This is correct if he was a union electrician at AB he’d get 9 weeks paid vacation

In Indiana we went to right to work state. befor that when you hired into my plant you had to join the union. Now you can chose to not pay dues. The kicker is the union still has to represent those not paying dues. There are now 2 in out plant taking that option. And it's how it works here.

I think it's the same set up in Iowa.

One of the most irritating things I’ve noticed in unions is that nobody gets recognition as an individual. A journeyman is a journeyman they say. But that’s not true, we are not all created equal. Some are smarter and more ambitious than the next guy, but if he put in at least 4 years, he’s a journeyman operator even if he spent 4 years on a roller and doesn’t even know which end of a cat pushes dirt

I agree



That is a serious issue with unions. Giving people "the same pay for the same work" removes a necessary incentive for productivity. Once you get away from physical labor into mental labor, the difference gets much bigger. I'm a software engineer at a tech startup. In my industry, the difference between average, top 90% and top 99% employee is enormous. In this industry (once a person is past the early learning curve), year's of experience is not nearly as important as apptitude, intelligence, and ambition. Some people work very hard but still don't get much done. The proverbial "smart and lazy" person can be incredibly productive in this industry.

But the result is the same you're suggesting. Some employees create far more value than others. In tech, over time the pay aligns to a person's contributions. If a company won't pay up for the best employess, that's fine. They just won't have anyone that good.

I've said for years if we were communist and all paid the same, I'd like to be the maintenace guy a library. That's not a knock on the job. It sounds like a very quiet relaxing job. But pay me based on my contribtion, and we'll see how much I can contribute.

Lol as a teen and guy in my early 20 Ironworking I was the kid with something to prove. the highest most dangerous stuff yep I got it. Then there were thet time people would just not want to get out there and do it to scared assumed made me mad thinking your an Ironworker you should be able to do the job
Other times guys were willing to get out on the dangerous stuff but we're clearly not comfortable and I told them hey man I will do that for you figured they were more likely to fall being nervous but since thae were going to attempt to get it Done I would do it for them.

Then one day it hit me that the guy hooking on and marking iron on the ground was getting the same pay check I was taking all the risk. But I was still young enough I liked show boating and keep at it.

Now I did have a few contractors pay me a few buck above scale to keep me around and from going to larger long term projects. That was nice to be appreciated.

The most senior guy getting positions can really suck. But here, management will put certain stipulations or training in the application if they want to keep a (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) out. Unfortunately it might not work this time in my district, but we'll get the guy to move on in due time.