unions???

[lxt]

Well im workin for Davey currently & just so happens the contract is up for negotiations, funny how health care keeps goin up in the tree world!! or better yet the annuity fund for the employees(its really not our $$) a whoppin 2.5% raise MMmmm anyone else with any union woes....

Whatta a Rush..................................................LXT :angry2:

 

[CaseyForrest]

Not just unions. We are looking at a 17% rise in our insurance costs. And our raise this year is 3%, not enough to cover the 17% jump in health care.

 

[lxt]

The real Kickr is once again were told the company isnt makin any money, Ive been hearin this BS over & over(for almost 20 yrs, god has it been that long?) how do they stay in business Davey, Asplundh,Lewis,etc...if their not makin $$ funny how in their news letters their always talkin about aquisitions and new facilities and sponsoring golf outings & such, They better wake up cause nobodys comin outta highschool/college wantin to do this anymore, finding good tree people with CDL`s, drug free, lctt certified and who show up every day on time!!!! is hard to come by. I see a labor shortage in the tree care field!!!!! OR MAYBE THE FACT THE UNION is involved and wants more than their fair share MMmmm UNIONS =

AHH WHATTA RUSH....................................LXT

 

[CaseyForrest]

I hear you there.

 

[jmcguiretree]

You think you have problems !!

Try working for one of last ultility companys that has in-house tree trimmers(I think that there is only 3 utility co. in the country with in-house trimmers).Our union doesn't want to help us protect our jobs that are going to outside "UNION CONTRACTORS".:sword:

 

[clearance]

Why is it that in B.C., Asplundh and Davey guys are in the I.B.E.W. just like linemen but get paid way, way less? (And they work a lot harder, around the power more, etc) Sounds like B.S. to me, can anyone explain?

 

[coydog]

the biggest problem i see is in the overall perception that our work is "unskilled" and menial. The term "tree trimmer" says it all, to the uninitiated it evokes images of mindless "trimming" not unlike some form of lawn mowing or blackberry hacking. Very few union reps understand the intricacies involved. There never was a climbers union therefore either falling under the umbrella of IBEW if line clearance or a generic laborers or transportation union. unfortunately the private sector is often beset with the attitude that veteran climbers are only still climbing because they are too stupid or unmotivated to have worked into sales or management. Making the only way to make a good living climbing to either run your own show or contract climb. Higher professional standards and certifications across the board could be a positive force to change some of these perceptions although emotions, egos, and conflicting ideas of old school vs. new school often times get in the way.

 

[lxt]

coydog, well said!!! clearance I totally agree IBEW I am a member of unfortunately & I know linemen that will tellya they wouldnt do our job for double their pay (LCTT that is) I guess untill we get rid of the ole adage dumb ol tree trimmers we`ll have to accept the table scraps were given, its a shame that people in this trade will cutthroat so hoping people will stick together for the betterment of the trade is almost impossible.

"if 2 or more will agree on earth as is in heaven you will move mountains"

LXT........................................take care be safe!!!!

 

[jonseredbred]

I may rub a few the wrong way but unions are killing america. In all industries.

 

[hammer0419]

Our contract is up January 31. Not looking forward to it. I think we are all in the same boat as far as raise vs. insurance increase. On a straight 40 hour week, I will be bringing home less and less every year. Something great to look forward to!!!! Thank god for overtime.

 

[hammer0419]

I may rub a few the wrong way but unions are killing america. In all industries.

I have been with them and without them. All's I can say is I never made close to what I make being in a Union.

 

[OTG BOSTON]

not all created equal

I may rub a few the wrong way but unions are killing america. In all industries.

I wouldn't go that far. I would say that unions aren't as important as they once were and may have outlived their usefulness. The thing is, unions have to bargain for time off, wage increases, healthcare, etc. Eventually you run out of bargaining "chips".

I am a union employee (Steelworkers, S.E.N.A. 9158) I go to meetings and pay my dues and have had union representation help me with disputes with upper management. I have never had a problem or felt like the union was hurting me financially.

I was under the impression that Davey is an employee owned company with profit sharing............is this really the same thing as a union?

If all else fails................STRIKE!

 

[OTG BOSTON]

I have been with them and without them. All's I can say is I never made close to what I make being in a Union.

Ditto

 

[diltree]

I have often wondered why line Clearance Tree Trimmers have never unionized. If there was a Union for Line Trimmers, then the prevailing wage would not be $16.50 for a trimmer. That type of a wage is a joke considering how skilled a trimmer must be to work in and around electrical wires. A Union would give all Line trimmers leverage with the big companies, such as Asplundh, and Davey...forcing them to raise their rates to pay the Line Trimmer a more competitive wage; in the end it would come out of the Electrical providers pocket anyways.


www.dillontree.com

 

[lxt]

currently im working on penn power prop. for davey however IBEW local 1919 is the bargaining unit, foremans make a lil under $18 hr. strike ha! most if not all tree contracts state no lockout, slowdown, strike or work stoppage of any kind & as far as makin more while workin for a union NOT SO. I made more working for myself although the work being steady and less stressful is a plus. this local is for Line clearance tree trimmers. Davey is employee owned however no benefit unless negotiated by the union for the member/employee can be granted by the employer. I think unions have become big business, dues collection agencies for the right to work what was once thought a better payinig higher standard of living job,(maybe in the 70`s early 80`s) but not now.

LXT............................................

 

[stihlatit]

currently im working on penn power prop. for davey however IBEW local 1919 is the bargaining unit, foremans make a lil under $18 hr. strike ha! most if not all tree contracts state no lockout, slowdown, strike or work stoppage of any kind & as far as makin more while workin for a union NOT SO. I made more working for myself although the work being steady and less stressful is a plus. this local is for Line clearance tree trimmers. Davey is employee owned however no benefit unless negotiated by the union for the member/employee can be granted by the employer. I think unions have become big business, dues collection agencies for the right to work what was once thought a better payinig higher standard of living job,(maybe in the 70`s early 80`s) but not now.

LXT............................................

If you make more on your own what is keeping you there. Predominantly if you are in a union you are making higherwages in a comparative product and geographic area of work. Also Clearance sometimes the length of time and the amount of agreements behind the lodge or local union usually means that they will receive more in money and benefits vs one that has just come on the scene and has not had the chance to bargain that length of time.

 

[Urbicide]

A lot of you fellows are obviously not pro union. Cinergy (formerly Cincinnati Gas& Electric) merged this past year with Duke Energy. Cinergy used to contract with local companies for their clearance work. The crews they have now all work for ABC Tree Service(?) and drive brand new trucks with brand new chippers. Only problem is the workers don't speak English. Si gringo. I can see if you are a business owner then you want to pay your workers as little as possible. You are trying to make money for yourself which is cool. Free enterprise. Now if you are just an employee trying to raise a family, buy your own home, have health care insurance just what are you supposed to do? It is a 2 sided issue. Not one side is right and the other wrong. The unions are not perfect. They traditionally have offered their members retirement security in the form of a pension. Now, everyone seems to be excited if they have a 401K plan. How much money do you have saved up in yours? When you are young retirement seems like an eternity away. If you have a 401K you had better be socking every possible dime into it when you are starting out. In 20 years your money will hopefully start to grow through the miracle of compounding. By 30 years it should start to take off, if you have been diligent in your saving and chosen the right investments. I have some friends who proudly say that they have $40,000 or $50,000 in their accounts. That is nice but how long will that money last when you retire? (They are in their mid to late 40's).The biggest plus to a pension plan is that you are guaranteed a monthly check, dependent upon your years of service,etc. for as long as you live. When you pass your spouse gets normally 1/2 of your monthly benefits until they too pass on. You know who has the best pension and retirement benefits? Our members of Congress. Who is responsible for the high cost of health care? Let us thank the pharmaceutical companies for poking our eyes out. Anyhow I hope you and your families have your health and I hope the upcoming holiday season brings to you and your loved ones a feeling of closeness and an appreciation of what we have. Please keep in your thoughts and prayers the members of our armed forces, especially the ones who will not be able to be with their own families during the holidays. Take care.

 

[OTG BOSTON]

A lot of you fellows are obviously not pro union. Cinergy (formerly Cincinnati Gas& Electric) merged this past year with Duke Energy. Cinergy used to contract with local companies for their clearance work. The crews they have now all work for ABC Tree Service(?) and drive brand new trucks with brand new chippers. Only problem is the workers don't speak English. Si gringo. I can see if you are a business owner then you want to pay your workers as little as possible. You are trying to make money for yourself which is cool. Free enterprise. Now if you are just an employee trying to raise a family, buy your own home, have health care insurance just what are you supposed to do? It is a 2 sided issue. Not one side is right and the other wrong. The unions are not perfect. They traditionally have offered their members retirement security in the form of a pension. Now, everyone seems to be excited if they have a 401K plan. How much money do you have saved up in yours? When you are young retirement seems like an eternity away. If you have a 401K you had better be socking every possible dime into it when you are starting out. In 20 years your money will hopefully start to grow through the miracle of compounding. By 30 years it should start to take off, if you have been diligent in your saving and chosen the right investments. I have some friends who proudly say that they have $40,000 or $50,000 in their accounts. That is nice but how long will that money last when you retire? (They are in their mid to late 40's).The biggest plus to a pension plan is that you are guaranteed a monthly check, dependent upon your years of service,etc. for as long as you live. When you pass your spouse gets normally 1/2 of your monthly benefits until they too pass on. You know who has the best pension and retirement benefits? Our members of Congress. Who is responsible for the high cost of health care? Let us thank the pharmaceutical companies for poking our eyes out. Anyhow I hope you and your families have your health and I hope the upcoming holiday season brings to you and your loved ones a feeling of closeness and an appreciation of what we have. Please keep in your thoughts and prayers the members of our armed forces, especially the ones who will not be able to be with their own families during the holidays. Take care.

Yes, the pension is what its all about! To recieve my 80% I'll be about 103 years old. The joke around the shop is don't retire, because if you do you'll be dead within the year.

On your point about non-english spreaking workers..............that could be a thread of its own

 

[lxt]

If you make more on your own what is keeping you there. Predominantly if you are in a union you are making higherwages in a comparative product and geographic area of work. Also Clearance sometimes the length of time and the amount of agreements behind the lodge or local union usually means that they will receive more in money and benefits vs one that has just come on the scene and has not had the chance to bargain that length of time.

I do make more on my own, however not having to grovel over a job in a cut throat market, puttin up with crybaby employees, work comp. which always goes up never down(& my men & I are accident free) home owners always wantin more than what was agreed upon, ETC.........is the reason I went company!!! I stilll work on the side(who doesnt) My main reason for the post is about UNIONS becoming big business, granted they have their purpose(mainly for those who do nothing & need saved) IMO if your good, do your job are safe & productive I think you could make more through a CO. than what the union could get you!!! why should bill who likes 10 lunch breaks a day get paid the same as me when i barely get 1 and end up carrying his ass but the socialistic union says thats the brotherly thing to do.

Fraternally yours LXT....

 

[OTG BOSTON]

I was looking over my pay stubs the other day because itis the end of the year. I was shocked to see that I paid more into my union dues than I did to my retirement fund. They have always been close but a recent increase in dues.........anyway, I'm going to stand up at the next meeting and see what can be done about recouping some of that $$. I know they aren't spending all of it on chinese food at the christmas party.