Great Job Opportunity $36-40hr-no experience necessary

I get both sides of the union argument, but will definitely say that ours is great.

Hard workers that show up have a job. Slackers are not tolerated and sit on the bench.

One great thing that hasn’t really been brought up yet is our pension.

In the union, you’re “forced” to pay into your pension. I’ve been paying in since 2004 when I was 21 years old and signed up.

It’s mind blowing how many people that are 30, 40, 50, 60, etc that I’ve met in life that haven’t saved a penny for retirement.

By not giving our members an option to not contribute, it is actually a great thing for most. It only takes five years to be vested, and 10 to be fully vested.

When I was in my 20’s the last thing I cared about was funding my retirement, girls and beer were my main focus

Looking back I’m so glad I wasn’t able to opt out from contributing.

Been on both sides, good and bad on both sides.
With that said I’m landing on the un-organized labor side especially after personally being bullied by labor guy’s.
BTW – they always come in with 2 guys. The mouth piece and the muscle.
I was shocked when that happened to me. Thought I was in a Godfather movie.

Bearcat you asked how would they get more work? The union comes in and buys down the difference between them and the non union bids. Kinda un-fair in my book.
Just saying.

EPG, our local is nothing like what you describe lol

Another thing that I haven’t mentioned is our training center in Hugo/Lino.

Members can take unlimited classes (and are encouraged to). They’re part of being a member and cost you nothing out of pocket or down the road (they are funded from our dues). Some employers will even pay you to take certain classes if they are required as a condition of employment.

I was just there this winter to get my MSHA certification, CPR/1st Aid Refresher, Plumbing Code Refresher, and Confined Space/Excavation Safety Refresher.

Over the years I’ve had over 500 hours of training there. Some classes are just a day, some are weeks long (like welding certification).

Some other courses I’ve taken off the top of my head:

Blueprint reading, flagging, Hazwoper, OSHA 10, OSHA 30, Pipe Fusion, Pipe Laying, Rigging and Signaling, Scaffold, Safety Week, Gen Con, etc, etc.

Every single class was beneficial not only to me, but to my employer and any future employers.

It’s mandatory for all apprentices to take Gen Con and Safety Week before they can take any additional courses.

Those two classes are great introductions and educate the next generation about the hazards that lackadaisical employers (both union and non-union) neglect to warn their employees about (things like respiratory and hearing protection among many other things).

The training center recently added a large addition to the facility to create further opportunities for even more trainees. I’m proud to say I was personally a part of the expansion (I installed all of the watermain, storm sewer, and sanitary sewer) using the training I received which started almost two decades ago.

Some unions do suck….but ours is far from it

http://www.ltcmn.org/

I got my mn welding master certificate from our labor school for free in 2010. A class that cost over 10k at st Paul tech at the time.
And epg. We work side by side and for non union companies on the daily. This isn’t the mafia days any more, he’ll there isn’t even a muscle guy. Just money.
I was luckily not forced in to classes but they benefit many guys. My employer signed me off. But it was free to go back for welding masters, crane rigging and signaling , and a few others I took. And I agree about the Pension like b Mann said. I have 15 credits in mine with over 34,000 working hours. Alot of money I never noticed was missing is in my Pension fund. I’ll be sitting well by the time I call it quits.

I’m a retired 49er. The company that I worked for did excavating and grading. Most of our customers were high end builders. As a union company, they got, and had highly trained operators. The customers demanded and received quality work. The union employees got good pay and benefits with an excellent retirement waiting for them.

Lazy or poor workers were given one chance to improve and if they didn’t they were shown the door.

I really don’t understand the whining about unions. Maybe there are bad ones, you have to make the right choice. Before unions in this country there was 14 hour days, 6-7 day weeks, no health insurance or unemployment, dangerous working conditions and child labor.

Basically, unions balance power between labor and industry.

B-man wrote:

It’s full-time + overtime union job (typically 45-60hrs a week depending on weather) for about 8 months a year, then unemployment through the winter months (max is $820 a week now)

MN unemployment insurance website says “You must actively seek suitable employment each week you request benefits.”
Do people really do that? It seems kind of like a racket if you don’t.

https://www.uimn.org/applicants/getpaid/stay-eligible/seeking.jsp

The Union can put you on a out of work list. Most seasonal guys have no intention on working winters. I could never sit for more then 2 weeks when I did highway heavy , I took the full time switch to building and trades, never been laid off since. Most new members go to school while collecting un enjoyment. Getting paid to sit in class.

Mark Anderson wrote:

I’m a retired 49er. The company that I worked for did excavating and grading. Most of our customers were high end builders. As a union company, they got, and had highly trained operators. The customers demanded and received quality work. The union employees got good pay and benefits with an excellent retirement waiting for them.

Lazy or poor workers were given one chance to improve and if they didn’t they were shown the door.

I really don’t understand the whining about unions. Maybe there are bad ones, you have to make the right choice. Before unions in this country there was 14 hour days, 6-7 day weeks, no health insurance or unemployment, dangerous working conditions and child labor.

Basically, unions balance power between labor and industry.

This is my experience as well. As a member of the carpenters and also an owner, I can certainly see both sides. But, in my opinion, the pro’s far outweigh the con’s.

Netguy wrote:

“You must actively seek suitable employment each week you request benefits.”
Do people really do that? It seems kind of like a racket if you don’t.

Yes, they do. I have relatives that do not seek winter work and they collect unemployment. They would rather ice fish or do nothing for 4 months than work. I believe the length on unemployment is 26 weeks in Minnesota. I may be wrong on that one. There is also a weekly cap but I am not sure what that is.

gim wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Netguy wrote:</div>
“You must actively seek suitable employment each week you request benefits.”
Do people really do that? It seems kind of like a racket if you don’t.

Yes, they do. I have relatives that do not seek winter work and they collect unemployment. They would rather ice fish or do nothing for 4 months than work. I believe the length on unemployment is 26 weeks in Minnesota. I may be wrong on that one. There is also a weekly cap but I am not sure what that is.

This was stated in the original post. 840 a week.
You make the ice fishing sound bad all winter. But remember most of the seasonal guys work 80plus hour weeks from April to November December.

I’d like to see payroll reports of those 80hrs, let alone from April to November. I’m all for unions don’t get me wrong but good grief let’s not exaggerate facts here.

$840 a week but you have to pay taxes on it so it’s not really worth it. And you have to report any moonlighting money.

Bearcat89 wrote:

This was stated in the original post. 840 a week.
You make the ice fishing sound bad all winter. But remember most of the seasonal guys work 80plus hour weeks from April to November December.

I missed the 840/week part.

I realize that most of the seasonal workers put extra time in. They probably don’t have a choice in many cases.

I’ve never sought unemployment so I am not sure how strict they are on “seeking employment” to collect unemployment. If there are a lot of seasonal workers collecting it, I am guessing there is very little enforcement of ensuring they seek other employment to actually collect unemployment. Certainly most of them could easily get other employment considering how many open jobs there are out there at this time.

for you guys who go on unemployment each winter.. approx how much do you pay into it throughout the year compared to what you collect? is it a 1 for 1? genuinely curious

Deuces wrote:

I’d like to see payroll reports of those 80hrs, let alone from April to November. I’m all for unions don’t get me wrong but good grief let’s not exaggerate facts here.

80 hour weeks were our average when I worked for Shafer. 6 to 7 days a week 12 to 14 hour days. Why do you think you see the road guys working dark to dark and then under light plants. Obviously every job is different. But road guys are working before you go in and still there when you go home. Those hours add up. I don’t do that any more for a reason. But I cut for those guys alot. Just last week I had 71 hours on the week. Call Shafer, cs mcrossin, pci and ask them what the average week looks like. There is a reason they make a 80 to 100 k in 7 months

Guess I travel alot and I don’t see what you’re seeing on the roads bearcat. Rarely see dark to dark, and rarely see night work. Sure some projects here and there every year but that hardly adds up to an industry wide 80hr work weeks.

Glad it’s working for you and many others. Numbers are just hard for me to digest

Deuces wrote:

Guess I travel alot and I don’t see what you’re seeing on the roads bearcat. Rarely see dark to dark, and rarely see night work. Sure some projects here and there every year but that hardly adds up to an industry wide 80hr work weeks.

Glad it’s working for you and many others. Numbers are just hard for me to digest

I quit doing that when my son was born. But you have to realize a crew works 1 job 1 area for a certain amount of time and then goes else where. I was on the concrete division we poured all of cross town. 6 am to 8 or 9pm. Then go home. Wake up and off to a different city that our dirt crew had ready for us. These projects have dead lines and the weather is not your friend. And you have to remember this all waits till after road restrictions and before freeze up.
Or just do the math on 80 to 100k, divided by what you see there hourly rate is and 6 to 7 months. Shows the hours 1 might put in. And this isn’t all seasonal guys by any means. This is highway heavy, both union and non do the same thing.

Who in the Fu@# wants to work 80 hour work weeks. Life’s to short for that kind of stuff. That means no summer fishing because your working all the time. Get a education and make some real money working 40 hour weeks LOL

bigcrappie wrote:

Who in the Fu@# wants to work 80 hour work weeks. Life’s to short for that kind of stuff. That means no summer fishing because your working all the time. Get a education and make some real money working 40 hour weeks LOL

It sucks working 40 hours/week during the summer (or any other season), let alone 80…

bigcrappie wrote:

Who in the Fu@# wants to work 80 hour work weeks. Life’s to short for that kind of stuff. That means no summer fishing because your working all the time. Get a education and make some real money working 40 hour weeks LOL

Agreed. That’s why I switched from highway to buildings. No I can work 40 or as much ot as I want. Normal buildings and trades guys make that much working 40. Year round. I guess it’s to each there own. Further education wasn’t my thing. And I make more then most my buddies who did 4 years of college. I also like working with my hands. I have plenty ty of fishing time and lots of family time. I can also ramp up ot and pay for my grizzly in about a month’s time. So there is that.

Working in this industry there are a lot of guys who are money hungry and have nothing better to do then stack paychecks

Gitchi Gummi wrote:

for you guys who go on unemployment each winter.. approx how much do you pay into it throughout the year compared to what you collect? is it a 1 for 1? genuinely curious

Employer pays for unemployment. Rates depends on their unemployment rating. Really does not matter if the unemployment is used or not employer still pays it. I’ve been paying unemployment tax on myself for more than 20 years and Im not even eligible to collect it. My guess is they are happy to see it used as that means employee retention during the off season.

I used to work crazy hours for the first 15 years as a business owner, when my body started going to crap. The last 15 years I let employees do the lions share of the work. I do know guys that kept working construction well into their 60’s, and seem to still be in pretty good shape. I also have seen so many laborers retire at 52 that were dead by 55. A lot of that probably is due to lifestyle. Hopefully your body holds up and you can enjoy your later life. I will never speak ill will of someone that wants to work as many hours as they can. I can attest to having a really hard time finding quality workers the last ten years in business that made the grind not worth it, and after 30 years I got out.

Bearcat89 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bigcrappie wrote:</div>
Who in the Fu@# wants to work 80 hour work weeks. Life’s to short for that kind of stuff. That means no summer fishing because your working all the time. Get a education and make some real money working 40 hour weeks LOL

Agreed. That’s why I switched from highway to buildings. No I can work 40 or as much ot as I want. Normal buildings and trades guys make that much working 40. Year round. I guess it’s to each there own. Further education wasn’t my thing. And I make more then most my buddies who did 4 years of college. I also like working with my hands. I have plenty ty of fishing time and lots of family time. I can also ramp up ot and pay for my grizzly in about a month’s time. So there is that.

Working in this industry there are a lot of guys who are money hungry and have nothing better to do then stack paychecks

bigcrappie wrote:

Who in the Fu@# wants to work 80 hour work weeks. Life’s to short for that kind of stuff. That means no summer fishing because your working all the time. Get a education and make some real money working 40 hour weeks LOL

A uneducated road guy will make more money in his working days and retire by 55 than a college educated guy will less their college costs. Education is nice, but you don’t need one to be a productive worker.

Dutchboy wrote:

Education is nice, but you don’t need one to be a productive worker.

I agree. Its not for everybody. If you’re working a lot of hours on a seasonal basis, that’s the path you have chosen in life. We’re all adults here and we can make our own beds on a daily basis.

I would personally prefer to have more time off in the spring/summer/fall instead of the winter, but that’s just me.

Dutchboy wrote:

A uneducated road guy will make more money in his working days and retire by 55 than a college educated guy will less their college costs. Education is nice, but you don’t need one to be a productive worker.

Some of the richest people in the word have no education, Great. All I am saying is great, retire by 55, your body probably is shot needs new knees/hip and can barely get in and out of a boat. Labor work is hard on your body. Like people are saying to each your own. Now lets go fishing…………….

bigcrappie wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dutchboy wrote:</div>
A uneducated road guy will make more money in his working days and retire by 55 than a college educated guy will less their college costs. Education is nice, but you don’t need one to be a productive worker.

Some of the richest people in the word have no education, Great. All I am saying is great, retire by 55, your body probably is shot needs new knees/hip and can barely get in and out of a boat. Labor work is hard on your body. Like people are saying to each your own. Now lets go fishing…………….

Your thinking of the land before time. These days equipment does all the work. And if the employer doesn’t have nice equipment then I’d move on. Hell my wall saw is fully wireless remote controlled. The work we do keeps us in good shape. I know more office guys in ten times worse shape from not moving all day. But again it goes back to pros and cons. Some days suck and some days are great. That’s for any job ever. I know guys who do fire watch on nuke plants for 50 hours a week. And love it. I personally would rather do what I do every day then ever sit behind a computer. But I was raised that way as well. And I can do everything at home with out ever having to hire out.
Bonus, I get to do and see some awesome stuff

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I worked for my friend’s dad’s painting business when I was in college (late 70s-early 80s). I was getting ready to go back to school one fall and he asked me to keep working because he had a lot of work. So I did. 2 weeks after school started, he said he was all caught up and no more work. I said I was going to collect unemployment. He was kind of pissed since it was the first time he ever had an employee collect in over 20 years. If I would have known he only had a few weeks of work left, I would have gone to school instead. I went to the unemployment office and they explained what I needed to do. I looked for work every week but no one would hire someone who was going to be going back to school in a few months. Finally the person at the unemployment office said I could stop looking for work in December.

Bigg crappie, you can’t fish, lol you always have the damn kids hockey.

My son is the heavy equipment operator on a road crew. 70 – 80 hours/week May to Nov. He says he needs the winter time off just to recharge his batteries. It would be very difficult to work a full year at that pace.

Also apparently seasonal laid off workers are not required to look for work during the down time.