I am curious to how many Owner / Operators are in the union? what are some of the  pros and cons?

Pros may be you only have to negotiate with yourself for a raise :)---However if the union would allow it-- it may save you on insurance benifits across the board. However does the savings in benifits outweigh the union dues.

Something to think about.

Set your self up a LLC-Limited Liability Corporation- and lease your pump and operator to it! You'll figure it out from there!!

Mudslinger can you please elaborate? Thanks

i understand what slinger is saying, my story is that i bought 2000 trailer pump and my buddy was welder on the bart train air baffles a job away from home so i told him that the gutter business was a in and out deal and he was very successful at it. but with his high roller style he became the number two union in the state. (no work or out of town big ticket stuff ) so after a while he wanted out of the union and they told him that he could not or they would sue him for 20-40 K. to get short to the point he sold the business for 30 down payment that is all he saw on a company that was grossing 60 K a month. this gutter business was five years old.