Justin, as usual, you show how wet behind the ears you are. I take offense at your implication that if a tradesman isn't union that he's somehow less talented, educated, or competent.
My father was a non-union electrician. Pate Builders (higher-end homes) and other custom home builders used to call him to come wire up special features in their homes when he wasn't on his regular job. They liked his work better than their regular electricians. Some of these homes were so upscale the kitchens had to have their own breaker boxes. Dad fed and housed a wife and 3 daughters on his non-union salary.
My son is a non-union, industrial maintenance electrician. He makes $3 less per hour than you do, doesn't pay union dues, and has top-drawer benefits. Hasn't been laid off a single day in ten years, but if he should be, he doesn't have to worry about where and with whom he can work. He can go anywhere. You, on the other hand, will sit and wait until they call your low-seniority tail back to work, or you can find another union shop who will have you. And, you will continue to pay union dues when your paycheck is not coming in.
I have been in the working world ten years longer than you've been alive. I've seen the times come and go, economically, industrially, both good and bad. I've watched my neighbors, whose husband was a union pipefitter almost lose their house several times, and live on bologna because Tom only worked 6 months out of the year. He made fat money when he worked, but he sweat bullets when he didn't. Factor in the time off over the long haul, and his quality of life wasn't any better than anyone else. In fact, he made out worse some years.
I am good friends with a retired union stewart. He was the sheit when he was working and lording over the foundry like a big shot, with his hand on the kill switches if management didn't cow to his every whim, braggin' about how "the union" made him untouchable, and somehow better than anyone else in his trade. Made fat money as you can imagine, had some fun in his life, felt he was able to retire early because of his awesome union and its benefits. What he didn't count on was retirement brings no overtime for the extras, and he barely keeps his bills paid these days. He works in a pumpkin patch this time every year to make extra money for his property taxes, and has to budget his beer money. How the mighty do fall -- none of us are immune. And his income will stay just like it is for the next 11 years until he can draw Soc Sec. You think the price of food, cigarettes, heating fuel, and other things will stay the same for him?
The union life is not for everyone. Some don't find the gamble worth it. They don't consider the control they must give up over their own lives a very good deal at all. Some do. But the ones who don't are not a lesser form of life, and they don't deserve to have their houses burn or "disappear" or be cut, or whatever hateful, violent thing you've wished on someone today. In my opinion, you're exactly where you belong -- in the
It's All About Me-Me-Me Club.
I'm proud that you can make good money -- and you have worked to get where you are at this young age. I hope you always, always, always have work throughout your life and never suffer lay-offs, recessions, or anything else that will put your high hourly rate into a different category, because if you miss even 6 weeks of work in a year, you will be making 50 cents less an hour than my non-union son. If you miss any more than 6 weeks in a year, you may be going to him for a loan. It's not how much money you make an hour, this week, or even this year. How much money you really make will be determined over your lifetime.
I'm personally watching for the day when you can take as good as you dish out,
but I don't think I will live that long, lol.
