NON-Union outfits

[swetngblts]

I'm trying to compile a list of some of the larger and reputable NON-Union contractors throughout the USA for possible employment. Got any recommendations?

[Special ED]

I got a suggestion... IBEW its the only way to go. But look around. Some halls are better than others and some aint worth shit. Watch the boards and you can kinda tell where the good places to work.

I do have a question. Why are you looking for non-union contractors? Yeah theres a few decent non-union contractors but why work for peanuts when you can be workin for filet mignon? One guy on here stated it best when he compared the pays. You can be a non-union contractor and drive a pick up or work union and drive a Cadillac. I prefer the later of the two.. Also there are many munis and co ops that are hiring all over.

[swetngblts]

I got a suggestion... IBEW its the only way to go. But look around. Some halls are better than others and some aint worth shit. Watch the boards and you can kinda tell where the good places to work.

I do have a question. Why are you looking for non-union contractors? Yeah theres a few decent non-union contractors but why work for peanuts when you can be workin for filet mignon? One guy on here stated it best when he compared the pays. You can be a non-union contractor and drive a pick up or work union and drive a Cadillac. I prefer the later of the two.. Also there are many munis and co ops that are hiring all over.

When it comes time to graduate from NLC i don't want to be that guy that doesnt have a job lined up. I've applied to three different JATC's and had an interview with one so far. It obviously did not go so well based on where they ranked me on the list. I'd like to get in with a union apprenticeship program, however, i'm not going to sit around with false hopes while being a number on a list.

If it takes working for a non-union outfit for my apprenticeship then that's what i'll do.

[Special ED]

Where you from and wanting to work?

[johnbellamy]

IBEW apprentiships don't just fall out of the sky.

What are you prepared to do?

Have you sent out resumes to every Union utility?

Have you applied for any groundman openings?


Have you looked at applying for jobs where they have Jouneyman posistions, some places can't find Journeyman, so they might hire you, and train you after they have tried you out as a grunt.

Are you willing to relocate?

Have you gone places and asked if you could go out with crews and observe? You got to do something that seperates you from the rest.

If your first jatc interview did'nt go well, what have you learned from it? what must you do next time to be at the top of the list?

I don't care who you are, your not going to get ever job you apply for, it don't work that way, just because you payed money to go to line school dosen't mean a job is a lock.

So how bad do you want it? Nobody's goin hold your hand, Don't take the easy way, but if you choose to, don't blame the Union.

[swetngblts]

Where you from and wanting to work?


I'm in California and willing to relocate anywhere.

[swetngblts]

IBEW apprentiships don't just fall out of the sky.

What are you prepared to do?

Have you sent out resumes to every Union utility?

Have you applied for any groundman openings?


Have you looked at applying for jobs where they have Jouneyman posistions, some places can't find Journeyman, so they might hire you, and train you after they have tried you out as a grunt.

Are you willing to relocate?

Have you gone places and asked if you could go out with crews and observe? You got to do something that seperates you from the rest.

If your first jatc interview did'nt go well, what have you learned from it? what must you do next time to be at the top of the list?

I don't care who you are, your not going to get ever job you apply for, it don't work that way, just because you payed money to go to line school dosen't mean a job is a lock.

So how bad do you want it? Nobody's goin hold your hand, Don't take the easy way, but if you choose to, don't blame the Union.


I've been on the locals groundman books for months. They're trying to get away from having groundman positions. I've done pretty much everything by the book, so to speak. I understand nothings going to fall in my lap. I dont want anything given to me. I'm willing to do what it takes and then some to get the job. I've learned quite a bit from the interview i just had. I definately don't blame the union for the low number. My lack of experience with interviewing is to blame. It wont happen again.

[johnbellamy]

Like I said there are alot of smaller utilities that have had lineman openings for a long time, I have worked at places where they hire grunts, or apprentice trainee's because they need bodies, I will PM you those, but it won't hurt you to get a list of all of them, send them a resume and a letter explaining your situation, they will see you are doing what you can by the schooling you have, who know's, but at this point you got nothing to loose.

We all had to start somewhere.

[Special ED]

Swamp he is in Cali..

[swetngblts]

Depends on where you're located. Bein as your profile don't say shit.

Got any experience?
Or ya just, "fresh off the street"?

Pike Electric is basically east of the Miss. river, but also in Texas. Damn good company, no matter what ya hear on here.

Check em out.

http://www.pike.net/

Thanks! I'll check them out.
I'm about a month into NLC. I have a full Class A CDL with all endorsements and First Aid/CPR. Not much but it's just a start of what's to come.

[Fiberglass Cowboy]

DID YOU TRY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON? BECAUSE IT TOOK ME A WHOLE 4 MINUTES TO FIND OUT THEY'VE GOT AN APPRENTICE LINEMAN OPENING IN CHINO,CA.

https://www2.sce.com/pljb/global_jsp/applicant/SearchAgentMgr/SearchProcess.jsp?pljbHome=/edison/careers/applicant/index.jsp&searchaction=Search**

OR JUST START AT http://www.sce.com/

HOW ABOUT SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY? http://sdge.com/careers/jobs.html

OR START AT http://www.sdge.com/index.shtml

HOW ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER?
http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp000494.jsp

OR START AT http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/homepage.jsp

OR THE PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY IN NORTHERN CA. ?
http://www.pge.com/about/careers/search/skilled/featured/

OR START AT http://www.pge.com/about/careers/

PLUS THERE ARE MANY CITY OWNED ELECTRIC MUNICIPAL'S AND I BELIEVE EVEN A FEW RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES IN CA. THESE ARE ALL ALTERNATIVES TO WORKING FOR A CONTRACTOR,AND STAYING IN CALIFONIA.IT JUST TAKES SOME RESEARCH AND FOOTWORK ON YOUR PART. LATER

[mainline]

The NJATC on the east coast has a call out for apprentices right now. I don't know if they would give you anytime for your school. If you are willing to move the the wage scale is fairly high and they have a fair amount of work I think. I know its a long way from Cali. but its just a thought. Good luck.

[ivanho]

If you go to NRECA.org you can scroll through all of the states and find links to all the co/op for each state. Most will have an employment link, also try
indeed.com type in journeyman lineman, us pulls up all that are hiring.
Good luck..

[swetngblts]

DID YOU TRY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON? BECAUSE IT TOOK ME A WHOLE 4 MINUTES TO FIND OUT THEY'VE GOT AN APPRENTICE LINEMAN OPENING IN CHINO,CA.

https://www2.sce.com/pljb/global_jsp/applicant/SearchAgentMgr/SearchProcess.jsp?pljbHome=/edison/careers/applicant/index.jsp&searchaction=Search**

OR JUST START AT http://www.sce.com/

HOW ABOUT SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY? http://sdge.com/careers/jobs.html

OR START AT http://www.sdge.com/index.shtml

HOW ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER?
http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp000494.jsp

OR START AT http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/homepage.jsp

OR THE PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY IN NORTHERN CA. ?
http://www.pge.com/about/careers/search/skilled/featured/

OR START AT http://www.pge.com/about/careers/

PLUS THERE ARE MANY CITY OWNED ELECTRIC MUNICIPAL'S AND I BELIEVE EVEN A FEW RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES IN CA. THESE ARE ALL ALTERNATIVES TO WORKING FOR A CONTRACTOR,AND STAYING IN CALIFONIA.IT JUST TAKES SOME RESEARCH AND FOOTWORK ON YOUR PART. LATER


Right on, however, there's no chance in hell i'm moving to southern california to work unless i'm forced by the JATC. This state is a complete shithole, i'm trying to get the hell out, so if i'm going to stay here it's going to be right here where i'm at or up north in the mountains somehwere.

[swetngblts]

The NJATC on the east coast has a call out for apprentices right now. I don't know if they would give you anytime for your school. If you are willing to move the the wage scale is fairly high and they have a fair amount of work I think. I know its a long way from Cali. but its just a thought. Good luck.


I'll get an application and send it in. I'm not worried about getting time credit for the schooling. I want in.

[swetngblts]

If you go to NRECA.org you can scroll through all of the states and find links to all the co/op for each state. Most will have an employment link, also try
indeed.com type in journeyman lineman, us pulls up all that are hiring.
Good luck..

Both of those links i have been checking on. Indeed is a good one. Thanks!

[Smitty57]

In one post you said you were willing to relocate anywhere. Cowboy tells you about an apprenticeship and you say you don't want to go there. I guess you don't want an apprenticeship very much. How much is a union ticket worth to you? Three to four years isn't a very long time, compared to thirty years working wherever you want. If you really want it you'll do whatever it takes.

[west coast hand]

You better be willing to relocate because it will be hard to find a rat job in calif. but good luck to you and don't give up keep trying for the jatc no matter what you do.

[swetngblts]

In one post you said you were willing to relocate anywhere. Cowboy tells you about an apprenticeship and you say you don't want to go there. I guess you don't want an apprenticeship very much. How much is a union ticket worth to you? Three to four years isn't a very long time, compared to thirty years working wherever you want. If you really want it you'll do whatever it takes.


You know what, you're right. Thanks for pointing that out. I may reconsider.

[swetngblts]

good luck to you and don't give up keep trying for the jatc no matter what you do.

I'll try taking a stab at all of them more than likely. Twice, if it doesnt happen the first go around.

[mainline]

I can honestly say that I made a mistake when I dropped out of the NJATC. I was young and dumb and missed a lot of good training. I went to work for a non-union contractor. They treated me fairly well, but I know that I would have had a lot better formal training had I gone through with the program. There are decent non-union contractors out there, bu they are mixed in with a million dirt bag outfits. If you come east I know everyone is hurting for hard working lineman, and apprentices. Don't make the same mistake I made, stick it out. Even with the B.S. involved it will be worth it.

[west coast hand]

You better be willing to travel, it will be hard to find a rat job in linework in calif, keep trying for the jatc, I take it if you are on a list it in the northwest jatc,try arizona and calif jatc. good luck to you no maatter what you do

[Lnhnd13]

If its a rat outfit your looking for come on over to Tulsa. Aep/Pso are pulling em in from everywhere. We got your Pike, we got your Elloit, we got your Chain, we got your Razz (the good razz, not the bad razz(whatever the hell thats supposed to mean)), and we even gor your diversifeid(non union out of bama or florida or something). Hell diversifeid backed over and killed a customer of ours during the. ice storm and they were the FIRST ones we asked back.:mad:
Any respect for the IBEW, could you please leave that at the edge of town, you will get along better with everyone in tulsa that way. And if you happen to burn anything down on your way in don't worry about it, it'll get covered right up. Ain't that right buddy. Guys been fired from 2 different outfits 4 different times and we still let him on the effin property.

[Lnhnd13]

sorry, but i feel better

[johnbellamy]

As a friend of mine told me, when I was workin overseas awhile back....

"Ya know, times are gettin bad man, we're havin to actually talk and associate with people, we wouldn't have given the time of day to, 2 years ago!"

Progression is a bitch, ain't it.;)

Feelin froggy Swamp?

[Lnhnd13]

3 years ago i was non-union. Thats why I still try to talk to them. I'm sure their are some good kids over there that have been brain washed just like i was. It just gets aggrevating that the co. has so little respect for the union when our local is 3 miles away from the dock and they are bringing in co. from around the country.
And if what i saw during the ice storm is progression then boy am I scared.

[Special ED]

Yeah that ice storm was pretty screwed up all over. I was in Kansas workin on it and ended up draggin up from the rat outfit I was with.

[Fiberglass Cowboy]

ST. JOSEPH,MO. (I WORK FOR AQUILA,INC. AND THEY SENT US UP THERE BECAUSE IT WAS OUR TERRITORY) BECAUSE WE WERE HIT HARD IN NORTHWEST MO. THERE WERE ONLY UNION HANDS THERE. UNION ONLY. THERE WAS US (AQUILA), PAR ELECTRIC, HENKELS AND MCCOY, AND 1 OTHER SMALLER OUTFIT, BUT ALL I.B.E.W. I GUESS I'M GLAD MY COMPANY USES I.B.E.W. CONTRACTORS FOR ALL OF THEIR LINEWORK AND SUBSTATION / POWER PLANT WORK, AND BASICALLY ALL OF THEIR ELECTRICAL WORK. :cool:

[BigClive]

I wonder if a large part of the storm planning is keeping the union and non-union teams segregated.

[thrasher]

Clive:
Some companies may segregate the union and non-union, but many don't. We are a union company in a right to work state. We bid and employ both union and non-union contractors. For routine projects there are no issues because we do not work directly with the contractor. They come in, do the specific work order project they are assigned, and then leave. During disasters we divide our people up as "bird-dogs" and send them out with 1-3 crews to work very specific lines or areas. When assigning bird-dogs I don't care if the foriegn crew (another utility or contractor) is union or not. If the bird dog doesn't do his job right and the same for either group I will be all over him. The foriegn crew is told to follow thier own rule book with the exception of red-tags. They must tag and use our tags, if they want to hang thier tags as well that is okay. Before you ask I have sent a specific crew away during hurricane restoration because they would not follow our tagging.

[BoneyLoc]

i dont no about anywhere else but right now the cal/nev jatc is backd up like crazy, im workin with this grunt who's been in the yukon yard for 4 years hellofa guy, nows so much shit, and teaches me shit and im bout to be 5th step....He's like 50th on the list for new hires which makes me sick...just cause he didnt go to lineschool but thats a whole nother story....its gonna be hard right at the moment to get into an apprenticeship.... but you have 50 states to research dont hesitate to go to any of them.....except maybe texas........your gonna travel period get your self a truck and trailer and just man up. it will be worth it...time flies no joke. just dont give up brother.......u have your CDL? try to get a groundman job while your applying....than youll be learning, getting payed and when you get that call youll be ready to go.....

[electric squirrel]

Depends on where you're located. Bein as your profile don't say shit.

Got any experience?
Or ya just, "fresh off the street"?

Pike Electric is basically east of the Miss. river, but also in Texas. Damn good company, no matter what ya hear on here.

Check em out.

http://www.pike.net/

"Damn good company" Yeah if you like $19 bucks an hour and only time and a half on storm!! Keep waiting for the Cal Nev to call ,works breaking loose right now in Ca. E.S.:cool:

[Stinger]

if are going to NLC aren't they supposes to help place you, after all you are paying them. Check out NEAT1968.org This is the IBEW apprentice program for the Northeast area ( Region 2 IBEW ) Also,you are kind of whishie-washie on travel. Many a lineman on this net will tell you and have experienced when work dries up in your area, get the drag bag and suitcase out and go where the work is. I have been on both sides of the fence. Go union, it will be the best decision you made in your life. We are in it for the money and benefiets to take care of ourselves and family. The union pays good wages, good benefiets and a damn good annuity. There are some good non-union outfits out there, there are good and bad lineman on both sides, but I am telling you, you will never regret going union.

[swetngblts]

Wow..bringing back a thread from the dead.

The lineman schools DO NOT have job placement. It is up to the student to do their research, apply and get their own job. They do assist by having contractors, government agencies, utilities and in the past i believe jatcs, munis, cities and the like come in for recruiting.

Right out of school i went to work for a renewable resource, not line, contractor working in Texas on wind generation. It sucked ass. I got first hand view of how a Non-union contactor works. I wont go into my experience but it was pretty much what everyone here mentioned about non-union contractors. Alot of my friends are working for non-union line contactors and its the same bullshit.

I'm now working for another non-union company travelling throughout several states. It's hard having kids and a grilfriend at home but this is what we set up to do and we'll get through it. I am happy here until the union jatc calls and i'm b-lining right on out. I'm patiently waiting for that golden opportunity. My goal from prior to the beginning of school was to get into the union jatc, whichever region, and become a journeyman lineman one day. It's still my goal and i'll reach it, it just might take a little more time than i originally thought.:cool:

[IronLine]

I hear that my brother :D I can think of many worse places to be while waiting lol. I won't be far behind ya!;)

[woodwalker4life]

pike is a bad company to work for all you are there is a number i worked there they took our per deim away and tried to make us pay for motel and food out of our own pocket then they lowball you they keep loseing contracts so your constantly moving

[rowdy2133]

I still wanna know why your wanting to know how to hire onto a non-union company!? Why would you want to know how to hire in to a lower paying, lower insurance paying, less all over compensating company like Duke, or many others! And don't kid yourself, do you think Warren Buffet would pay me 37 dollars an hour, if he thought he could pay me any less?!!

[electric squirrel]

Actually it's 28. But I guess 19 sounds better when you're raggin huh?:D

Ya ain't gonna make as much as union, but they're still a good company to work for. Don't care what any of ya'll say.

Times are gettin hard all over man. Down here in Fla. Progress energy is actually tellin Journeymen with low seniority they have a choice. Go back to a first step app. or hit the road. Say they're gonna contract out damn near all the work except Transmission.

Lookin like "contractors" are the way of the future. Union and Non Union.

Swamp relax I aint raggin nuttin,not all you guys get paid the same, at least thats what I was told at Ike.

BUT I do know even when times are tuff a UNION lineman wont get busted back to an apprentice!!! NO matter what !!

One last thing,,,,,,,, that $28 bucks sure makes me feel for you,thin wallet huh? My $47 an hour sure sounds better!!! When you want to come out west and make some money I'll show you the way to the UNION hall. Take care,,E.S.:cool:

[johnbellamy]

This friday, maybe if they are good Trail boss will let them dress up as lineman, but I don't think he's gonna pay them like lineman.:p

Lineman one day, grunt the next, Hey whatever floats there boat.:D

You gotta remember about that cool jet they have, keep bangin Pike drum, If your dumb enough to work for a place like that, ya get what you deserve.

I know, I know, it's all linework, and Boo Hoo for the rats.:cool:

[rowdy2133]

I dont claim to know who all is Union and who isnt, but our latest manager came from Progress! And he loves telling me how a journeymans next step in his career is management, its the only way to make a pay increase! And he tells us how guys are lined up at the door to take these management positions, wow, not the way our lineman are brought up!

[swetngblts]

oh the horror stories i'm hearing from some school buddies that are working with Pike. I am convinced they are the lowest of the low, kinda like carp, nothing but bottomfeeders.

[IronLine]

Oh I don't know about all that man! One of my school buddies had his own bucket after a year and was doing hot work :rolleyes:

[electric squirrel]

Oh I don't know about all that man! One of my school buddies had his own bucket after a year and was doing hot work :rolleyes:

Just what you need a green ass MFer with his own bucket and in the primary!!!I bet with that new bucket he also got a new " Im just outta lineschool and I know it all " attitude!!

I dont care if your a rat or a union hand you aint got NO bussiness in the primary with a whole whopping one year of experience.

[Line Cowboy]

Tell your "buddies" to just Quit.

Go find a good, "better payin" Union Job.:D "Oh the Horror Stories"!!:D

"School buddies"....

When ya get your punk ass out of "Line School" you'll be a grunt.

Talk to me, when ya get a "Job". Here's a "tip" for ya kid.
"Belive Half of what ya SEE and NOTHIN ya hear."

ATTA BOY Swamp!!!
there is good and bad with both sides if you wanna work and dont mind payin dues non union is the way to go

RAZZ is good so is diversified and Pike is equally a great place to work try to work for a bigger company it will be better in the long run

[swetngblts]

Yeah they're 6 months out of school and Pike is trying to get them to work hot.

3 days on the job with Pike fresh out of line school, these same buddies, they bucket truck rescued their lineman and saved him. He lied about his experience. FACT!

Oh the horror stories:D

Not Pike, but in Texas, i watched with my own eyes safety meetings held in spanish to large groups. Chapman construction ring a bell. Tessco too i saw similar groups. Whole bunch of non-english speaking illegals. Trust these cats, i dont think so.

They can come on here and tell their stories if they want. I'm done working non-union anyhow:D

[LINEHAND]

Hate to say I told ya so . . . . . . . . but. . . . ;)

And you are absolutely correct they are bottom feeders!

Dont ever come to Texas and work for a non union outfit! You will find that illegals is the norm driving the wages way south comparatively speaking! (21hr is walking in high cotton)

Training . . . . . FORGET IT!

It a very sad thing!!! Guess you saw that now!

Congrats on not having to deal with that shit now. Where did you land!

[Special ED]

I have in fact seen Pike hire lineschool boys and non-english speaking linemen. Both in Pikes Northern Region and out West in Texas.

[Chris]

Honestly niblets, I don't know what you're talkin about. I can't speak for all over what Pike does. Only what I've seen by workin with Pike in the Southeast. AND...I ain't NEVER seen Pike hire any "Lineschool" boys....Or Non English speaking. BUT...that's just Me....workin in the Southeast.

I don't know what the hell they do out west.

I saw the same thing you saw... while I was on Storm in Houston. "Crews and Crews" of nothin but Spanish speakin. WITH 1 guy that could "Translate". BUT.....They were "TREE TRIMMERS" man...NEVER Saw any Workin Spanish Linecrews....With ANYBODY.

It's the new wave. Companies all over are hiring these kids from lineman school and putting them to work. Our company will hire them for less than apprentice pay and put them on the job where the foreman and journeyman assess the skills and train them more. We don't just give them a truck. Most of them I've seen think they are something but kind of suck, but we've had a few that were real good kids. Those would have made linemen anyway.

I've never worked for Pike but I have a few friends that work there and some of our hands quit and got a job with them. One was a digger operator that they promptly put in a pickup to run the crew. Now I really like the guy and all but how is he supposed to tell me how to do my job if he's never done it? I just don't understand things like that.

I don't know about the Spanish speaking population of Pike. Most of them I see are not Mexican but like I said I don't work for them and probably wouldn't be my first call if I left this company. I know they have good linemen working for them. Some of the ones who quit here were good linemen looking for a dollar.

[PA BEN]

Yup,
You're right. That IS the "new wave" of linework. And...I ain't got problem ONE with it!!

Linework in America NEEDS to be done, New Construction and Maintenance. NEEDS to be done!

Sorry...America ain't got the time to wait on the "full scale" of Union "recognized" Linemen. America needs POWERLINE workers to do LINEWORK in America!! NOW. AND, like you said..."the foreman and journeyman assess the skills and train them more." AND....the ones that Ain't "Powerline" mentality material.....are cut to the side of the road....

Beats the shit out of mexican crews with a "Transulator" don't it?

I'm sorry, I'm sorry....I'm really sorry, seriously, it's just a fact of life. But the "Nut cuttin" is here.

Talk "Union quality work" all ya want. I live in a "Right to Work" state, where half the Linemen in Florida are Non Union. My Goddamn bill from Progress Energy is goin up 25%!! WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know and believe in the Philosophy and work ethic of Union. But as "Robert Zimmerman" said....."The Times they are a.....Changin"......

For you Youngen's.....Robert Zimmerman......is Bob Dylan. Now, I suppose ya don't know who the fu$k he is do ya. :D Wouldn't supprise me a bit....:rolleyes:
Well swamp, you say, you don't have one problem with it. Well I do. First of all this is just another excuse for you to bash UNIONs. A UNION apprenticeship is the SAFETEST and best way to learn to become a Journeyman Lineman. Even the good non-union shops model there apprenticeships after union apprenticeships. Lets just kill more NEW WAVE LINEWORKERS , so OSHA can screw the rest of us with the NEW SAFETY LAWS, to keep dumb ass so called journeyman from KILLING these so called "new wave" of lineworker". I call, BULL SHIT ON THIS:mad:

[PA BEN]

The reason I called you out on this swamp was because of what you said. "You're right. That IS the "new wave" of linework. And...I ain't got problem ONE with it!!" :cool:

[arkansas traveler]

been in the ibew 37 yrs. worked utility and been in construction since '85. you're preachin' to the choir, swampy. the ibew was formed by linemen for linemen. we are a minority now. good call..........

[mainline]

That is one of the best ideas I have heard you come up with Swamp. It does seem that the IBEW has lost its focus. The upper echelons are too focused on organizing everyone and have forgetten the reason for the foundation of the union. Henry Miller was a lineman, he died doing linework. All workers deserve a union, but we as lineman would be better served by a lineman only union.

[Stinger]

If you research this site in the archives, we have had many discussion on LINEMAN only Union. The problem is how do we start one- How about the HENRY MILLER International Brotherhood of Line Workers. The charter being if you are not in the line work trade we anit going to represent you. Imagine the strength of a line workers only union.

[show mo]

Ya know man.....

I'm startin to think it's "Too late". Transmission is the place to be if you're Union. THATs where the trade is goin.

Distribution?....THAT's Where Corps are layin off Linemen. Why pay the wages and bennies...when I can just hire a "Contractor" for a flat yearly rate? Cut all bennies, and when shit goes Wrong....."It's the Contractors Fault".:p The NEW Corporate "Line Think". Sad but True.

Get a girp on it....it's "In the progress"....and movin to a Corp near you....

'Weekend" Trouble trucks??....."Contractors".
As long as they respond in time,and fix the problem.....

Much more..."cost effective"... rather than... havin a Company Troubleman, with all those "bennies" and "Other" monitary benifits...

The "New Wave" of Linework....
More for Less. Hire a Line Contractor. Union or Non.

Scarey, ain't it? Get use to it. It's the New Linework.

Here in the Northwest a company tried the contractor thing a few years back. Not working for them, heard from a good source there talking about bringing crews back.

[PA BEN]

Trust me......
Unfortunately, they'll be "tryin it again".

"Bringin Crews back"....is gonna be...Not... "cost effective". Which is what it really boils down to nowdays.
Customer service is very important, and you don't get it with contractors.:)

[bones]

Customer service is very important, and you don't get it with contractors.:)

Why not?:confused:

[PA BEN]

Unless you have contractors on the property all the time, 24/7. And when the shit hits the fan, you have to call in contractors. If you have your own crews, they can get right on it. It takes time to get the contractors on site. I could be wrong, but unless you have contractors as dock crews, it will take time. And if you pay to keep contractor dock crews then why not have your own crews on the property. just my 2 cents, I could just be out of my mind:eek: Also, I've seen contractor come and go. Not that they don't take pride in there work, but I have seen the, That's good enough, I can't see it from my back yard attuide.

[topgroove]

contractors may be a good option for transmission re-conducter jobs and feeder re-builds but for trouble work you can't beat a work force that actually knows the system and has a resonal response time.

[Stinger]

TOP GROOVE- I work for a contractor- you are absolutley right about letting the locals do the trouble calls for the very reason you stated. PA- The old saying " I can't see it from my backyard " Do not get me started on that. I've seen some work done by the local hands that just make us contractors shake our heads and say to ourselves if we ever did something like that, we would be off the property very quickly. To me it comes down to personal pride in my work and the customers satifaction

[bones]

This dick swings both ways.

How about the "Some of our men are going to be working on you project over the weekend for overtime pay."

We come in Monday to only spend most of the day fixing sh*t because of the "It's the contractor's project, why should I give a sh*t?" Or worst yet, "Let's F this sh*t up to make them look bad."

And if it's not quality of work it is total lack of work. "Alright, we're pulling wire Monday, I think a utility crew can spread five clean, straight through poles in two days." Come in Monday, only four done:rolleyes:

[topgroove]

how do you know if the line crew got called away on a trouble call or broken pole?

[Boomer gone soft]

I've worked all over this country for contractors....I have seen the "training" and "conditions" of non-union contractors. The fact is there are very good linemen on both sides, but taken as a whole there is no comparison --Union is where it is at. There are, granted, slackers; they are everywhere. There is no substitute for union training, union scale, and having a brother at your back.

That having been said, there is also something to be said for being home every night. I am still union (and will be 'till I die), but I now work for a utility. I am a service rep for Alliant Energy in Minnesota. There are linemen with a big S on their chest here also....(there are also slackers):p. The pittance I pay in dues is given back to me multiplied over and over again---not just in wages. In the knowledge I am the best-trained, I work in the best conditions, and when I think I have been wronged I have a strong voice to see that it is set right. I love my union because I love my family. There is no reason to work for less than what I am worth.....I AM A JOURNEYMAN LINEMAN. Too many good men have sacrificed too much for me to EVER forget that.:D

[AEE/linehand]

Amen.......

[Stinger]

Well said Boomer.

[Boomer gone soft]

Alliant is Union....

I just don't boom around anymore. Most utilities, especially around here, are union....especially investor owned.


Like most utility union members Alliant has mostly BA members....I am keeping my A ticket.

I didn't mean to complicate my post for you.;)

[WCLR]

IMO-Stay away from Sumter Utilities (owned by Quanta), MasTec (they seem to be going away from utility work here in the South), Pike, and Davis H. Elliott. All have bad track records around my area and OSHA's site is full of incident reports from those companies. I'm sure there are plenty out West too.

Try to get on with PG&E if you can, they are a great company to work for. I have a great friend that is a Transmission Foreman and has been there forever. Makes awesome money. To get on with companies like that will be hard, but worth it in the long run. Some IOU's here wont even hire you if you have worked non-union before.