Might as well join in Thom!

I think perspective has much to do with how a person feels about unions.
Being from the same home town, we both know what happened to U.S. Steel,
Fairless Works, and maybe the union there had much to do with their demise.
I know guys who bragged about being able to fall asleep resting on a shovel.

But in the trades, the difference in training between union and non-union
tradesman is staggering. Take the Philadelphia Steamfitters for example.
Their training is a 10 year program into mastery. Drexel University
recognizes their 5 year apprenticeship as being worthy of 42 credits toward
a B.S. in Construction Management. I've played the hvac game on different
sides (owner, manager, non-union technician and union technician). I have to
say that it's tough to beat a union steamfitter for competency in that
field. I've seen more than one non-union shop go union just because they got
sick of losing techs to union jobs after they had gotten some experience.

There is always the exception, i.e., I've seen some outstanding non-union
technicians. And I've seen a few union guys who were bums. But hvac
contractors in Philadelphia don't hold onto bums and no one protects them.
If a contractor is not happy with a tech, they just cut him loose and bring
in someone better.

I guess what I'm saying is I see a huge difference between skilled, educated
union workers and other laborers (no offense to laborers).

Scout


"Thom Stewart" wrote in message
...
Ah Balls,

Wasn't going to get into this one BUT: not being a Union Man I do have
to put my 2 cents it.

Isn't obvious that the Unions, stupid or not are the direct results of
the STUPIDITY ON MANAGEMENT!!

Where good, humane, fair management exists, Unions do not. Where
business exists with management and labor working as a team, each
respecting one an other, there is nothing to gain with Unionism.

Ole Thom