sswt
Full Member
Posts: 37
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Post by sswt on Apr 14, 2009 8:42:16 GMT -5
we bid a pretty big job for this summer, and got it by a mile.....but the contractor who got the cement work only uses union cement; had to fight this in the metro, but come on....instead of getting your redi-mix from a mile away you're going to get if from the closest union plant (30 miles or so away) just so you can keep it in the union? more cost + older cement + taking away local business from a local project = total crap.
and again, i dont want to start a union debate, im a firm believer for unions in certain trades, but not for redi-mix...i still have my laborers card from another job and i would show it to contractors who pregnant doged about not getting union cement in the cities - shut them up in a hurry
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gant
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Post by gant on Apr 14, 2009 10:03:16 GMT -5
That's the way it is around here, most if not all union contractors use union ready mix..Which is fine with me, there was a street pour going on that we were doing for 3 days straight and then one day it stopped turns out they ordered from a non union company because they said "they couldn't get ahold of us to order" so they tried to get non union.. Well the teamsters showed up and 2 ours later we were back on the job..
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Post by LEAD DOG on Apr 14, 2009 10:11:54 GMT -5
I SUPPOSE WE'RE PRETTY LUCKY HERE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT "STICKY WICKET". WE'RE A NON-UNION OUTFIT & WE HAVE SEVERAL UNION CONTRACTORS WHO COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT UNION or NON-UNION SUPPLIERS. PRICE AND SERVICE IS THE BOTTOM LINE. THESE GUYS WOULD CUT THEIR MOM'S THROAT TO SAVE A BUCK or TO GET THE CRAP ON THE GROUND FASTER  .
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Post by Mort on Apr 14, 2009 11:55:09 GMT -5
I suppose we're on the opposite end of that, we have several union companies in this area and one non-union that is taking all the business. Its pretty well known (not bragging, just what I've heard) that my company has the most skilled drivers and the best quality concrete, but that doesn't seem to matter to the people that have to write the checks.
There's something to be said for loyalty, watching your buddy's backs, as this contractor seems to be doing. But if you guys got the contract, then they should honor it.
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gant
Junior Member
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Post by gant on Apr 14, 2009 15:43:36 GMT -5
^^ We're known for the best product, trucks and drivers aswell
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Post by Mort on Apr 15, 2009 12:01:28 GMT -5
 "Remember, I'm rootin' for ya. We're all in this together." - Red Green, Possum Lodge |
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Post by Matt on Apr 15, 2009 22:40:00 GMT -5
I think the bigger question at hand is whether a contractors company is unionized. Some customers will go with union contactors in order to protect themselves from various issues, or because they themselves are unionized. The hired contractors are supposed to honor the brotherhood that their employees are a part of, and the brotherhood that may have led to them getting the job to begin with. If union contractors pour non union mud, they have broken the brotherhood. For contractors to have got the job because they are union, than brought non union companies onto their jobsite, is wrong. They have used the union to land the job, than turned an extra buck by sub contracting non-union labor. There is a lot of this going on in Michigan right now. Union Contractors are in a bidding war due to lack of work. In order to turn a greater profit off a low bid, they sub contract non union. Jobsites end up being a blend of union and non union labor. The unions are weak because of lack of active members, so this behavior goes unchallenged. It’s a vicious cycle that needs to stop. Jobsites should be union or non-union from start to finish. It evens the playing field and is fair for everyone regardless of who you work for. It also makes for a less hostile jobsite. I have worked for both union and non-union companies. My thoughts have always been the same in regards to this issue.
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Post by Yard Bird on Apr 16, 2009 8:41:21 GMT -5
I have mixed emotions about Union's, I was a Teamster for 15 years and watched a driver that had one week until retirement have a heart attack. We'll his pension went away and his wife didn't get a dime. Had he filled out the right paper work then his wife would have gotten one half of his pension, but he didn't. So where does all that money go? and where does the money go for those drivers that don't get vested? Also no interest is paid on your money, so when its gone its gone. You can't borrow against it nor can you will it to your family. It seems that the Unions need to loosen up a bit. Now don't get me wrong there is a place for unions but I wonder if its keeping up with the times, that's all. I hope things will be getting better for all of us  (Beer time) ;D ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by Matt on Apr 16, 2009 11:50:16 GMT -5
I'm no fan of the Teamsters Central States Pension either. I have many of the same concerns as you. However, not all Teamster retirements are tied to that fund. I have both a 401k and Pension after bouncing around from various union plants. If retirement plans were your only complaint about the union, I would keep in mind that there are many non union outfits with no retirement plans at all. Even if a non union company had a retirement plan in place when you hired in, that doesn’t mean they couldn’t get rid of it at any moment since it’s not a contractual agreement. I know of guys that had 4.5 years worth of contributions that were lost when the company got rid of the retirement plan before any vesting occurred. I hope things get better too Yard Bird! Only time will tell dont mean to start a union rant, but.... Too Late ;D |
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Post by concretejoe on Apr 16, 2009 16:10:34 GMT -5
I'm no fan of the Teamsters Central States Pension either. The Teamsters aren't a fan of Central States either. They are pushing more and more for shops to go with a company 401k. They are facing the same crisis that social security is facing. More people drawing than contributing. I do believe that unions still have a place. They do help to protect you from favoritism and harassment. I also agree that once a job is union it needs to remain union until completion. This is the fault of the unions for not protesting when non-union sub's come onsite. |
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gant
Junior Member
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Post by gant on Apr 16, 2009 17:06:03 GMT -5
We're working on getting rid of central states and getting a company 401k as well, a few other plants got rid of it and they are alot better off.. I think it needs to be union or non union on thejob all the way, no need to worry about a picket being set up..
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Post by cfconcrete on May 7, 2009 23:10:16 GMT -5
The teamsters arn't a fan of Walmart either but they raffle Walmart gift cards at our local's summer party.
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gant
Junior Member
Posts: 12
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Post by gant on May 8, 2009 8:09:00 GMT -5
^^ We are working on a walmart right now lol..
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Post by Mort on May 8, 2009 13:50:23 GMT -5
They're against Wal Mart until it suits them. Teamsters will deliver to Wal Mart all day long, and then picket them and put a bunch of anti-Wal Mart propaganda all over the union hall.
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sswt
Full Member
Posts: 37
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Post by sswt on May 9, 2009 2:53:34 GMT -5
we've had big jobs, really really big jobs mind you, that we've gotten a day or so into and they'll kick us off because we're not union....so the job sits for a day or two and they realize that we're the only company within 50 miles and then back to work we go; seems like more of a half assed push to help us go union or them trying to make a statement, but whatever
with all the b.s. aside, we have it pretty darn good; and involving a union wouldnt help 90% of our company, but again to each their own
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Post by LEAD DOG on May 9, 2009 22:05:23 GMT -5
I HAD TO REPLACE SOME PLUMBING IN MY BASEMENT....I THINK IT WAS A UNION.......yup  .
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Post by Mort on May 9, 2009 22:20:05 GMT -5
^^^I have a good story about that...
My town is very strongly union, but its nowhere near as bad as it used to be. When my grandpa was a younger (and more alive) man, he built a MIL apartment above his garage. Did everything himself, got all the permits (first mistake), did everything to code, it was perfect. The inspector asked him, "Did a union plumber put in that plumbing?" He answered no, he did it himself.
The inspector failed him. He had to hire a union plumber to come in, rip it out, and install it the exact same way so he could get it checked off. I think what finally killed my grandpa is him finding out I was a Teamster.
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Post by BillyCement on May 10, 2009 6:45:39 GMT -5
^^^I have a good story about that... My town is very strongly union, but its nowhere near as bad as it used to be. When my grandpa was a younger (and more alive) man, he built a MIL apartment above his garage. Did everything himself, got all the permits (first mistake), did everything to code, it was perfect. The inspector asked him, "Did a union plumber put in that plumbing?" He answered no, he did it himself. The inspector failed him. He had to hire a union plumber to come in, rip it out, and install it the exact same way so he could get it checked off. I think what finally killed my grandpa is him finding out I was a Teamster.
As crooked and corrupt as the state of NJ is, that would never happen here. As long as it's your own residence we can install our own plumbing, septic, electric, etc. It all has to be inspected of course but they can't insist on licensed or union tradesmen doing the job. If you're sure that it meets code and the inspector still fails you, you can request a hearing with the building department. I know what you mean about permits, though. When my kids were young I wanted to put an above-ground pool in my backyard. I was told that I needed a permit. My wife went to the building department and got the paperwork. Among other ridiculous things, they wanted a total of eight 20' grounding wires from the outside of the pool attached to metal rods and sunk six feet in the ground. I asked my wife if she told them where she lived. She said no. The paperwork was duly tossed out. I can understand grounding an in-ground pool (and I did have the filter plugged into a ground fault outlet) but an above-ground? We kept the pool for 20 years and never had a problem. |
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Post by Mort on May 10, 2009 13:22:56 GMT -5
This was in the 50's or 60's, and everyone in this town was on the take from unions. Same town en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everett_massacre this took place. I think now, in my county, you can do anything without a permit as long as it isn't over 400 square feet. And those dopes at the DIYchatroom.com were giving me crap because my porch balusters are spaced too far apart. I told them its been up for a lot of years with no problems, but they said they'd lose sleep over it, like my kid's are going to be decapitated in the next 5 minutes if I don't fix it. Screw them. |
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Post by BillyCement on May 10, 2009 14:38:56 GMT -5
This was in the 50's or 60's, and everyone in this town was on the take from unions. Same town en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everett_massacre this took place. I think now, in my county, you can do anything without a permit as long as it isn't over 400 square feet. And those dopes at the DIYchatroom.com were giving me crap because my porch balusters are spaced too far apart. I told them its been up for a lot of years with no problems, but they said they'd lose sleep over it, like my kid's are going to be decapitated in the next 5 minutes if I don't fix it. Screw them. |
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(Beer time) ;D ;D ;D ;D
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