So one of my son-in-laws in Topeka is a union electrician. He is currently a journeyman and as long as he's a journeyman he gets no paid vacation and doesn't get paid to go to mandatory union meetings on Wednesday evening. Probably no paid holidays either. He does make a darn good hourly wage though. I spose the vacation thing is standard but just surprised me.

He agreed to that ?

Yeah, that sucks.

I like my vacation days, and my pay.

I’d rather see this than the inside of my office.

I doubt that's his choice if he wants to be union.
He has also been required to go play union softball on his weekends off...

Guess it's up to him to decide. How long will be before he's no longer journeyman? Maybe it's worth it in the long run.

Good point! I got a buddy who is an electrician and that dude is paid well, and is always trapping and hunting and fishing.

Could pay off in the long run.

I don't know how it works. How long he will be a journeyman that is. But yes, I think it's a good gig once you're in.
I was in a meatpackers union working for Farmland back in 76 or so but it sucked bad.

Apprentice
Journeyman
Master electrician


You'd sure think a Journeyman would get those perks

Something fishy

T every union is different and trade unions operate different than factory unions.

When I was union ironworking there is no paid vacation. The hall would deduct some of your check sonthing like 69 a week and put it into a bank account for your vacation fund. and would send that out in October. It was your money given back to you but for most people that have trouble saving it was like an extra tax refund for them. also you could call and get what you had out earlier in the year if you needed it bit you did get charged a small fee to do so.

In my current factory union after you have bee they so long you get a week paid by the company vacation alert a few more years another ect. I'm up to 4 weeks with 19 years in and will get a 5th when I hit 24 years.

Does he want to drive to Kansas City? Ford is hiring electricians

You’d think they would Gov, something is up. But, it’s his life and decision. So there is that.


At least the dude is involved in a trade and didn’t go to college for gender fluid basket weaving.

Throw a ladder on your truck and get an LLC, go out on your own. $ 150 an hour is the going rate here, the trick is work slow.

Here just cut right to the chase.
Take lay off, suck full rate unemployment, do cash side work,
hunt and trap all season.
Go back to the real job, sell fur, claim loss, rinse, repeat.

Glad I work for the union I do after hearing that.
I get 200 hours vacation, 2 1/2 time pay for holidays worked.
Super 7 schedule, a trapper's dream.

Don't get paid for Union meetings they are volunteer meeting only.

Free Pizza and Pop

Can’t beat free pizza and pop!

They earn around 50 bucks and hour plus a pension. They can take off when they want too. It's not a bad gig.

Not bad at all.

Yup!

This fella is a commercial electrician
He has gone traveling a couple times for storm emergencies.