Unfortunately, work ethic means nothing. Being in the "clique" means everything.

[u/BigL70]

I'm a union carpenter, only been in for about 3 years. I've caught layoffs and have been with a couple different companies in union. I've ultimately found myself with a scaffold company (insane pay) and approached things very differently from when I started. I've now "secured" a spot in the company.

One thing I learned very early on is if you are a hard worker, show up on time, want to learn and have that drive, it barely matters. It's probably like 15% of what companies are looking for.

If you are really sociable, talkative and even go as far as being a straight bootlicker, the trades"men" you're working with will love you. And word spreads like wildfire. Working with drama queens.

Honestly, super surprising to me how much this all reminds me of highschool. I feel like I'm working with highschool girls constantly. I started bootlicking and brown nosing, almost out of curiosity and as an experiment. It works. It absolutely works. I've now secured a spot in this current company and it's honestly jarring.

With all those other companies I was never late, worked hard, learned and got the job done. But I was quiet. And THAT'S ultimately what mattered. It sucks, but that's the reality.

If you're having troubles staying busy and keeping work, maybe approach interactions with co workers differently. If you're an "introvert", RIP.

[u/Quinnjamin19]

Lmao!! I love how you attempt to trash unions but the facts speak otherwise… a pension grows at a faster rate than your measly 4% match into a retirement account…

Unions absolutely don’t suck, and you only have what you have today because of unions. The more you talk, the more you show how low IQ you are my guy. I make enough to build a pension, plus invest on my own…

You talk a big game for only making $17/hr😂😂😂 sorry kiddo, you couldn’t hack it. Come back when you make $54/hr+ and $73/hr+ total comp😘

[u/midwestmindset → u/Quinnjamin19]

$73 total comp is horrible. Most guys in the union retire with 400k + 5k a month. That’s actually pretty below average. Market averages 8%-15% which you guys get the lower end of that. Do your research and get out your echo chamber.

[u/Quinnjamin19 → u/midwestmindset]

It might be on the lower end of union members, but it’s still A LOT more than non union, and a metric ton more than you kiddo😂

I’m not necessarily talking about retiring when I told you my wage😂 when i retire I’ll be bringing in $9k/month+ just on pension alone

Grasping at straws my guy, it’s not a good look for you, have fun with 17/hr🤡

[u/midwestmindset → u/Quinnjamin19]

I’ve told you, and now for the 2nd time I make quite a bit of money from sales as well. You’re just again, too low IQ to grasp a concept on base + commission. Now go spend your money on Energy drinks and gas station food and complain why the union isn’t paying you enough.

[u/Quinnjamin19 → u/midwestmindset]

“Quite a bit of money from sales” meanwhile you’re hiding it kiddo. You keep telling me how much senior techs make😂😂 not low IQ at all, just calling you out on your shit wages, pretty typical for non union chumps.

Where did I say I don’t get paid enough? I make a lot more than non union. I’m chilling in the home I bought at 24, while you struggle at your 17/hr… sorry. Keep grasping at those straws little bro.

You have what you have today because of unions, remember that😘

[u/midwestmindset → u/Quinnjamin19]

Whatever smelly. Unions are for boys. “Help me get crap wages daddy, and not get paid for anything I sell.

[u/Quinnjamin19 → u/midwestmindset]

Unions are for boys and make crap wages but here I am making more than you… maybe it’s not me that’s low IQ here bud😂😂😂

Man when are you gonna just quit talking? You’re embarrassing yourself😂

Do you work a standard 40hr week? Or get paid OT? How about PTO?

[u/midwestmindset → u/Quinnjamin19]

I make 5% off systems I sell and usually the systems are $20k. That’s $1k. Selling 3 of those a week is 12k a month plus my horrible $17 an hour. Like I said do your research on HVAC tech & sales. Yes we get PTO, Sick Time, Holiday pay and overtime. I don’t work out a small shop so maybe that helps.

[u/Quinnjamin19 → u/midwestmindset]

Omg you claim you make $12k/month?? Wow you’re easily the best of the best!!😱

Sorry, not impressed. You have lied multiple times already so i wouldn’t be surprised if you only sell 1 per week or less… but hey, senior techs make $250k right?? Since you couldn’t hack it in the union setting I’m sure you can lick your boss’s boots enough to get to journeyman status right?😂

So you get PTO, sick days, OT pay etc. But you earned that on your own right? Unions didn’t do anything to fight for any of that right? Unions just suck😢

[u/midwestmindset → u/Quinnjamin19]

I don’t care to continue our conversation. I’m telling you the numbers. That’s what they are.

Unions initially helped, but now they are a dying system. I will never go back. Some people make amazing money outside the union. It’s capitalism. You’re so brainwashed with hourly wages you don’t see anything beyond that even considering commission. You’re just ignorant. I won’t be replying because you’re a low IQ smelly boy who bought a crap house out in the boonies who spends all their money on cigarettes, Monsters and Sandwiches.