Mitch Daniels takes on LABOR

[DJD]

DJD ever work high iron? would you trust just anyone operating a tower crane? Would you let a new guy plan and build a 20 story elevator shaft? Some unions have apprentace programs a worker must pass to be a certified journey man. I saw new houses being built in birmingham, that 5 yrs later were almost condemed, BillyBob construction, left sewer lines loosly connected, Atlanta subdivision, used the cheap schedule plactic pipe for sewage, 4 yra later the whole subdivision was socked with the cost of replacing it, BiilBob construction, and his crew Juan, Pedro, hesus, all gone. Hate unions, what is the AMA, The bar association? Get a bunch of yahoos putting up a 5 story wall, and not checking plumb lines, but hey they are only making 5 bucks an hour. When I got out of the army, worked with american bridge, but it was almost seasonal work, building missle silos out west, no yahoos needed to apply.you talk about constructiion, do you hire cheap or competent contractors?Good contractors have jourymen,who know and take pride in their work.I worked iron one year, and frankly it scared the s--t out of me, so went into industry, chemicals to be exact, and retired as a hydrogen plant tech.Not a union job then.

No Sir I have not worked high iron...they can have it! That takes taters the size of uhhh taters!
We work with Union contractors day in and day out and I'm speaking about Electrical and Mechanical Unions that I see in my line of work. Naturally, the folks I work with are awesome and my opinion has nothing to do with their character or personal beliefs.

I do get to hear the "Union" side of the arguments of why they can't seem to compete unless they cut their prices to the bone. They are bound to pay their guys a certain rate which is why that "Prevailing Wage" law went into effect. The hopes were that if we paid our guys that high wage mandated by area or county then we would all be on level playing ground. What noone considered is that non union owners (who are directly responsible for the mans pay and makes decisions daily on how to keep the doors open) worked out doing more work without having 10 journeymen on each job so they could pay a supervisor his proper rate and pay the non-licensed guys they prevailing wages. When they get licensed and earn their way then it's their turn to get paid for their committment to their trade.

The jobs the union contractors get are usually very large (Hospitals, UK, Toyota) that demand a huge amount of labor in a short amount of time. Smaller non union companies can't compete with that and by smaller I'm even talking 50-70 men not being enough. The non union folks still have apprentice programs to become licensed journymen or master electricians and have their continuing education classes as required by KECA/codes. So the quality is the same with good and bad in each.

In the trade I'm in and the trades I deal with there are little to no illegals since the education required usually weeds them out especially with background checks/security clearances/drug tests for specific gubment jobs. I know for sure that trades that only require a strong back and ability to work in the trenches will attract the lower educated or hard on their luck folks. Thats just a fact of life and we need people in all pay grades. Heck most of us started the same way and decided to better educate ourselves or our parents pushed us.

I guess what I am living proof of is that hard work and not being in a union and working for small companies that support 20 or more employees pays the bills and if your good at what you do a person can do very well. No union involved at all. The private sector is where it's at in my eyes. I don't have the security blanket that unions do. My buddy who works at UPS is a proud union member. Great for him and he was around when UPS went on strike in the 90's (i think) and it was rough. He made enemies with friends who crossed the picket lines because they had to work to support their families and it tore alot of people apart. I just disagree with that mentailty. Isn't getting paid 50-100K a year driving package trucks and tractor trailers enough? What skill do they have? Walk fast? Healthy backs? Organizational skills? I just don't see it ......