Hello, I am a concrete operator with 10 years experience I have operated everything from a ball and seat pump to a 61m schwing, I hail from the south east where Unions are non existent and am considering relocating somewhere where on time, professional ,safe operators are appreciated. My questions concern the Unions, what are the pros and cons of being a Union Operator? How do Unions work? We have heard all kinds of storys. Like in the Union you get over time after 8 and double time after 12? Als I have heard that at a Union company they pay for your Health Insurance for your whole family? Also How does the pension plan work.  What are the pros and cons of going Union?

Thanks,

JC

Hey JC, shoot me an email and I'll give you my number and explain to you how things work up here in NJ.  rhaight@vt.edu

Hey I would like some info on that as well.

Russ

I fell you there bud i to am in the southeast and to beat all we have a screwed up split pay system.

so i have been on my own with a trailer unit for six years taking a beating and you have been running a boom with no insurance for your family man thats no good.

unions are do not care about the working guy its just a buck in your pocket so grab it.

try to buy your own pump the big dealers will work with you on a rent to own, you need customers and a lot of business savey.

make sure that your family understands what you are trying to do and the first year will be a loser then you will break even and then progress, its long term.

smoother, stronger better looking blue pump

Ok short version! Eugene You're just wrong! The unions have their hand in someones pocket alright,the employers,which is why most hate them! The unions are there MOSTLY for the employees,but with their own agenda's,which are for the good of the union!My former union OE#3 it went like this; straight pay to 8; 1 1/2for the next 4 then double time after 16. Pay if you dont have 8hrs off starts at 1 1/2 !The employer pays to the union X amount for med,dent,retirement,vacation ect. You pay dues(local#3)around$500 every quarter. Now before you scream bloody murder you are making 38+ for EVERY straight time hour.Do the math!

SORRY Amend that to double time after 12 hrs

I understand the owners perspective on this issue, nobody wants a third party telling them how to run their business. However from an employees point of view, there is no denying the upside of this. If the union were to screw up and lose my pension tomorrow, it would suck. but it would still be worth it. This is our current package:

Hourly scale- $41.55

Long boom pay- $.50

(the following bennies are hourly)

Health and welfare- $6.85

Pension- $5.60

Vacation savings- $1.90

Apprenticeship- $.70

Industry advancement fund- $.18

All overtime is double-time after 8. We do have two contracts here, this is from the one that almost all conveyors and pumps fall under.

The union is in no way a perfect organization, but there is just no way for me to make this kind of money (working for someone else) without the union. Many owners will say they couldn't make it if they were union, and that is probably true in many areas. I'm not even aware of any non-union pump or conveyor companies in our immediate area, which levels the playing field, and helps dictate the pricing. I understand that it would be nearly impossible to compete in an area that has allot of non-union competition, that has allot to do with my decision to work in this area. I'm not knocking anyone for their decision on wether or not to be union, it's a free country. I just know that it makes sense for me.

the union is just the middle man out for them self, if this guy can get benefits for his family go for it but when your job comes to a end the union does not know you. 

my case in point is that i had eight years in retail clerks and the company opened the first superstore say twenty years ago at 3.6 million when houses where about $120K

well the work load changed and we could not keep up so they changed the schedule so they could watch us work.

four shifts from 4:00 am to 8:00 thats 16 hr for me and another kid got 20 hr at a cheeper rate and his mom was a district manager.

so when i asked my boss whats up i got the finger that they did not want me, so i went to the union guy and told him that there was a dozen six buck an hour employees, he told me that he would be in contact with me in a couple of weeks.

well what the union did was stand out at the gate and handed out free membership to those dozen people and i got a letter stateing that my dues were two weeks late and i was out of the union without a withdraw card. 

the big orange company here pays scale at $24- or $27-which is good money and i think they have an awesum reputation from every time that i have been in contact with them - bad boy brian