Why does no one want to work these days

[Tanko]

Tank I’m not sure exactly what you do specifically, but do you pull your own permits for these jobs?

Nope. The jobs with a local contractor, they take care of it as needed.
If I get the help, they are usually smaller jobs that wouldn't require a permit (i.e. like for like repairs).

 

[Wagerallsports]

Nope. The jobs with a local contractor, they take care of it as needed.
If I get the help, they are usually smaller jobs that wouldn't require a permit (i.e. like for like repairs).

Ahh ok gotcha

It always surprises me how few ppl realize when building a home that they can pull their own permit and sub everything out

 

[fiftycint]

I don't want to do much of anything.....Work,fish,workout....shit that I used to do all the time is a complete hastle now....God forbid I have to drive an hour some where...

 

[Tanko]

I don't want to do much of anything.....Work,fish,workout....shit that I used to do all the time is a complete hastle now....God forbid I have to drive an hour some where...

Fifty, you retired or something or just being sarcastic?

 

[KVB]

Did he win?

 

[quantumleap]

 

[quantumleap]

Never heard so much BS in my life. Buch of scab hiring cheap asses. Yeah you got a good deal alright up into the point when they come back with their cousins to rob your house.

I won't hire anyone who isn't licensed and bonded, especially working on my house or yard. What happens when something goes wrong? Who are you going to call?

But I'm having a hard time getting someone to replace the concrete curbing in my yard. Its just like the curb between the yard and the street except it divides my rock landscape from my neighbor's. It's cracking from tree root damage.

So I want to have someone put in pavers in case the ground buckles again. All I have to do is replace one paver. I've had 3 separate companies come out to give me an estimate and haven't heard back from one.

I understand it can be grueling work busting up concrete but these companies are concrete companies. Just give me a call back and tell me you don't want to do the job. Don't ghost me.

 

[fiftycint]

Fifty, you retired or something or just being sarcastic?

Not retired somewhat disgusted

 

[edawg]

I won't hire anyone who isn't licensed and bonded, especially working on my house or yard. What happens when something goes wrong? Who are you going to call?

But I'm having a hard time getting someone to replace the concrete curbing in my yard. Its just like the curb between the yard and the street except it divides my rock landscape from my neighbor's. It's cracking from tree root damage.

So I want to have someone put in pavers in case the ground buckles again. All I have to do is replace one paver. I've had 3 separate companies come out to give me an estimate and haven't heard back from one.

I understand it can be grueling work busting up concrete but these companies are concrete companies. Just give me a call back and tell me you don't want to do the job. Don't ghost me.

Was getting at people that use the excuse of paying an illegal a sub standard wage and try to clear their conscience by saying nobody wants to work. At the end of the day their money is their money and they can spend it how they wish and tell me to get bent I just disagree that is all.

 

[BigJay]

unions made this country. I've worked as a manager in union

 

[fiftycint]

I might come off a bit abrasive but that is because I have been union and arguing for middle class union labor my whole life. Everything that is put out is that union people are lazy and selfish but I have seen the exact opposite.
In fact the most financially successful people that I know have all been union contractors. Would never tell another man or woman how to live their life or spend their money but to just make sure at the end of the day that you are helping people and not taking advantage of them.

THIS....Laborers local #3 North Jersey

 

[jjgold]

America going to be run over if Harris wins

 

[Tanko]

America going to be run over if Harris wins

 

[djefferis]

Ok - first my thought on the whole idea of “illegals” stealing union jobs. It’s pretty damn simple - they don’t - at least if you have a decent union backing you.

My father was a union man for 30+ years working - did a dangerous job and without unions the safety standards in the field would have been nothing compared to what they were when he worked. Unions serve a very valuable purpose.

In his day - there was no concern with illegals taking the job - just scabs and scab operators trying to break unions. In the 90s - the owner of his employer opened an operation 3 miles away from his site - non union. Offered first opportunity to sons of current union workers - local union approved this - that was when I knew the union was in managements pockets. They saw the writing on the wall - dying industry, jobs would be scarce - take what you can while you can.

Union jobs are typically “skill” labor - either you need to apprentice doing them - or you learn on the job. Illegals rarely are able to just walk in and do something like work in a steel mill or do work on a high rise. Even if they could - the cost of safety violations and lawsuits from injured illegals would should most job sites down immediately.

As to illegals taking away jobs from contractors - again - does it happen - no doubt. Would I hire one for say electrical work - NO. Best example I can think of was the pathway we had built at our place in NC - needed a simple paver path between carport and pool. Called a few good old boys - 2 actually responded - 1 couldn’t be bothered to do an estimate and one was beyond ridiculous. Any way found a local guy who would do it for cash - walked over what we wanted - what we would pay and all good - just needed me to go with him to get supplies.

He did a nice job - only issue was he clearly had one leg 6” shorter than the other because the damn thing was installed at a 12 degree slope!! Right was inches higher than the left - clearly did not own a level.

As I mentioned - my old man was union for 30+ years. He held an underground electrician card - but I have seen the handiwork he left behind in the house. He would never think of paying someone to do electrical stuff and it’s a wonder nothing ever burned down - seriously. I’ve had multiple electricians come in and comment on the work. I’m different like that - I look at the value/cost of things. I’m smart enough to say replace an outlet - but if it will take me 3 hours and if I need to take off 3 hours of work at $100 an hour - is it stupid of me to hire a guy for $150 trip charge who does it in 20 minutes - no. I saved $150 in lost wages to me.

Same with this job - unskilled labor - doing manual work. I can do it in the same time as some young kid (ok - maybe a little longer but still not 3-4x as long) - but is it worth me either taking off my day job or spending my limited weekend time doing something and risking a heart attack at my age doing manual labor when I’m not typically doing that - again, not to me. But I don’t need a professional here - just someone whose time is worth less than mine - and plenty of those still. I try to get high school age kids - but none want to work - as long as mom and dad baby them - they don’t care. In my day - your parents didn’t buy you a car/keep it gassed up and insured and there was no borrowing there’s. Your ass was out putting up hay Memorial Day to Labor Day - and if you’ve ever done that you understand what hard work is. Next to picking cotton or harvesting tobacco - can’t think of a hotter/more miserable job.

 

[malakana]

I'm reading this thread and still trying to figure out: are you even trying to be nice to the people you deal with, or are you kind of a straightforward, get-to-the-point, take it or leave it type of asshole person when it comes to these interactions? Any chance 'the kids' are simply turned off by the prospect of having to deal with you for hours and - likely - being told what and how to do, at every chance you get?

No offense, if you pay well, it shouldn't matter when or not you're an asshole. You're not their dad, I get that. But are you maybe a little too tough? (in their feeble snowflake minds at least lol)

 

[BigJay]

This thread certainly grew legs/hit nerves

 

[fiftycint]

Ok - first my thought on the whole idea of “illegals” stealing union jobs. It’s pretty damn simple - they don’t - at least if you have a decent union backing you.

My father was a union man for 30+ years working - did a dangerous job and without unions the safety standards in the field would have been nothing compared to what they were when he worked. Unions serve a very valuable purpose.

In his day - there was no concern with illegals taking the job - just scabs and scab operators trying to break unions. In the 90s - the owner of his employer opened an operation 3 miles away from his site - non union. Offered first opportunity to sons of current union workers - local union approved this - that was when I knew the union was in managements pockets. They saw the writing on the wall - dying industry, jobs would be scarce - take what you can while you can.

Union jobs are typically “skill” labor - either you need to apprentice doing them - or you learn on the job. Illegals rarely are able to just walk in and do something like work in a steel mill or do work on a high rise. Even if they could - the cost of safety violations and lawsuits from injured illegals would should most job sites down immediately.

As to illegals taking away jobs from contractors - again - does it happen - no doubt. Would I hire one for say electrical work - NO. Best example I can think of was the pathway we had built at our place in NC - needed a simple paver path between carport and pool. Called a few good old boys - 2 actually responded - 1 couldn’t be bothered to do an estimate and one was beyond ridiculous. Any way found a local guy who would do it for cash - walked over what we wanted - what we would pay and all good - just needed me to go with him to get supplies.

He did a nice job - only issue was he clearly had one leg 6” shorter than the other because the damn thing was installed at a 12 degree slope!! Right was inches higher than the left - clearly did not own a level.

As I mentioned - my old man was union for 30+ years. He held an underground electrician card - but I have seen the handiwork he left behind in the house. He would never think of paying someone to do electrical stuff and it’s a wonder nothing ever burned down - seriously. I’ve had multiple electricians come in and comment on the work. I’m different like that - I look at the value/cost of things. I’m smart enough to say replace an outlet - but if it will take me 3 hours and if I need to take off 3 hours of work at $100 an hour - is it stupid of me to hire a guy for $150 trip charge who does it in 20 minutes - no. I saved $150 in lost wages to me.

Same with this job - unskilled labor - doing manual work. I can do it in the same time as some young kid (ok - maybe a little longer but still not 3-4x as long) - but is it worth me either taking off my day job or spending my limited weekend time doing something and risking a heart attack at my age doing manual labor when I’m not typically doing that - again, not to me. But I don’t need a professional here - just someone whose time is worth less than mine - and plenty of those still. I try to get high school age kids - but none want to work - as long as mom and dad baby them - they don’t care. In my day - your parents didn’t buy you a car/keep it gassed up and insured and there was no borrowing there’s. Your ass was out putting up hay Memorial Day to Labor Day - and if you’ve ever done that you understand what hard work is. Next to picking cotton or harvesting tobacco - can’t think of a hotter/more miserable job.

As a concrete & demolition Union Laborer for 28+ years I can say that you need to go to downtown Jersey City to see the shit show going on.Scabs are doing high rise buildings-something I never thought I would see...other than the iron workers assembling the crane its all non-union.

 

[djefferis]

I absolutely believe it - deal with crane rental/operators at my job now semi regularly. Prior to this job dealt with a lot of construction companies and their subs.

All I can say again is follow the money - strong unions don’t allow this stuff to happen. Ultimately- you likely find the union is in the back pocket of ownership - they will say they “had to make the deal” to secure union jobs - bottom line as mentioned is certain trades you just CANNOT fill without hiring people trained to do the role. Certain laborer jobs CAN be filled and the unions simply screwed workers in those roles to save their asses and line their pockets.

My only experience with a union personally was years ago working as a kid in a grocery store - it was absolutely clear there were 2 tiers of Union employees - meat cutters and clerks. Clerks they did not give a shit for and were replaceable - you paid dues but got zero in way of representation. Meat cutters you got full protection - I’ll let you guess which group all leadership came from.

 

[edawg]

I am 100% union but there is a big difference between government unions and private unions. The former doesn't have to compete and the latter does. Unions are the same as everything else when times are bad you need them and when times are good you don't and union leaders get fat and happy. The problem is that in any field of work you have to maintain an actual living wage or you turn into a third world country because there is always somebody who will work for "less" especially when they are getting subsidies from your government that your citizens pay taxes to. People have given their lives for this country and the right to organize unions and to see people so flippant just to give it all away not only shows their greed but also their stupidity.

 

[JDS]

I am 100% union but there is a big difference between government unions and private unions. The former doesn't have to compete and the latter does. Unions are the same as everything else when times are bad you need them and when times are good you don't and union leaders get fat and happy. The problem is that in any field of work you have to maintain an actual living wage or you turn into a third world country because there is always somebody who will work for "less" especially when they are getting subsidies from your government that your citizens pay taxes to. People have given their lives for this country and the right to organize unions and to see people so flippant just to give it all away not only shows their greed but also their stupidity.

How’s your pension for the union you work for ? My dad is living off his local pension around 5K a month plus his social security payments. He never was a great investor per se, but he put in his time in order to retire around 60.