# Laborers Union question **URL:** \ **Category:** PittSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [January 24, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626 "2009-01-24T12:35:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![imported\_Sleeper](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/imported_sleeper/32/5939_2.png) [@imported\_Sleeper](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/imported_Sleeper)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/1 "2009-01-24T12:35:58Z")
Is anybody on here in the Laboreres Union? If so what all does it entail and can you give me a little bit of info on it on what you actually do and so fourth, is it a good union? ---
**Author:** ![flyinglow57](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/flyinglow57/32/5978_2.png) [@flyinglow57](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/flyinglow57)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/2 "2009-01-24T12:41:28Z")
> [@Who knows the truth about my Audi?](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/who-knows-the-truth-about-my-audi/39414/215): > > Is anybody on here in the Laboreres Union? If so what all does it entail and can you give me a little bit of info on it on what you actually do and so fourth, is it a good union? worse of the unions in my opinion. you do the work that the welders/ironworkers/finishers/steamfitters etc etc dont want to do. all you are is muscle. all i work with are finishers and laborers. the laborers are the ones that lug the pipes around that weigh in around 160+ lbs so the concrete can come otu of it. its also the lowest paid of the unions. and i believe some of the worse benefits. i mean its better then doing nothing but i would 100% try the operators/ironworkers/boilermakers/steamfitters/milrights/carpenters before i tried the labor union. the laborers are pretty much looked down upon by everyone on a job site from what i have seen. ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Silverado](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/turbo_silverado/32/5990_2.png) [@Turbo\_Silverado](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Turbo_Silverado)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 12:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/3 "2009-01-24T12:42:36Z")
i can ask my unlce for info on it. pretty high up in the laborers union ---
**Author:** ![imported\_Sleeper](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/imported_sleeper/32/5939_2.png) [@imported\_Sleeper](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/imported_Sleeper)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 12:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/4 "2009-01-24T12:42:56Z")
> [@need a tuner card that will work with dish network](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-a-tuner-card-that-will-work-with-dish-network/39451/5): > > worse of the unions in my opinion. you do the work that the welders/ironworkers/finishers/steamfitters etc etc dont want to do. all you are is muscle. all i work with are finishers and laborers. the laborers are the ones that lug the pipes around that weigh in around 160+ lbs so the concrete can come otu of it. its also the lowest paid of the unions. and i believe some of the worse benefits. i mean its better then doing nothing but i would 100% try the operators/ironworkers/boilermakers/steamfitters/milrights/carpenters before i tried the labor union. the laborers are pretty much looked down upon by everyone on a job site from what i have seen. Even if i get pulled in? And basically i’m a muscle head anyhow so why not? I mean it’s a job and it’s a union with benefits, retirement and so fourth. ---
**Author:** ![flyinglow57](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/flyinglow57/32/5978_2.png) [@flyinglow57](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/flyinglow57)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/5 "2009-01-24T13:20:17Z")
> [@So I'm going to court tomorrow...](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-im-going-to-court-tomorrow/39452/24): > > Even if i get pulled in? And basically i’m a muscle head anyhow so why not? I mean it’s a job and it’s a union with benefits, retirement and so fourth. like i said get in but i wouldnt stick around there too too long. everyone that i see that is out workign that has been there 20 years is a miserable bastard. i found the prevailing wage thing that i was looking for. shows the rates of the trades and the benefits and the total package. basically rate=what you get fringe = what your bosses pay your paycheck is for your rate and your boss pays the fringe ontop of that total package is what they pay to have you out on the job every hour. look at those damn elevator guys. god damn im class 1 operator. but im a apprentice so im a little lower. [http://www.dli.state.pa.us/landi/li\_apps/projectView.asp?i=45999](http://www.dli.state.pa.us/landi/li_apps/projectView.asp?i=45999) ---
**Author:** ![69camaro](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/69camaro/32/6046_2.png) [@69camaro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/69camaro)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/6 "2009-01-24T15:37:14Z")
i work around laborers. if you can get in go for it. it really all depends who you are a laborer for. the electrician and carpender laborers have an easier job, but if you are a bricklayer laborer it is bull work all day. they also have a really good pension and benefits are decent. hourly rete is around $20/hr ---
**Author:** ![Jeff95TA](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jeff95ta/32/5935_2.png) [@Jeff95TA](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jeff95TA)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/7 "2009-01-24T15:53:07Z")
Devin - have you thought about going to learn a trade? Plumbing? Electrical? I don’t know your situation and whether you can swing working part time and going to school or not. Just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![steelcitysix](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/steelcitysix/32/5992_2.png) [@steelcitysix](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/steelcitysix)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/8 "2009-01-25T00:14:17Z")
Im USW best union Ive been in was a teamster for a while but this is alot better…Of course i am laid off right now but my union connection is helpin me find another job. ---
**Author:** ![f-itall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7c8e57/32.png) [@f-itall](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/f-itall)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 10:19am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/9 "2009-01-25T10:19:37Z")
i got into the carpenters union in june its been good so far it takes a while to got in tho. i didn’t the other trades made so much more than us when we work 10 times harder ---
**Author:** ![vw16vcabby](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vw16vcabby/32/5943_2.png) [@vw16vcabby](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/vw16vcabby)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 10:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/10 "2009-01-25T10:29:21Z")
if you need something temp-- i’d say do it. but for the rest of your life-- i would advise against it. hard manual labor will take its toll eventually. take a laborer job, bust your ass to impress, and ride that into an apprenticeship into a trade. > [@FS: 94 civic ex auto- $1000](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/fs-94-civic-ex-auto-1000/39302/11): > > i got into the carpenters union in june its been good so far it takes a while to got in tho. i didn’t the other trades made so much more than us when we work 10 times harder not knocking your trade–but you answered your own question. you work hard-- other unions work “smarter”. to give an example-- a laborer works harder than a carpenter, but pay does not show it. also need to take into account the risks associated with the job. if you make a “stupid” mistake–can it hurt or kill you and coworkers? now apply that thinking to the other trades. i.e.-- electrician can be fried by one bad connection or mislabeled wire… in the end, trades that have the most knowledge get paid more. ---
**Author:** ![f-itall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7c8e57/32.png) [@f-itall](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/f-itall)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/11 "2009-01-25T13:47:34Z")
yeah that makes sense ---
**Author:** ![imported\_Sleeper](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/imported_sleeper/32/5939_2.png) [@imported\_Sleeper](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/imported_Sleeper)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/12 "2009-01-25T19:11:10Z")
> [@Who knows the truth about my Audi?](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/who-knows-the-truth-about-my-audi/39414/221): > > i work around laborers. if you can get in go for it. it really all depends who you are a laborer for. the electrician and carpender laborers have an easier job, but if you are a bricklayer laborer it is bull work all day. they also have a really good pension and benefits are decent. hourly rete is around $20/hr My question is how do you find small businesses or ones like you describe to aplly to get in? I mena if i am already in the union how do i go about doing it? > [@FS: 22 gallon compressor.](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/fs-22-gallon-compressor/39462/2): > > Devin - have you thought about going to learn a trade? Plumbing? Electrical? I don’t know your situation and whether you can swing working part time and going to school or not. Just a thought. YA i have Jeff, but between school and work part time i wouldn’t be able to afford bills and so fourth plus i am 28 so gettign otu of school at 30-32 isn’t my thing > [@FS: 94 s10 blazer](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/fs-94-s10-blazer/39356/9): > > if you need something temp-- i’d say do it. but for the rest of your life-- i would advise against it. hard manual labor will take its toll eventually. take a laborer job, bust your ass to impress, and ride that into an apprenticeship into a trade. > > not knocking your trade–but you answered your own question. you work hard-- other unions work “smarter”. to give an example-- a laborer works harder than a carpenter, but pay does not show it. > > also need to take into account the risks associated with the job. if you make a “stupid” mistake–can it hurt or kill you and coworkers? now apply that thinking to the other trades. i.e.-- electrician can be fried by one bad connection or mislabeled wire… > > in the end, trades that have the most knowledge get paid more. into a trade? what do you mean? And btw i think that i will basically be thrown into journeymen pay and so fourth so i do not think any apprenticeship will be involved. ---
**Author:** ![nick13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7cd45c/32.png) [@nick13](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/nick13)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/13 "2009-01-25T20:28:09Z")
road construction or brick layer laborer ftl haha ---
**Author:** ![bics56](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/47e85d/32.png) [@bics56](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bics56)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 6:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/14 "2009-01-26T06:49:01Z")
Back in like 2001 or so I worked a couple of weekends building scaffolding. All the regulars were members of the Laborer’s Union. I will say a lot of the people did the grunt work. Lots of hauling and lifting. I remember it being the hardest work I ever did, and I did all the bitch work with a concrete company previously…and this was twice as hard. We worked 12 hour shifts 7am -7pm and it was pretty much nonstop back breaking work with a few breaks. Coming in a nonunion worker I made just under $20/hour which wasn’t bad, but I would not want to do it for an extended period of time…just not worth the toll it takes on the body. It did seem the guys who been there for a while that “payed their dues” and were pretty smart had higher level jobs that didn’t seem bad though. ---
**Author:** ![imported\_Sleeper](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/imported_sleeper/32/5939_2.png) [@imported\_Sleeper](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/imported_Sleeper)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 7:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/15 "2009-01-26T07:02:25Z")
> [@FS: 22 gallon compressor.](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/fs-22-gallon-compressor/39462/3): > > road construction or brick layer laborer ftl haha Who the fuck are you again?:stick: > [@Civic vs Cutlass](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/civic-vs-cutlass/39457/11): > > Back in like 2001 or so I worked a couple of weekends building scaffolding. All the regulars were members of the Laborer’s Union. I will say a lot of the people did the grunt work. Lots of hauling and lifting. I remember it being the hardest work I ever did, and I did all the bitch work with a concrete company previously…and this was twice as hard. We worked 12 hour shifts 7am -7pm and it was pretty much nonstop back breaking work with a few breaks. Coming in a nonunion worker I made just under $20/hour which wasn’t bad, but I would not want to do it for an extended period of time…just not worth the toll it takes on the body. It did seem the guys who been there for a while that “payed their dues” and were pretty smart had higher level jobs that didn’t seem bad though. I hear that, i beleive right now when i get pulled in i iwll be on the person i know crew, and they said that it is for a cocnrete company right now, great:hsugh: ---
**Author:** ![OLDS\_ROCKETMAN](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/olds_rocketman/32/5942_2.png) [@OLDS\_ROCKETMAN](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/OLDS_ROCKETMAN)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 12:29pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/16 "2009-01-26T12:29:29Z")
> [@Who knows the truth about my Audi?](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/who-knows-the-truth-about-my-audi/39414/263): > > but between school and work part time i wouldn’t be able to afford bills and so fourth plus i am 28 so gettign otu of school at 30-32 isn’t my thing i’m in that boat just a year older. mom keeps tryin to get me to go to school for something in the medical field. i have little to no interest of goin back to school but i might have to bite the bullet…and soon. ---
**Author:** ![steelcitysix](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/steelcitysix/32/5992_2.png) [@steelcitysix](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/steelcitysix)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 1:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/17 "2009-01-26T13:00:51Z")
I worked 3rd shift on my union job took classes during the day.it took 5 yrs but it got done ---
**Author:** ![f-itall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7c8e57/32.png) [@f-itall](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/f-itall)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/18 "2009-01-26T13:30:56Z")
my father in law removes asbestos in the laborers union. he offered to get me in at journeymans rate but i didn’t think it was worth the health risks. for the carpenters i go to school one week every quarter and collect unemployment for it ---
**Author:** ![vw16vcabby](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vw16vcabby/32/5943_2.png) [@vw16vcabby](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/vw16vcabby)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/19 "2009-01-26T14:04:31Z")
> [@Who knows the truth about my Audi?](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/who-knows-the-truth-about-my-audi/39414/263): > > into a trade? what do you mean? And btw i think that i will basically be thrown into journeymen pay and so fourth so i do not think any apprenticeship will be involved. by trade, i mean you will be on the union’s book in the laborer’s union. say tomko needs a laborer to dig ditches for their plumbing lines, or sargent electric wants a laborer to do bullshit work— they hire you out from your union. it is cheaper to pay you $20 an hour than it is to pay a journeyman. so while you are working for a trade-- bust ass to where they dont want to let you go. I have a friend who was a laborer who used this to get into another union. The fitters seen how much of go-getter he was that it got him into their apprenticeship. how are you math wise? i’ll ask if electrician union is taking. dont think so but doesn’t hurt to ask. Pretty much my entire family is in local 5. my dad actually teaches apprenticeship classes–hence why i didnt go into the trade. ---
**Author:** ![realcobra96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ec8ea/32.png) [@realcobra96](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/realcobra96)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 2:57pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626/20 "2009-01-26T14:57:26Z")
> [@Cell Phone Bill Advise.](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cell-phone-bill-advise/39473/20): > > my father in law removes asbestos in the laborers union. he offered to get me in at journeymans rate but i didn’t think it was worth the health risks. for the carpenters i go to school one week every quarter and collect unemployment for it which year apprentice are you? are you commercial or residential? I am a third year commerical carpenter [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/laborers-union-question/201626.md?page=2)