Plumbers and steamfitters local 141

Apparently so. Told son he will be working with this union until it’s built then be hired on with Meta. He knows nothing about working for a union. I told him to talk to someone already working for the union there and get the pros and cons. It will be 10 hours a day 6 days at week. Pay is $55 minus the benefits.

If he is young and that is the industry he wants to work in, do it.

Nothing wrong with a union gig to either build a career or to gain experience before you go out on your own.

Was told he would be hired on permanently by Meta after it’s built. I asked him if hired by Meta after built will the pay be comparable to $55 or drop down to $20 or something. I realize that they’re probably promising something that won’t materialize just to get him to do the construction phase. Like I said, he knows nothing about union. He’s 42 and been working for HVAC companies or for himself. But the money sure is enticing for him and his family.

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He’s 42

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Pull your tit out of his mouth

Im not in a union but I am very familiar with them because I have considered going union a few times because Al has low wages. You probably know the pros: benefits, protection etc. The cons for me were: work is not as consistent as non union it seems, Pay cut- I dont know what he makes or his age but until your becon3 a journeyman (4years) you are gonna make 40-70 percent of journeyman wages. I make really good comparatively to similar positions non union. ALSO, a big one is remember the wage they tell you is including the whole package. Minus the ins. And benefits can make the money look alot less appealing. I PERSONALLY will not be joining because I am already highly qualified at my job. However I I were 25 or younger or pretty new to the trades I would finding a union (likely lineman)

I'll echo and agree with what Wade and FahQ have said.

It takes 5 yrs to get to journeyman status in the plumbers union here in KY.

You said your son is an HVAC guy. Unless there's more information you can share, I don't see why they would be hiring him in as a journeyman plumber.

Sounds to me like they are wanting additional apprentice labor for the Meta data center. That $55/hr is most likely all in/total package.

And I sincerely doubt he would get hired on in some role for Meta down the road for plumbing if he isn't a plumber already. The "possibility" exists but more than likely once that project is finished, as it is with most union guys on these big projects, they get cut loose until they need labor on the next big project. The most senior guys in the union get first call/dibs on the next project starting up as I understand it. I could be wrong.

I'm the kind of guy who prefers steady consistent work and hours and pay.

If you're a young guy (I'm the same age as your son OP) I do think the union is a solid way to go as the training and knowledge you get is great. Med gas, pipefitting, backflow preventers, etc.

Those union jobs usually have you traveling all over and working long hours. That doesnt interest me. I did that in my 20s traveling all over West Virginia and Kentucky for a large corporation every one of you would know by name. I didn't even have a family waiting on me at home, so it's not like I "needed" to be home, and I still hated all the time away from home. If he's got a wife and kids, at 42, I would say he needs to very seriously consider how joining the union and the future projects he would need to work on and where they are located in Louisiana are going to affect his home life.

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Sounds to me like they are wanting additional apprentice labor for the Meta data center. That $55/hr is most likely all in/total package.

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In a backwoods area like that, that probably is the total package.

I know the IBEW local in that area is something around $25/hr on the check. They'll have to add $15-20/hr and per diem to get people to travel there. I can't imagine there's enough hotels in a 25 mile radius to house the thousands of workers they'll need for construction.

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Probably didnt have a choice

Local politicians owned by union probably demanded it so meta could build it

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That podunk local doesn't have that much power.

Meta bought the local politicians and made them sign NDA's.

That job was bid by multiple contractors and Meta hired the one that was going to be able to provide the number of workers to keep it on schedule. On a major industrial project like this, unions will always be involved.

dbpst