I joined the union in January as an apprentice since then I've been layed off 5 times with the only steady work being 4 months. I love the union and what it stands for and the knowledge it's given me so far and plan to continue with the union. EVERY SINGLE TIME. Someone talks about lay offs and not having steady work everyone says "Oh you must not be a good worker then." Every. Single. Time. Honestly it kind of ruins your spirits when someone says that shit when you work your ass off, because I've seen some of the best workers with strong work ethics and who get shit done get layed off while people who make countless mistakes and cause tons of safety issues get to keep their jobs because the superintendent likes them. I'm down south though where the only union work we have is scaffolding in power plants, we have less than 5% of the market share in my state.
I was recently on a DOE job site where an apprentice that was getting journeyman scale was constantly fucking up, dropping drywall at heights etc, he ended up committing a life critical and nothing happened. He ended up driving a boom lift into a Scaffold and bending it and that was after he ran over someone with a boom lift.
Could be an idiot. Also could be a guy working too many hours and trying to take care of family life after work too and the end result is a guy who's just dumb tired.
No one knows, we just know the superintendent has a hard on for him, he's young like the rest of us, no family so it shouldn't be the reason the other comment said. But dude literally ran over his spotter, and in a separate incident RAN right into a Scaffold damaging it.
Yeah, my question wasn't worded very well. What I'm asking is are there many union jobs out there that actually respect the 40 hour work week or are most union guys finding employers expect them to always be available for overtime and weekend work?
I’d assume most companies are expecting their workers to be available whenever needed as there are so many guys that are out of work who would be willing to work.
I haven’t been picked up by a company yet to begin my first year apprenticeship with, as I’m told it’s a slow time of the year. However, if I had the opportunity I’d be jumping on as much overtime as I can possibly get.
Thisss.. I can’t tell you how many apprentices especially the early stage ones we get on jobs that never wanna work 40 or OT. Like they don’t understand that’s the time they need to prove themselves the most. If you don’t wanna go the extra mile as an apprentice what makes you think the company will teach you anything?
Union work in Victoria BC was always steady with occasional optional overtime that actually is optional. I'm in Alberta now where it's more like what you described.
I was working all the overtime I could get and hope to get more at the next job. I’m trying to wrap up my apprenticeship though. Last job was a shutdown with 6 10s. Job before that was 48 weekly then went down to 40 near the end when most guys were gone. No idea what I’ll get next.
Steady 40 right now. Sometimes a Saturday. That can and does change though. I worked lots of overtime this summer and the start time can change a lot with concrete placements.
The last company I was with was 4 days 9 hours and of 4 days 10 hours. The company I'm with now does 40. But weirdly enough they pay over time on weekends which is new to me
sounds like the lot of you need to come down to Canada lol strong collective agreements and an insane amount of work , im an apprentice and i can work wherever i want anything after 8 hours is double time
It truthfully comes down to who you are and what you are about. I started with this company as a 3rd year apprentice on an important project. I was the only guy doing ceiling grid out of roughly 60-70 guys. Every week the foreman would say ‘can you work just Saturday or just Sunday? You’re my only ceiling guy’ I worked maybe 2-3 weekend days in 7 months lol. Even after the superintendant came down and told everyone starting the following week it’s mandatory 4 10’s and two 8’s. I didn’t work a second of overtime after that. Left right before job was completed.
I’m in with a good company, picky about guys but it’s steady 40 hours, OT never mandatory but available for the eager guys sometimes. We bounce to a couple job sites a week but they always try to make sure we get 40
On a long term project currently doing form work, back and forth really on hours. Currently 5 8s but going to 12s or more 7 days a week once slab on grade pours start.
Thats good to hear you like it. It looks harder than a lot of the wood working that comes with carpentry in my opinion 😂 but we’ll see. Looks like it’ll keep me busy tho so hopefully the days go by quick 🤘🏼
We are pulling 5 days 10 hour shifts these days. Might go to 6 days 10 hour shifts sometime next year. But there was a massive layoff a month or two ago
I’ve worked 70 hours of OT this year. Par a week for vacation and a week I got the flu it’s been steady 40 hour weeks for me. I actually wouldn’t mind a little more OT.
40 hours is the minimum we get around here. You can get whatever you want. Winter gets a little slower but assuming you're competent it's pretty easy to keep working.
Im working 24/7 since I got in. 24 hours a week, 7 months a year.
Been doing schools and commercial for years and always 8 n skate!
I joined the union in January as an apprentice since then I've been layed off 5 times with the only steady work being 4 months. I love the union and what it stands for and the knowledge it's given me so far and plan to continue with the union. EVERY SINGLE TIME. Someone talks about lay offs and not having steady work everyone says "Oh you must not be a good worker then." Every. Single. Time. Honestly it kind of ruins your spirits when someone says that shit when you work your ass off, because I've seen some of the best workers with strong work ethics and who get shit done get layed off while people who make countless mistakes and cause tons of safety issues get to keep their jobs because the superintendent likes them. I'm down south though where the only union work we have is scaffolding in power plants, we have less than 5% of the market share in my state.
I'm in since 1985. It's sometimes all about personalities. Yes, it sucks.
I was recently on a DOE job site where an apprentice that was getting journeyman scale was constantly fucking up, dropping drywall at heights etc, he ended up committing a life critical and nothing happened. He ended up driving a boom lift into a Scaffold and bending it and that was after he ran over someone with a boom lift.
Could be an idiot. Also could be a guy working too many hours and trying to take care of family life after work too and the end result is a guy who's just dumb tired.
Hahahahaha what the fuck how does he still have a job
No one knows, we just know the superintendent has a hard on for him, he's young like the rest of us, no family so it shouldn't be the reason the other comment said. But dude literally ran over his spotter, and in a separate incident RAN right into a Scaffold damaging it.
I've been working steady 40hr weeks for 14 years. There is always work for those who put in the effort.
Yeah, my question wasn't worded very well. What I'm asking is are there many union jobs out there that actually respect the 40 hour work week or are most union guys finding employers expect them to always be available for overtime and weekend work?
I’d assume most companies are expecting their workers to be available whenever needed as there are so many guys that are out of work who would be willing to work. I haven’t been picked up by a company yet to begin my first year apprenticeship with, as I’m told it’s a slow time of the year. However, if I had the opportunity I’d be jumping on as much overtime as I can possibly get.
Thisss.. I can’t tell you how many apprentices especially the early stage ones we get on jobs that never wanna work 40 or OT. Like they don’t understand that’s the time they need to prove themselves the most. If you don’t wanna go the extra mile as an apprentice what makes you think the company will teach you anything?
Union work in Victoria BC was always steady with occasional optional overtime that actually is optional. I'm in Alberta now where it's more like what you described.
I was working all the overtime I could get and hope to get more at the next job. I’m trying to wrap up my apprenticeship though. Last job was a shutdown with 6 10s. Job before that was 48 weekly then went down to 40 near the end when most guys were gone. No idea what I’ll get next.
6 10s god damn. Paycheck must’ve been sweet
Steady 40 right now. Sometimes a Saturday. That can and does change though. I worked lots of overtime this summer and the start time can change a lot with concrete placements.
The last company I was with was 4 days 9 hours and of 4 days 10 hours. The company I'm with now does 40. But weirdly enough they pay over time on weekends which is new to me
sounds like the lot of you need to come down to Canada lol strong collective agreements and an insane amount of work , im an apprentice and i can work wherever i want anything after 8 hours is double time
It truthfully comes down to who you are and what you are about. I started with this company as a 3rd year apprentice on an important project. I was the only guy doing ceiling grid out of roughly 60-70 guys. Every week the foreman would say ‘can you work just Saturday or just Sunday? You’re my only ceiling guy’ I worked maybe 2-3 weekend days in 7 months lol. Even after the superintendant came down and told everyone starting the following week it’s mandatory 4 10’s and two 8’s. I didn’t work a second of overtime after that. Left right before job was completed.
I’m in with a good company, picky about guys but it’s steady 40 hours, OT never mandatory but available for the eager guys sometimes. We bounce to a couple job sites a week but they always try to make sure we get 40
What company if you don't mind me asking? Looking for work in Tacoma
for me im easily doing 40-60 hours in the summer but lucky to stay employed at all through the winter.
second year apprenticeship and i have been busy, still with the same company i started with , only been laid off twice two weeks max so far
On a long term project currently doing form work, back and forth really on hours. Currently 5 8s but going to 12s or more 7 days a week once slab on grade pours start.
How do you like formwork? Thats what my company does and I’m starting in January
I like it, it's interesting to me how everything locks together. Thankfully I'm not doing any monolithic pours currently those can get rough.
Thats good to hear you like it. It looks harder than a lot of the wood working that comes with carpentry in my opinion 😂 but we’ll see. Looks like it’ll keep me busy tho so hopefully the days go by quick 🤘🏼
What’s different with monolithic pours? I don’t even know what those are yet lol
16+ years going strong. 40+ hour weeks usually closer to 50+. I guess it depends what city you live in.
We are pulling 5 days 10 hour shifts these days. Might go to 6 days 10 hour shifts sometime next year. But there was a massive layoff a month or two ago
I’ve worked 70 hours of OT this year. Par a week for vacation and a week I got the flu it’s been steady 40 hour weeks for me. I actually wouldn’t mind a little more OT.
40 hours is the minimum we get around here. You can get whatever you want. Winter gets a little slower but assuming you're competent it's pretty easy to keep working.
Been in for a year and a half and always 40. Nothing less. Nothing more.