I'm a student trying to learn about the profession and from what I understand, union shops (in CA) have some restrictions on what a PLS can do. Reading this board, I get the impression that a lot of guys split time between the field and office and have the freedom to carry out all aspects of the work. Wondering how many here are union or non-union shops?
-Ben
Union, but I'm in the minority on here.
What's a union? Being the only employee here, I do everything.
When I got out of school in the early 90's. I also looked at the Operating Engineers Local 12 in CA for possible employment. I could never wrap my brain around the separation between field work and office work. As it turns out, I have spent my whole carrier doing both.
But in this economy, you have got to go where the work is. I will say that I have known many surveyors who went through the union survey training in California, including a couple of my mentors. None of these guys are Union shops now, but they sure were trained well.
You seem to be in Sacramento. Become a student member of the Sacramento CLSA Chapter.
It should be a great place for you to network with surveyors Union and Non-Union.
I am licensed by the State of California not local 3 or local 12.
Unions are like every organization. Some of them achieve the goals they set out to, others are hijacked for personal enrichment. Do your research. Talk with members. Find whatever public information is out there. It's not hard these days to get information.
My personal experiences with Unions have not been good, but 80's St. Louis is not modern California. I know some very good surveyors who owe there careers to the Union opportunities.
Long and short, take the advice and join the Professional Society. Find a ta Le of Grey haired folks and listen...
Good luck, Tom
> I'm a student trying to learn about the profession and from what I understand, union shops (in CA) have some restrictions on what a PLS can do. Reading this board, I get the impression that a lot of guys split time between the field and office and have the freedom to carry out all aspects of the work. Wondering how many here are union or non-union shops?
>
> -Ben
All good suggestions.
there really are not that many Union shops. Many business have different agreements. If you are interested in any business in particular just give them a call or stop over and ask some questions.
In my nearly 40 years working in California I only worked a few union jobs, all seasonal field work.
Field = Union
Office = non union
No real distinction between PLS or apprentice... saw them both inside and outside. Being a union member and working a non union job: no problem
Many business have different agreements.
:good:
> I am licensed by the State of California not local 3 or local 12.
Objection, irrelevant.
Don
I worked the non-union side of a union shop in California.
Union training and lsit/pls training have nothing in common with each other. As a student, and young in your career, keep your options open. If you choose to follow the union path, don't put all your cards in the unions training classes. Even Having an lsit (or fls as it is now called) makes you incredibly employable, and shows you have dedicated time into the profession.
I could be wrong but I think the vast majority of surveyors are not in a union. If what I've heard about unions is true (my uncle was violently assaulted by dozens of union members just for showing up to work) I would do everything in my power to steer clear. There is actually a movement in the country right now trying to abolish unions due to the perception of how corrupt they are.
I'm a non union shop but I have worked on numerous prevailing wage jobs and even some union jobs. For the union jobs, based on labor agreements, my field staff was required to join and pay dues. In return they made union scale which is slightly higher than prevailing wage in this neck of the woods. The union did not require that my company sign a union contract and they were quite easy to work with.
In California the big distinction is prevailing wage. It is my understanding that most construction work in the state requires prevailing wages for surveyors in the field. I'm mostly on the design side and my construction experience in CA is pretty much nil. So feel feel to correct me if I'm wrong.
"There is actually a movement in the country right now trying to abolish unions due to the perception of how corrupt they are."
I believe that you have a misunderstanding of the motives of those who would like to abolish unions.
It has nothing to do with perception and everything to do with money.
Specifically, who gets most of it.
That is as gentle as I can explain it.
Don
I know that it was about money because the union was on strike to try to get pay raises. My uncle has 9 kids and couldn't afford not to work so when he went to work they harassed him and even once threw a brick through his car's back window and the police knew all about it but wouldn't step in. My uncle was convinced that the unions bribed the police because they wouldn't even do anything about him getting threatening notes at his home. If criminal behavior like that is commonplace with unions, which my uncle insists it is around Pittsburgh and in Pennsylvania in general, then they should have been abolished a long, long time ago.
No, unions should not have been abolished a long, long time ago nor should they ever be abolished.
I'm sorry about your uncle, but I've got anecdotes too.
Have you ever heard of Joe Hill?
You don't need to answer that; it was rhetorical, and anyway we're getting to close to the P&R third rail.
🙂
Don
Don - Union Shop Hijack
Did you know that during the depression of 1893-94 Big Bill Haywood worked as a surveyor?
I'm just saying that any union that is that into criminal behavior, I think this one was the teamsters, local unknown, should be abolished and severely punished in the justice system. I make no such distinction for non-violent, law abiding unions.
If we abolished every corrupt entity, we wouldn't have politics, banks, realtors, etc..
Root out the corruption. That is the answer.
Don - Union Shop Hijack
I did not know that!
Thank you.
We've always been a radical bunch, I think, or, at least, I like to think so:-) .
Don
:beer: I'll drink to that, Mr. Davidson
Don