Im not that IRISH

[bren guzzi]

Us " irish" have a reputation " of let's just say not being the "brightest bulbs in the box". But they must think we're blind as well as stupid.
Heres the story.
our company's contract finishes on the 8th of January a new company is " supposed " to take over on the 9th and we are allegedly going seamlessly transfer to the new company.its the law in the UK that if your doing a job and it's taken over they must employ you " if all things are equal"
my company are SAYING that this is happening ..
BULLSH@t..
ive been here before.
The delay at the moment " allegedly" is that the new company's owners are based in Spain and that's holding the process up.
the exact same thing happened to me a few years ago with a previous company. We were told the same things..the new company even came in and got our sizes for our work clothes and boots..took our bank details etc etc. three days before the change over they said they weren't taking us on as promised all things weren't equal as they had split the new contract into two parts " HVand lv " so we all got laid off.

so what makes me THINK it's happening again..well. Hers the CLUES...

1. The new company hasn't come to see us about bank details etc etc..
2. All our equipment ( winches vans etc) are being off hired
3. The apprentices have all been laid off
4. There's a FOR SALE sign on our offices ( the new company were supposed to be taking them over)
5. All next week is being spent driving all over Wales finishing off jobs...so they can bill them for work completed. With fewer men and very little equipment ( I havnt even got a van)
6. We never do shutdowns on a Friday for 2 reasons. If there's a problem it could run into the weekend and cost big bucks to remedy ..also Friday is our travel day.i usually get the 2pm ferry back to Ireland..WEVE A SHUTDOWN this Friday..first time in over 3 years
7. there is absolutely no work being planed by us for post the changeover
8.we cleared our own site of all our containers and equipment this week took all the fencing down and reinstated the land for the farmer. Then off hired all the back hoes diggers and winches along with the rest of the equipment
9. Taken in isolation any of these things could worry an employee ..but put them altogether ....



EVEN AN IRISHMAN CAN SEE WHATS GOING ON...


Heres a few pics of THE LAST job. An 11kv refurb ( built most of the new line prior to a week long shutdown) to swap over and connect the last piece of a 8 month jigsaw into the system.

[T-Man]

Bren, I think you are on to something. There is security in staying with one company and not drag bagging all over with the next contractor who'll have you. The management has the option of selling out and leaving you out to dry. Hope all works out with you. That construction is different for me. To have switches in a corner like that is rare and most of the time we'd do it in a vertical corner with gang operated switches. Having the switches above that transformer (is that a transformer?) is another thing you may not find here because the operator would have to work under the unit from the ground or operate the switches with the can in their face. I guess it would work, but I like our standards better in a case like this.

[bren guzzi]

I see what your saying re the fuses T man. But although they are in fuse holders they aren't fuses. They are solid links. They only use them to switch the transformer out and they can pull the Lv fuse first. So it's never under load when they pull them.
As regards the situation with this company. We have lots of options but it suits me to work in this area coz its close to the ferry. If I have to go to another area I will be restricted to flying home.. I would love to stay in one area with one company for the rest of my YEARS. but circumstances seem to conspire against me

MAYBE ITS ME...think I may be jinxed. :eek:

[T-Man]

Good Luck Friend. You seem resilient and the right thing will happen for you. I would guess flying home could eat into your take home unless the outfit helps with that, which I doubt. T

[reppy007]

Looks like a lineman would have to extend his belt to change out a switch....its only 5 miles away from the pole......Now the question:D.....since all of your work is not done hot and you have no hot line clamps,When changing out the transformer you would only disconnect the high side bushings and the low side of the transformer......leaving the disconnects/switches closed.....I couldnt work that way unless they were open.

[BigClive]

Well I doubt you'll find it hard to get work with your pedigree.

It's Christmas. If you've got enough reserve cash then kick back and enjoy the rest of the year.

[reppy007]

Well I doubt you'll find it hard to get work with your pedigree.

It's Christmas. If you've got enough reserve cash then kick back and enjoy the rest of the year.

Thats true Clive,hey guy ...you have a pleasant Christmas.....one question though........uhhhh ,,,well what is it over there? Santa Claus or Father Christmas...I have some pics and thats why Im asking ,Ill post the pics. here they are...........http://www.chron.com/life/gallery/Celebrating-with-Santa-over-the-years-76500.php

[BigClive]

In the UK Santa (or Sant-luciferous) is the god of punishment. He brings all the little boys and girls small wooden figures, and if you've been good you get little clothes to put on them. But if you've been bad he smears them in chilli-paste and sticks them up your butt.

[T-Man]

In the UK Santa (or Sant-luciferous) is the god of punishment. He brings all the little boys and girls small wooden figures, and if you've been good you get little clothes to put on them. But if you've been bad he smears them in chilli-paste and sticks them up your butt.

I like my Santa better. . . .sorry . . . . .no big deal. . . know what I mean?:cool:

[bren guzzi]

Left at 5.30am drove over the mountains " through a bit of snow) had to take the permit for a shutdown that other people prepped ... 14 tree cutters .3 cable jointing crews and a line gang ( whose job it was). So how come I'm on a pole from 9.45am until 6.15pm..
BECAUSE IM A SUCKER...and if I didnt. We,d still be there now.
just got home.. 9.20pm.
Theyve scheduled a shutdown for Thursday and Friday this week.
ive just booked the Thursday afternoon ferry home. F@ck them.:eek:

[BigClive]

[QUOTE=bren guzzi;144531So how come I'm on a pole from 9.45am until 6.15pm..
BECAUSE IM A SUCKER...and if I didnt. We,d still be there now.
just got home.. 9.20pm. [/QUOTE]

That's how it works. The more conscientious you are, the more demands people make of you. They just push it as far as they can. I'd guess the company involved is trying to pinch every penny so they can walk off with the maximum profit.

Firk em'. Walk away and have a nice relaxing Christmas and don't let the hassle and worry follow you.

[BigClive]

I like my Santa better. . . .sorry . . . . .no big deal. . . know what I mean?:cool:

Your American Santa is tame and sterile. What you guys really need is a proper European Santa that metes out punishment as well as gifts. Then you'll appreciate your presents more. :D

[reppy007]

Left at 5.30am drove over the mountains " through a bit of snow) had to take the permit for a shutdown that other people prepped ... 14 tree cutters .3 cable jointing crews and a line gang ( whose job it was). So how come I'm on a pole from 9.45am until 6.15pm..
BECAUSE IM A SUCKER...and if I didnt. We,d still be there now.
just got home.. 9.20pm.
Theyve scheduled a shutdown for Thursday and Friday this week.
ive just booked the Thursday afternoon ferry home. F@ck them.:eek:

Thats a **** shame Bren.Sometimes a good break is needed,yea let them climb.....hell its their job.What kind of line gang lets another do their job?That reminds me of a situation that happened years ago......I was on a two man truck...we were sent to help a large crew change out a 75 kva transformer ...overhead...non-truck accessible.Well i grabbed my hooks and belt and started stripping the bad one.....Next...listen to this....the guy that was the leader of the large crew watches and complains the whole time....almost to the point of crying:nightmare:.Maybe he missed staying in the center and watching Tv.......years later he got a foremans job.....the crybaby....and yes it got worse.....some might know by now ,where Im going with this.......years after making foreman he got a supervisors job:nightmare: ....thats the way it goes sometimes,its not right and doesnt have to be....its just the way $hit falls sometimes:mad: Look on the bright side,you can always sit on santas lap.....nobody will admit it now ,but I bet some lineman even cried on santas lap.....on second thought most cant remember that far back http://abc13.com/society/photos-scared-of-santa/425472/#gallery-24