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Those of you that know me on here know that I am a self employed rig welder for the past 2.5 years. Things have been hit and miss for me thats for sure. Last year I parked the rig and worked as an employee for a local mechanical company doing all of their pipe welding. This company was a former union contractor gone private 5 yrs ago. I quit in Nov of 2009 to go back to the oilfields with my rig. I only managed 5 weeks of work before being laid off in early Jan of this year. I sat at home for over 2 months making phone calls and faxing companies all over western Canada trying to find work with my rig or by hand, but to no avail.
In March I hit up the local UA hall and hit it off with one of the business reps. My wifes Grandpa and his brother both have over 40 yrs with UA 179 here in Sask. both as rig welders...the wifes Grandpa was a bead hand on the pipeline and his bro was more into facility, fab work. Anyways there was my in and within a few weeks I got a call to work out at a nearby potash mine. I have now been there nearly 3 months and its going pretty good. I have mostly been welding stainless which has been a real good learning experience. My probation is nearly up and I have 3 letters from co workers and foremen and some successful x ray documents to add in there as well. It seems like I will be joining and becoming a member.
In the past I have been quite anti union, being that I worked in Alberta for 10 yrs and what not. I had always heard bad things about the union...many of which I now see were assumptions and prejudices.
There is alot of work coming up in my province and the union provides a good wage, benefits and a pension all of which are important to me as a professional pressure welder and a husband and father. I am just plain tired of trying to make it on my own with my rig worrying about whether or not I will be able to provide for my family as the bills continue to pile up as I sit at home trying to find work in a field where its who you know not what you know. I realize that I name dropped at the union hall also but a guy has got to do what he's got to do and once I'm in I'm in and will no longer be up late at night compiling fax numbers for business' that are never going to call me back.
I have now seen union and non union in this area and let me tell you I can really see the differences. That private co. I worked for last year that dropped its union contract 5 yrs ago was a terrible place to work. I won't get into all the details now but I'll just say that I can see why the RICH EMPLOYER is happier these days and not his underpaid overworked 22 year old plumbing apprentices doing the work of journeymen who were non existent. Tip of the iceburg...
Basically I have changed my tune on working union and would like some view points from around N America on the subject of union and private sector welding work. I am sure this will create some heated debate, but lets try to keep this respectful and honest. Thanks.
In March I hit up the local UA hall and hit it off with one of the business reps. My wifes Grandpa and his brother both have over 40 yrs with UA 179 here in Sask. both as rig welders...the wifes Grandpa was a bead hand on the pipeline and his bro was more into facility, fab work. Anyways there was my in and within a few weeks I got a call to work out at a nearby potash mine. I have now been there nearly 3 months and its going pretty good. I have mostly been welding stainless which has been a real good learning experience. My probation is nearly up and I have 3 letters from co workers and foremen and some successful x ray documents to add in there as well. It seems like I will be joining and becoming a member.
In the past I have been quite anti union, being that I worked in Alberta for 10 yrs and what not. I had always heard bad things about the union...many of which I now see were assumptions and prejudices.
There is alot of work coming up in my province and the union provides a good wage, benefits and a pension all of which are important to me as a professional pressure welder and a husband and father. I am just plain tired of trying to make it on my own with my rig worrying about whether or not I will be able to provide for my family as the bills continue to pile up as I sit at home trying to find work in a field where its who you know not what you know. I realize that I name dropped at the union hall also but a guy has got to do what he's got to do and once I'm in I'm in and will no longer be up late at night compiling fax numbers for business' that are never going to call me back.
I have now seen union and non union in this area and let me tell you I can really see the differences. That private co. I worked for last year that dropped its union contract 5 yrs ago was a terrible place to work. I won't get into all the details now but I'll just say that I can see why the RICH EMPLOYER is happier these days and not his underpaid overworked 22 year old plumbing apprentices doing the work of journeymen who were non existent. Tip of the iceburg...
Basically I have changed my tune on working union and would like some view points from around N America on the subject of union and private sector welding work. I am sure this will create some heated debate, but lets try to keep this respectful and honest. Thanks.
with Q-gun
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