, steady or lots of lay off's?

 

[speadfreak]

thanks 85GTlover, that helps. They do things a little differently altogether in my local. It's a 3 year apprenticship program. I have to attend school for 8 hours every friday for 11 months out of the year. Right now, I am only working a 40hr job, which drops me to 32hrs with school. We don't get paid for school, but we do get the benifits package for the 8 hours that we are there....which is good. An apprentice starts out at 70% of scale and moves up 5% every six months. So, if you do the math, 70% of 29.25 an hour at 32hrs a week....then subtract taxes and union dues..........I'm a little nervous and hoping that the next job will be overtime. It's one of those "have to take a step down before you take a step up" type of situations. I'll give it some more time.....I'm the biggest no-quitter you would ever meet (not always a good thing). Guys I am working with say that they have made better than 120k before, but thats a whole lot of OT, and my kids are still small.....you only get that time once. LOL...danged if you do, danged if you dont

 

[joeyd0730]

work is slow, we have 4,000 on the bench including guys on furlough. out of 15,000 members

 

[jrichker]

I think I understand why the hazing. If you are 30 stories up, walking a 6" wide steel beam, you want to know what the guy you are working with is made of. If he is unreliable, on drugs, drunk, or a hothead, let him find a job on the ground where his mistakes won't be so likely to get you both killed.