Beef With Journeyman

[necpoletop]

I Am An Apprentine For A Co-op In S.tx And My Mentor Has 13 Yrs Exp. I Run The Digger,climb Poles,help Out The Grunts Shovel,drive Groundrods And He Is Still On My Ass ,the Foreman Thinks Im Doing Great,but When He Is Gone The Journeyman Is On My Ass , Im Climbing More And Helping Him Out,he Is A Bucketman And A Weak Climber He Is About 290lbs,i Think Since Im Moving Up ,he Feels A Threat,what Can I Do To Overcome This Problem,any Advice?

[necpoletop]

Thanks For The Advice, He Is Dangerous ,cuts Corners ,blames Other People For His Mistakes .we Say How Many Guts Do U Need,he Says I Will Be Done In A Minute ,he Doesnt Make His Groundman Ground The The Bucket ,he Doesnt Wear His Sleeves,come On ,and Im Supose To Learn From This Dude.

[necpoletop]

no one respects him ,they are always ragging on him, because when he is on call ,he is always calling for a bucket ,he leaves people out of power ,the 8 journeyman there hate him because of shit like that ,they have to go and mop up after him,but like i said we are short handed and the uppers just talk to him ,once we get to full staff,he might go on down the road,

[necpoletop]

thanks for the advice,will do,be safe my brother.

[PA BEN]

Are you Union? Do you have a written Apprentice agreement? Do you have a Apprentice committee?
1. Talk to your Shop Steward.
2. Get a log book and everyday when you get home write down all that happened that day, good bad or indifferent.
3. Watch your ass and don't let this guy talk you into doing something that well get you killed. If he wants to bust you to the Utility you have the log book to fall on.
Some lineman think you need to treat apprentices like sh1t, that's just how they are, the industry is full of them. Work hard and do a good job, because when you top out it's time to bust his BALLS.:eek:

[JAKE]

i know exactly what your going through im runnin into this where im at too. have a jw that is an ass not real safe. it makes you have to watch your self for the stupid things hes doing. it makes it real hard to learn from someone like that also. i have gotten to the point where i ask myself whats gonna happen if i do this when im doing something to make sure im doing the right thing. i belive the same thing is its a threat thing they think your gonna replace them and they will be down the road. like said above biggest thing is keep a log of whats goin on so if the crap hits the fan your covered instead of lookin through the want ads. we have a few guys like that here and it sucks it keeps me motivated to keep goin to school for my engineering degree so i dont have deal with them, its people like this is the reason people still die in this trade.

[mainline]

Make sure your end of the deal is buttoned down tight. Make sure you do everything you are supposed to do. Make sure that if you do end up going to your GF and get a crew swap that you are sure because if you have the same problem twice they are going to assume its you not the journeymen. I got my fair share of screaming at when I was coming up, much of it deserved. I am no worse for it. Another thing is you need thick skin in this trade no matter where you go. Lineman love to bust balls. Good luck, work hard, and remember someday you will topout, and its his turn.

[mrgrowl791]

I Am An Apprentine For A Co-op In S.tx And My Mentor Has 13 Yrs Exp. I Run The Digger,climb Poles,help Out The Grunts Shovel,drive Groundrods And He Is Still On My Ass ,the Foreman Thinks Im Doing Great,but When He Is Gone The Journeyman Is On My Ass , Im Climbing More And Helping Him Out,he Is A Bucketman And A Weak Climber He Is About 290lbs,i Think Since Im Moving Up ,he Feels A Threat,what Can I Do To Overcome This Problem,any Advice?

If he's 290lbs, that bucket's screaming for relief!!!!

[LINETRASH]

Be nice to the guy.

His insecurity and immaturity will catch up with him sooner or later.

Believe me, dont make waves, let the jerk hang himself,

Dont take a stand unless he puts you or anybody else in harms way.

This guy will bury himself with his bad attitude and inabilty sooner or later.

I have delt with these types a few times, and came on strong only to find they are "connected".

The bottom line is to insure the safety of your brothers.

His problem is not your problem.

My best advice is to never talk sh!t about anybody.

Management will eventually sort out the problem. They aint near as dumb as they look.

Be yourself and work hard and dont fret this turd.

[Smitty57]

I Am An Apprentine For A Co-op In S.tx And My Mentor Has 13 Yrs Exp. I Run The Digger,climb Poles,help Out The Grunts Shovel,drive Groundrods And He Is Still On My Ass ,the Foreman Thinks Im Doing Great,but When He Is Gone The Journeyman Is On My Ass , Im Climbing More And Helping Him Out,he Is A Bucketman And A Weak Climber He Is About 290lbs,i Think Since Im Moving Up ,he Feels A Threat,what Can I Do To Overcome This Problem,any Advice?

Some guys think that's how to teach an app. everyone has a different style of teaching. Some teach by showing you what not to do, sometimes those are the lessons most remembered. Some think that riding an app. is the way to make them better. He was probably ridden himself. Just remember how it felt after you journey out. Try for a crew change and if that don't work, hunker down and let the crap roll off your back. Good luck

[texas1]

Swamp Rat Is Right We Are Called Senior Lineman Here In N-texas But As For His Reply, Dont Buck Your Top Man Because The Other Lineman Will Side With Him Especially If They Are Old School.but On The Other Hand I Would Respect You More If You Did Stand Your Ground If I Was Cussing You Like A Dog.as Long As You Did It With Respect For My Position.he Probably Thinks He Is Traing You The A Lineman Should Be Trained,dont Be Scared Ask Him,whats He Gonna Do Beat You Up......so Be A Lineman And Stand Up To It......

[theweber]

The ones that deal the most crap to the apprentice are the one's that where not worth there salt when they where the apprentices or helper. "I caught hell from my lineman so i am going to give it to you twice as much "!
Don't get me wrong the apprentice and helpers need a good or strong (what the @#$% are you doing) talking to, And yes lineman do to sometime.

[necpoletop]

Swamp Rat Is Right We Are Called Senior Lineman Here In N-texas But As For His Reply, Dont Buck Your Top Man Because The Other Lineman Will Side With Him Especially If They Are Old School.but On The Other Hand I Would Respect You More If You Did Stand Your Ground If I Was Cussing You Like A Dog.as Long As You Did It With Respect For My Position.he Probably Thinks He Is Traing You The A Lineman Should Be Trained,dont Be Scared Ask Him,whats He Gonna Do Beat You Up......so Be A Lineman And Stand Up To It......

you are right, but this dude is ok when we work by ourself,i mean he is pretty cool,but when we work together with another crew or theres alot of linehands around he would start his rant,since i posted this problem here and consolidated everybodys advice,i had a serious talk with him over some cold beers,he said he had an old school lineboss who was real rough ass,he told me also because i know all the material needed for the jobs and the other hands dont,he has eased up now,and its going great,a new groundman starts monday,good luck.

[neil macgregor]

this problem isn,t just in the USA i had the same problems here in scotland when i was younger older guy feeling threatened by young dude
acts normal when GF is around acts like a dick when he,s gone
just keep your paticence dont bite back and dont act like him when you get older

[warpig]

This was an interesting post. Lots of good comments. One more for what it's worth. It seems that confronting the guy in a non-threatening manner worked for you. I've found it's usually the best approach. Most people worth giving a shit about will respect you for looking them in the eye. As for training new hands I've found as I get older and the new hands seem to get cockier that if they aren't going to hurt themselves or anyone else including equipment and tools then I let them work themselves into a bind. They seem to remember the lessons they learned through embarrassment much more than all your ragging. Oh yea, you don't have to say I told you so, they know. Some of these younger guys don't deal well with the old methods. I had a journeyman who continually wouldn't follow the safety rules. I finally told him if it didn't stop I was going to turn him in rather than have the whole crew get disciplined for it. He turned me into HR saying I had threatened him. He's younger and gets his feelings hurt easily. Needless to say management laughed him out of the office but I learned something about dealing with the new generation of hands and he follows the safety rules closely now. Sometimes it's best to be standing just outside the circle of influence.