We gettin' phased out??

[pwrhawg]

We have always complained about being short handed.
We were told they are hiring every Lineman that passes the tests.
We are always being told we must do more with less.

Everyone is upset w/ management right now. People are leaving to work const., others are retireing. They are currenty a crew and a half short of when i hired on a while back. The crews they have are undermanned.

Now we are being told that they do not plan to fill all the oppenings they currently have. I understand Lineman are thin all over the country but we are a MAJOR utility and work in a rather large city that has constant growth, and they dont want to hire anybody??

Right now 65% of our statewide work force is in contractors (over 90% non-union), and our co. doesn't want to hire anybody??

Anyone else gone through something like this. I heard about the deal w/ TXU a couple years ago. Is the writing on the wall that something similar is coming for us.

[madcowboy33]

do you work for AEP, Tulsa? This crap sounds way to familiar!!!!!!!

[west coast hand]

What was the deal a couple of years ago with TXU what happened and what utility do you work for

[scammy]

first of all ya gotta go to the union meetings,,,then ya gotta find out if contractors are working overtime ,,then ya gotta know the contract,,,,and attack the co everytime they violate it ,, THEN YA gotta agree, (amongst your selfs )not to do 5 man jobs with 3 men ,,you call the shots,scammy

[loner]

yes you are the big companies want all contracter work .the only "employees" they want are t-men,gas servicemen and inspectors.

[pwrhawg]

What was the deal a couple of years ago with TXU what happened

Somebody from TXU can describe it better. I heard some were told they no longer work for the co. but for a contractor, and here is your new pay scale.

[pwrhawg]

first of all ya gotta go to the union meetings,,,then ya gotta find out if contractors are working overtime ,,then ya gotta know the contract,,,,and attack the co everytime they violate it ,, THEN YA gotta agree, (amongst your selfs )not to do 5 man jobs with 3 men ,,you call the shots,scammy

I kinda have to go to all the meetings. Contractors are working crap loads of overtime, but so are we, some almost a thousand hours a year. Our contract is slowly becoming more and more toothless with every "last, best and final" we see. We spend more time pissed at each other than we do at the co. Their is a wedge driven between 2 different docks and 3 different line departments. Some of it is *****ing about who has the best lineman and who is carrying the weight. If a brother is tired and needs some rest he gets called a lazy ass, but the ones who try to makes the union look good are called suck-asses.
We are a effin train wreck and the co knows all and sees all and they are drooling for the opportunity to murder us.

The older hands are just waiting to get out.
The younger hands make to much money to care.
The fighter's voices are falling an deaf ears.

We are screwed.

[johnbellamy]

.......................

[pwrhawg]

You just keep doin what your doin swamp. I'll continue to pay my dues and get you another raise. I'll get your price of insurance lowered and better benefits. I'll continue to fight for every scab wanting some form of retirement. Don't you all worry about that. I got it covered. Just sit their and let me pay my dues to make your life better. Just as long as you have a job NOW

And if we go so far as to strike and I give up my pay for you, will you please come accross my pickett line to help this poor multi-billion dollar co. And after we get better insurance for our retirees and then you get better ins. for your retirees will you put me on your Christmas card list.

And my front door is always open swamp. Feel free to come take any food from my fridge at any time.

[pwrhawg]

Some jobs have opened back up on the inside. That is a small improvement. No word an any new hires though.

[scammy]

pike has killed too many lineman,,no training for aps ,,no saftey cares ,,look at thier record ,,go union,,,at least ya got a chance,,,scammy

[johnbellamy]

It really ain't bout all that John.

It's about a Real Lineman...lookin for a job, or a new Grunt...Lookin for a job. NOW!

No Union Bull****....I'll go to work TOMORROW!!

Companys like Pike...Hire, guys like that.

Trust me....After a week...maby a month...they're either "cool" or....gone. Simple as that.
No Union bull****, they didn't "cut it".

I like work parctices like that.
"Walk it like ya talk it".....or ...."SEE Ya"!

Cut to the Chase......



.....................

[scammy]

I will say this,,,a lineman knows another lineman,,and a lineman (is)a lineman..scammy

[suddsy]

I often read into the union issues and have to laugh. I grew up union live union and will be union as long as I possibly can be. I saw good hardworking men walk off a job and pretty much force a company to close its doors over .50 cents an hour. They uproot there families because they believe they are worth more. a belief that is so solid that they will change everything in there life over things like benifits, retirement, leave time. These issues are what we as working americans have become entitled to because of unions.

it was only 100 years ago when someone would fall and be injured or killed and the company boss would simply say get that hunk of **** off my property, what are you lookin at? get back to work! It is nice that we have become such a bunch of entitled pansies that the company out of the kindness of there hearts offers things like sick days, retirement, and benefits.

I have heard people badmouth unions. I have heard them say that the union lied to us, they sold us down the river and I can only say WHAT??!!! The union is a union of its members the strength it has is the strength of many men and women formed together in solidarity. negotiate a contract for working conditions. the contract is a two sided agreement in which workers work and companys pay. these lazy *******s who think they don't have to work are the guys who are hamstring themselves and there fellow members. The Union didn't sell you down the river, you have sold yourself down the river.

If you would like to see where you will be if unions dissapear you can see it today in places like Dubai where unions are illegal. workers are housed in tent citys that make the shanty's of the great deppresion look regal. virtually zero in the way of sanitations. then when you go to work for 12+ hours in 100+ degree heat and make less than a dollar an hour so you can build what is turning into one of the richest nations in the world. That is where I don't want to be. I will not live in a society where I do not have a say in its laws I will not work for a company where I do not have a say in my working conditions.

[suddsy]

I in no way meant to preach psychological bull****. when I was 15 I watched first hand as the local mill which employed my father got shut down. Negotiations broke down and it went to a strike vote. Mgmt was trying to say that a mill which had turned a profit for the last 20 years was suddenly going to go under. they demanded that benies come out of employees pockets and that everyone would take a wage cut. These men and women were by no means cuttin a fat hog in the ass. about a month into the strike a bunch of lowlife wives of the striking millworkers decided they were going to strike against there husbands who had been supporting thier fat lazy asses for far to long. they set up right across the street with there picket signs and all. IDIOTS!! I am not going to advocate hitting women, BUT, quite honestly if it was the mother of my children I would bury her! Nobody crossed the plant ended up shutting down. The old mill gounds now have a chain link fence around an the land has been bare for going on 15 years.

The decision to be union should be idealistic and should be 100 % your decision. America is full of greedy ******* who will screw you over in a heartbeat. in a perfect world everybody gets thier slice of pie. Unions would not exist. If you are dumb enough to get sucked into someones BS that they are takin care of you then hears your sign! they are takin care of you alright. when you have 2 men working side by side one union one non-union, given everything else is equal. you will see the differance in the way worker is treated.

[west coast hand]

First off why is swamp even posting here this is the UNION ISSUES FORM NOT THE RAT FORM YOU BADMOUTH THE UNION AND NEVER EVEN WORKED UNION I HAVE NEVER WORKED RAT BUT I ALWAYS LIKE MAKING TOP DOLLAR SO IT NEVER INTERSTED ME

[west coast hand]

First off why is swamp even posting here this is the UNION ISSUES FORM NOT THE RAT FORM YOU BADMOUTH THE UNION AND NEVER EVEN WORKED UNION I HAVE NEVER WORKED RAT BUT I ALWAYS LIKE MAKING TOP DOLLAR SO IT NEVER INTERSTED ME

[OLE' SORE KNEES]

Gotta agree with ya' on that 1 Swamp, things are out of hand .I wrote a letter explaining just that to the IBEW big-dog international president..........no reponse as of yet anyway ..How you been Swamp,just got off a 10 day vacation and got back to fla. and was washing the bugs off momma's car and **** it ,it was hot, might've been the ribs and beer the last 10 days .....LOL....take care...alan

[shaun]

these lazy *******s who think they don't have to work are the guys who are hamstring themselves and there fellow members.

I see it everyday and it blows my F'n mind! I mean, man, it really pisses me off to no end. I can understand some of the older guys. They've been there, done that. They put in alot of time and sweat over the years, took a beating, and it shows. I take care of those guys. They don't even have to ask. I feel it's my responsibility. Some of the other lazy fookers tho....OH BOY.... they screw us all in a real bad way! Whatever suits them at that particular time is the LAW. So, are we gettin phased out? No, I don't think so. Are we F'n ourselves? Oh yeah..Big time.

[bean]

I work for a non union company and trust me if i could get a job with a union company i would nat have to.. We go where the work is. I'm not going to bull**** no one, i know nothing about the union. I work for Shaw in Virgina and we are a contractor for Dominion Power. They do not use the IBEW they use another union group i think it is The utility workers of america or something like that.. Guys ya'll may need to get intouch with someone from there and see how there's works. It is GOOD.... They have it made, we are not aloud any OT as a contractor. We get no storm work unless all there lineman have been called to come in, once they all get in ( the ones that wnat to that is) they see what is going on and then we might get a call. I have been here for a year now and have no OT. They are hiring all the time, just not somewhere i want to live all the time..
I dont think ya'll are getting phased out, ya'll are just going about it all the wrong way.. But hey like i said I dont know im just a **** rat looking from the outside in...
Bean

[west coast hand]

WOW looks like i pissed off the head RAT lol. you talk about the ibew logo and some of the things you say have some truth it not a perfect world BUT,you have to remember you work in one of the weakest union states florida no offens to the brothers there, but I'm from the west coast strong union no right to work states here, so say what you want you will never get the rats and union hand to come togather for your crazy idea there are alot more rats coming to union then going from union to rat why do you think that is. I don't need to get into the better everything you would have to be blind to not know that its no secret, I just wish the rat would take there blinders off and wise up and join if everyone was union we all would be making alot more money if we were all union we could name are own price thats more realistic. so yes i hate rat hands but if they wise up and join the ibew i would be the first one to shake there hand and say welcome brother you made a great choice for you and you familys.

[LINEHAND]

I'm not going to bull**** no one, i know nothing about the union. I work for Shaw in Virgina and we are a contractor for Dominion Power. They do not use the IBEW they use another union group i think it is The utility workers of america or something like that.. Guys ya'll may need to get intouch with someone from there and see how there's works. It is GOOD....


Wrong again brother bean might try IBEW LOCAL 50!

[pwrhawg]

turns to this:) oh well

Swampy, youve always said you would consider joining an all lineman union, but to many of your post and politics are so anti-union, that it makes it hard for me to believe you.

[pwrhawg]

Will somebody tell me what really happened with y'all a couple years back.

[madcowboy33]

1st and foremost, this is a union forum, I myself could give a sh?t how the rats feel. the whole country needs to call peter piper!!!! 2nd the Union has got to get back to being selective about who picks up a ticket. The thing that sets us aside from rats is the quality of work and level of excellance. We can't give that up for more money in our locals. I'm seeing way to many union contractors putting so called journeyman to work that have no business being a union journeyman and need to be bumped. Boys do not forget what makes us so proud and elite from the fuc?ing rats!!!!!!!!!!

[west coast hand]

1st and foremost, this is a union forum, I myself could give a sh?t how the rats feel. the whole country needs to call peter piper!!!! 2nd the Union has got to get back to being selective about who picks up a ticket. The thing that sets us aside from rats is the quality of work and level of excellance. We can't give that up for more money in our locals. I'm seeing way to many union contractors putting so called journeyman to work that have no business being a union journeyman and need to be bumped. Boys do not forget what makes us so proud and elite from the fuc?ing rats!!!!!!!!!!

Well said brother I totally agree, thats why your idea won't work swampy quility work and training what the rats lack its a fact, and whats up with the left coast comment whats that mean and OH YA YOUR PISSED OFF AND ITS FUNNY AS HELL OH YA I FORGOT YOUR NOT POSTING HERE ANYMORE ABOUT TIME START A RAT FORUM PUT THAT IDEA TO WORK. YOU CAN CALL IT THE CHEESE FORUM HOME OF THE LONG TAILS. LOL

[flashman]

I haven't posted for a while but after reading the banter on this post my two cents are in order. The companies out there have adapted a policy of having contractors do the big jobs instead of the depleted work force they have. They have cut the core employee base down to bare min. If that's what they want I geuss that's what they'll get. Is it good no, having mercenaries do your construction has a big drawback and it's not felt until it's to late.There are benefits to the company by having a good union but the companies now a days are too short sighted to see them. A workforce with a good attitude is what a good company is all about unfortunataly there are really no good companies to work for anymore. flashman

[Pootnaigle]

Flashman is pretty much on the money. The utilities have downsized to the bone and have the contractors do most of the big jobs like reconductoring or pole changeouts.
Now here is where the contractors are stuck. Lets assume they get a job drawn up by some incompetent engineer and see several ways to make changes that would benefit everybody concerned. If they do anything other than the original scope of the job they may not get paid and lets face it nobodys gonna do that. A utility hand can often take it on himself to make any changes he sees fit and knows he is gonna get paid even if he hasta redo it.
Because of this Contractors dont hafta know a whole lot of theory , some do but seldom get an opportunity to use it.What they do hafta know is how to get the job done in the alloted amount of time with the tools an equippment available to them.Some also are saftey concious while others are just concerned with gettin er done.
A utility hand is limited only by his knowledge and imagination, The more he knows the easier he can make his job.So thequest for knowledge between the Utility hand and the contractor isnt fueled the same.Makes little difference for a contractor to bone up on his theroy since he can only do what he was originally told to do anyway.

[Bull Dog]

I just have to post this after reading that. Sounds like the German Soldiers v The GI during WW2. The German soldier had to wait around for orders while the American GI freelanced and beat the hell out of them. Some times Hitler had to be consulted. Must have been frustrating for the troops. I don't think contractors are Nazis don't get me wrong. Hey I worked With them they were great IBEW hands.

[CHICAGO HAND.]

Germans ? Pearl Harbor ? ah let him go he's on a roll.

[west coast hand]

Flashman is pretty much on the money. The utilities have downsized to the bone and have the contractors do most of the big jobs like reconductoring or pole changeouts.
Now here is where the contractors are stuck. Lets assume they get a job drawn up by some incompetent engineer and see several ways to make changes that would benefit everybody concerned. If they do anything other than the original scope of the job they may not get paid and lets face it nobodys gonna do that. A utility hand can often take it on himself to make any changes he sees fit and knows he is gonna get paid even if he hasta redo it.
Because of this Contractors dont hafta know a whole lot of theory , some do but seldom get an opportunity to use it.What they do hafta know is how to get the job done in the alloted amount of time with the tools an equippment available to them.Some also are saftey concious while others are just concerned with gettin er done.
A utility hand is limited only by his knowledge and imagination, The more he knows the easier he can make his job.So thequest for knowledge between the Utility hand and the contractor isnt fueled the same.Makes little difference for a contractor to bone up on his theroy since he can only do what he was originally told to do anyway.
This coming from a guy that has probaly only worked for a utility and has no clue about contractors only knows he hates them because all his utility buddys do. let me tell you something about a outside line app program theory is teached over and over and as for a utility hand knowing he will get paid even if he has to redo it that the mentallity of most of them not all but yes we do alot of jobs that the utilitys does not want to do or have no idea how to do most of the time. now as for the rats theory whats that they say.

[Pootnaigle]

sThis coming from a guy that has probaly only worked for a utility and has no clue about contractors only knows he hates them because all his utility buddys do. let me tell you something about a outside line app program theory is teached over and over and as for a utility hand knowing he will get paid even if he has to redo it that the mentallity of most of them not all but yes we do alot of jobs that the utilitys does not want to do or have no idea how to do most of the time. now as for the rats theory whats that they say.
__________________
Ummmm Wrong I have done both, and Truthfully a contractor doesnt have the same degree of lattitude to make changes that the utility hand does,And no I dont hate contractors at all........... I am one. I was fortunate enough to have worked for a utility first and learned a wealth of useable knowledge that made both jobs easier. I do understand that construction apprentices go to school to learn theroy but I also know if you dont use it you lose it and few of em have the opportunity. And yes you are on the money about getting jobs the utility can no longer handle due to downsizing ,piss poor training as compared to yesteryear, and quite frankly a bunch of wimps that dont wanna do nothing more serious than install a pot and a drop.

[Cheezer]

Did ya ever notice the "Fist" that holds the lightning bolts on the famed IBEW logo....
Has a white shirt, a suit, and cufflinks?

Why not a LINE GLOVE?? LINEMEN formed the **** ibew!!!

Know Why? Cause the ibew, which was FOUNDED by Linemen....is now RUN by clerical workers, meter readers, powerplant people and a ****load of other "More interested" Sub classes of the IBEW. Linemen?....are just outnumbered in the meetings dude.


Unfortuneately Swamp is right. We have electrical unions run by gassies, garage people, power plant workers, designers, and the list goes on. The lineman's position is watered down to the point where they have groundman foreman making the same as lineman foreman. The union is more worried about collecting dues than representing a minority of it's members(lineman)! All of these other classes of workers jumped on the lineman's frigging coattails and in the process dragged us down! A union by lineman, for lineman, would have a lot more bargaining power than what the IBEW wields today

[Pootnaigle]

Unfortuneately Swamp is right. We have electrical unions run by gassies, garage people, power plant workers, designers, and the list goes on. The lineman's position is watered down to the point where they have groundman foreman making the same as lineman foreman. The union is more worried about collecting dues than representing a minority of it's members(lineman)! All of these other classes of workers jumped on the lineman's frigging coattails and in the process dragged us down! A union by lineman, for lineman, would have a lot more bargaining power than what the IBEW wields today


WHOA NOW lets put this in perspective. Yes many utility locals are run by people other than linemen, But the prevailing wage rates are based on the linemans scale which is usually the lions share of the pie. Personally I want my groundman and my operator and anybody else I hafta work with to make a decent wage. That insures that at the very least people will want to work in this trade and it further insures that you can keep the good ones. If you are only concerned with YOUR wages and YOUR benefits and YOUR input into how things should be That qualifies you to be a Rat in good standing. And it it also the reason Rat contractors have been so succesful, By employing people with exactly that attitude. And in the end they screw themselves.
Lets assume youre a 30 yr old journeyman thats purdy **** good and yer makin top money with a rat contractor, everbody else is gettin just enough to say they are earing a living. But in a few years yer gone be a broke down old guy and you will prolly hafta join the ranks of the everbody else's while another hot shot Gets the bux........................ Is that what yer askin fer?
People needa realize that a union has the best Interests in mind for EVERYBODY concerned Yes they want clerks and warehouse guys to make a decent living and yes they also want em to have decent conditions But Know what Those guys cant say " Ive had enough of this crap and drag up and go sign the books at the hall. Theres no work for em But A Lineman CAN. Thats what ya needa remember. So nO swamprat AINT RIGHT !!!!
explain to me in clear terms why benefits that your local bargains for like retirement , sick leave, vacation,Insurance,Savings plans, etc.. are just a pipe dream to many rats. I can explain it to you real quick. The rats are only concerned with today , and they dont care if they drive down your wages or your benefits because they will work for quite a bit less that the Pie your gettin.
I am sick of hearing about who runs the unions........ If you cared you would be at every meeting and your voice( or voices) would be heard.No BA can ignore every lineman tellin him they aint gettin thier just due. This crap about every body but Linemen runnin a union wont hold water. First they hafta be interested enough to take part and run for office and next they hafta give a **** bout somebody other than themselves.

[Cheezer]

WHOA NOW lets put this in perspective. Yes many utility locals are run by people other than linemen, But the prevailing wage rates are based on the linemans scale which is usually the lions share of the pie. Personally I want my groundman and my operator and anybody else I hafta work with to make a decent wage. That insures that at the very least people will want to work in this trade and it further insures that you can keep the good ones. If you are only concerned with YOUR wages and YOUR benefits and YOUR input into how things should be That qualifies you to be a Rat in good standing. And it it also the reason Rat contractors have been so succesful, By employing people with exactly that attitude. And in the end they screw themselves.
Lets assume youre a 30 yr old journeyman thats purdy **** good and yer makin top money with a rat contractor, everbody else is gettin just enough to say they are earing a living. But in a few years yer gone be a broke down old guy and you will prolly hafta join the ranks of the everbody else's while another hot shot Gets the bux........................ Is that what yer askin fer?
People needa realize that a union has the best Interests in mind for EVERYBODY concerned Yes they want clerks and warehouse guys to make a decent living and yes they also want em to have decent conditions But Know what Those guys cant say " Ive had enough of this crap and drag up and go sign the books at the hall. Theres no work for em But A Lineman CAN. Thats what ya needa remember. So nO swamprat AINT RIGHT !!!!
explain to me in clear terms why benefits that your local bargains for like retirement , sick leave, vacation,Insurance,Savings plans, etc.. are just a pipe dream to many rats. I can explain it to you real quick. The rats are only concerned with today , and they dont care if they drive down your wages or your benefits because they will work for quite a bit less that the Pie your gettin.
I am sick of hearing about who runs the unions........ If you cared you would be at every meeting and your voice( or voices) would be heard.No BA can ignore every lineman tellin him they aint gettin thier just due. This crap about every body but Linemen runnin a union wont hold water. First they hafta be interested enough to take part and run for office and next they hafta give a **** bout somebody other than themselves.

I think the unions are important for all the same reasons you do, but when the company offers the "other classifications" a 10 cent raise to take away your conditions on the general contract, one tends to become a little jaded. The problem, at least where I'm at, is everybody is concerned about themselves instead of the collective group. I want the other classifications to be union too-just not IBEW.

[Pootnaigle]

I think the unions are important for all the same reasons you do, but when the company offers the "other classifications" a 10 cent raise to take away your conditions on the general contract, one tends to become a little jaded. The problem, at least where I'm at, is everybody is concerned about themselves instead of the collective group. I want the other classifications to be union too-just not IBEW.

well there ya are .........yer more concerned about YOU ..........yer willing to cut them loose. STRENGHT is in numbers my friend. Get a Lineman oriented person that you trust and admire appointed or elected to the E board. From there Give him your input.... It may be an uphill climb but sooner or later things will hafta turn around, The union is bound to follow the directives of the E board. He can leverage yer position the same exact way Congress works.... Vote with me on this or forever get my vote against yer agenda. Its simple politics and Most Linemen abhor the thought of smoozing ........that hazta change if you wanna voice....... NOTICE the power plant hands have no prollem with it. and its gottem where they are today. If More linemen were to become active in their locals and speak up at times other than contract ratifications your voice would be heard. Laying out on the side waiting on others to offer you sumpin to vote for er aginst will not cut it. If you have a voice it needs to be hollered loud enuff fer everbody to hear. In short if you wanna improve your lot you hafta put in a little work.

[OLE' SORE KNEES]

I understand wanting to do good for all members,but let's not lose perspective here....come on the clerks,groundman,helper,winch truck operator,truck driver,meter guys all deserve raises but the guys that the IBEW was founded by was a Lineman(Henry Miller),lineman...a trade who has his head in between hot phases and is moving wire,re-conductering ,etc. does and should get more money and more attention than his counterparts........if you don't agree with this either you ain't a lineman or you ain't right !!!

[Pootnaigle]

I understand wanting to do good for all members,but let's not lose perspective here....come on the clerks,groundman,helper,winch truck operator,truck driver,meter guys all deserve raises but the guys that the IBEW was founded by was a Lineman(Henry Miller),lineman...a trade who has his head in between hot phases and is moving wire,re-conductering ,etc. does and should get more money and more attention than his counterparts........if you don't agree with this either you ain't a lineman or you ain't right !!!

Well I bleve I am a lineman but more importantly I bleve I aint the only guy that has a job to do.I've done my share of stickin my neck out and I have always been paid well fer it. Now while I cant say the storekeeper haz a dangerous job I can say he prolly hazta know his chit to do what he does rite. This bean said I also assume that every member of my union has a job to do that requires a degree of excellence in order to get er done. True some dont measure up and few have at much at stake as I do yet at the end of the day we all have a part to play and we have plaid it or not.Now those guys dont make Linemans money and they dont take linemans risks, but surley you realize they also have a degree of excellence to fulfill in THEIR appointed fields.The bottom line is that companies base everything on the lineman rate. Power plant guys are important and get a decent wage , but so are operators, grunts, storeroom folks,substation guys ( hence forth refeered to as rag squeezers),relay guys, rite on down the line...Clerks also have a job that needs doin.... some of em are computer whizzes n some Not. My bottom line isYes I needa know what I'm doin but so do they. the degree of hurt is kinda more prevailant for a lineman than say a storeroom guy but His kids gotta eat just like mine and the Clerks may be a little overpaid but they have families too.But when its all over n done with The lineman is gettin the lions share of the wages and the benefits are bout the same.How can you or anybody call it a union if you wanna get all the perks and cut the support crew loose to fend for their self.Most of em aint lazy but may be predisposed to standing flatfooted on the ground ..... That choice alone cost em a few bux and every lineman has the same choice ........do sumpin else, er dance wif the devil and go fer the muney and the glory( vastly overrated)......... Bottom line is we all have a job to do and if any of us fall short the others hafta pick up the slack so I say let me take a little less so that my counterparts can make a little more and Uncle Sam cant tax me any harder and I can truthfully say I am UNION . sides if ya wanna get rich yer in the wrong trade anyhow. and now without further adeiu its once again Miller time at pootnaigles palace

[pwrhawg]

**** fine posts poot. That puts it in a pretty good perspective. *****ing alone will accomplish nothing.

[johnbellamy]

.....................

[Pootnaigle]

Looks like you fell out of the "Sucker" tree and hit every branch on the way down.

You are wrong on this one, No way lineman shoud be out voted on a contract.

Anybody that works has the right to be represented, but there problems are not my problems, let them have their own reps, and contracts.

It ain't all about money, it is about havin a say, We have no say because we are out numbered. If you want your contracts and conditions handed to you by some secratary, She better be one fine piece of ass.

Your livin in a dream world.

Well it werks fer me pal and I can only say to you guys that enjoy *****in bout how unappreceiated they are.If you aint satisfied with what yer gettin then get off yer dead asses and run for elected office in the local, attend the meetings every month not just the 2 or 3 occuring jus before a contract ends.Thats **** Laffable. How ya spect enybody to take ya serious when ya rant n rave bout how yer gettin screwed for 3 months and then go into yer hole agin til the next contract expires. And It may help put things in perspective for you to realize if there were no power plant hands I dont care how great a lineman you are You Cant get crap delivered to the customer by yerself. Next ya needa throw in storeroom guys in the mix and even Substation pukes.I bleve a linemans only union isa pipe dream n aint gon ever happen.n Ya mite wanna Look at things in Henry Millers day and age.Quite a bit different than todays world. So the only hope for you chronic complainers is be part of the program all day every day, and quit bashing the support group as it will get you absolutely no support from them.
so Run for president of yer local ...
promise everbody the best you can get fer em, and should ya win make it yer business to see to it that a BA is appointed that has aclue what a lineman hazta put up with.

[johnbellamy]

.....................

[OLE' SORE KNEES]

All I got to is become a politician, sell everybody a line a bull****, tell them what they want to here.

What the **** was I thinkin, it is so simple, If I piss on lineman, and get the votes I need from everybody else, I will be on my way.

I will just tell all the lineman that if wer'nt for all those folks supportin them they would be in bad shape. Tell them to shut up and quit their *****in, it ain't their union no more, apparently it never was.

What will I be rewarded with, I guess the satisfaction knowin that times change, to get with the program, the new program, and a office job, no more linework for this guy, set myself up really nice, ya sounds pretty good Poot.

Next stop the White House, cause I ain't really happy with things are goin there either. Ya make things sound pretty simple Poot. I will get started right away.


LOL.........I guess poot will figure it out eventually or maybe not.........some never do

[Pootnaigle]

Ummmmmm Ok do sactley that n be sure n tell all yer constituants you dont give a **** bout them ( Kinda like ole George has done up there at the White house) I am sure they will go to the mat gettin you reelected.N just be up front with em n tellem yer lookin to feather yer nest with thier dues or assessments or Tax dollers( Depending on how far ya get.)
Now if I may ask a serious question........ How often do YOU attend the monthly meetings? And have ya ever worked off the clock to have your agenda put on The unions agenda Or do you jus piss n moan n wish sumpin better would happen? I have seen some very eloquent posts with yer name onnem..... Is that the way you normally adress thangs? I dont doubt that yer
a lineman But I wud suggest there may be a better way to approach things.
Sho nuff kaint call ya no silver tongued devil.

[OLE' SORE KNEES]

Every meeting,actually I am a job steward. If you put things in priority seriously and you can't be by your post. Lineman are the bread and butter of contracters,utilities,co-op's,municipalities.I never said those under should not recieve a raise.I said the lineman should be the # 1 priority of all contracts,without them meters would never spin.If lineman across the nation would have a 1 day strike ,union and non-union ,maybe then you could see the picture,but I doubt it.PS here's something you should check into..........
http://www.spellchecker.net/spellcheck/
you're having one hell of a time with that much less linework.You're retired by your profile,here's one for you ........the older we get the better we was.

[johnbellamy]

.............

[Pootnaigle]

I will tell ya Poot, I know alot of my posts are not goin help fix any of the problems we have with in our union.

And like door says, most of the questions or topics posted on this board can be answered by just crackin a book, and doin a little reading.

This board has just givin me a chance to vent, I guess its better than kickin my dog when I get home. So Byron thanks.

Thanks for puttin up with me guys, ( like ya had a choice). This board has givin me some comic relief, and its been fun.

Funny thing is, I can actually here ya talkin to me, and try to picture what ya look like. Weird.

So I will keep my wise ass coments to myself, and let you guys have your fun.

Peace.

Nahhhhhhh you needa continue to post reglar like and feel free to comment on anythang I ever sed.See I wanna know yer perspective on thangs. Its the hole reason I come to this site. Its more fun than puttin Peanut budder in yer sisters unnerwear n stickin em back in her drawer.N I see several others have purdy much the same take as you so maybe I am outta touch. But truthfully I cant imagine werkin wifout a union It has given me choices in life that I truley appreciate. I might also add that ummmmmmmmmm about none of those people in that support group enjoyed the same benefit. I kin drag up n go rite back out tomorrow or today if Ize inna hurry, My conditions dont change much from one job to another.N yes I know many utility locals are run by non lineman but they still dont enjoy that aspect of union membership. Let a clerk or a store keeper or a meter reader leave the local utility n see how long they stay on the books tryin to get back out. So I kinda feel like even though I may not be the most important cog in the gear I do have way more benefits than the support crew.My local represents both outside construction and utility hands and I have been priveledged to experience both worlds because of it and have made a decent living while doin it.