Unpopular opinion: The trades are underpaid

[Creeper]

Seen many a company and industry destroyed by them. IMO, what holds them back is they still operate like they did 50 years ago. Not a bad concept because no company will ever look out for you. But corporations and industry modernized or changed, unions never did.

I think unions serve a purpose, but I absolutely agree they operate like they did long ago in the golden age of unions. Union leadership needs to change. While my friend was laid off he had to continue paying union dues even though they were doing nothing for him. He wasn't getting benefits when he wasn't working, and he couldn't work because they would move him to the bottom of the list. After a while he just quit the union and moved on because he had bills to pay.

But I do think unions can be good for workers. There needs to be a balance between workers and management because management will take advantage eventually.

I think tradesmen are better off starting their own businesses if they have the motivation and management ability. A licensed plumber who knows what he is doing, has his own truck and is ambitious can make 6 figures where I live easily. These guys are getting $90 to $125 an hours out here.

 

[jwitten82]

I think unions serve a purpose, but I absolutely agree they operate like they did long ago in the golden age of unions. Union leadership needs to change. While my friend was laid off he had to continue paying union dues even though they were doing nothing for him. He wasn't getting benefits when he wasn't working, and he couldn't work because they would move him to the bottom of the list. After a while he just quit the union and moved on because he had bills to pay.

But I do think unions can be good for workers. There needs to be a balance between workers and management because management will take advantage eventually.

I think tradesmen are better off starting their own businesses if they have the motivation and management ability. A licensed plumber who knows what he is doing, has his own truck and is ambitious can make 6 figures where I live easily. These guys are getting $90 to $125 an hours out here.

Yea, but not everyone can start their own business, many would like to but it's not feasible. I know unions aren't perfect, far from it, but they set a better standard for wages

 

[Creeper]

Yea, but not everyone can start their own business, many would like to but it's not feasible. I know unions aren't perfect, far from it, but they set a better standard for wages

I do not disagree. But I think union leaders too often represent themselves more than their workers.

 

[jwitten82]

I do not disagree. But I think union leaders too often represent themselves more than their workers.

What part do you disagree with?

 

[gtb1943]

What part do you disagree with?

I will give you an incident with the unions from the early 1980's.
I know all about this because I lived there and a friend of my mother worked at International Harvester in the Quad Cities between Iowa and Illinois on the mIssissippi.
Early 80's because of numerous factors the farm industry was in recession. Inflation meant that crops were not bringing in that much. So the farm machinery business was in bad shape.
The Unions told Harvester to pay the workers more. Harvester was not in good financial shape and even showed the Union Bosses their books pointing this out,
The Union bosses said they were lying (despite the IRS agreeing that was what their records showed as well) So they ordered a strike and the loyal union members struck
Harveser went bankrupt; took several years to reorganize and was NEVER near what it was before
THOUSANDS lost their jobs.
And the Union leaders just shrugged and never admitted to any responsibility at all
And this happened forty years ago and I have not seen any changes to any unions since

 

[Creeper]

What part do you disagree with?

What part of what do I disagree with? I said I don't disagree with your previous comment.

 

[jwitten82]

What part of what do I disagree with? I said I don't disagree with your previous comment.

My bad, misread it

 

[rags747]

Not sure where you're getting your numbers from, mortgage calculator that includes taxes fees for a house that cost 300k with 5% down is still a 2500 a month mortgage payment. I dont think yall realize how high interest rates are right now

My # was strictly mortgage, no taxes imcluded. I have never had taxes included in any mortgage that I have ever had, but then I always came in heavy with the down payment.

 

[rags747]

Honestly, one problem is how much it costs to repair appliances today. Everything is controlled by computers and specialized circuit boards. I had my kitchen renovated in 2013. All new appliances, including a washer and dryer for a laundry room off the kitchen area. After 6 years, and coincidentally after the warrantees expired, the appliances started to fail one by one. The Washing machine needed two boards and the repair cost me over $600. The electric oven upper heating coil failed and cost over $500. The stove igniter failed and was continuously making that clicking sound. That was $580. The microwave above the electric over failed and cost almost $800 - and it has never been the same. I looked up the parts online to see if I was being ripped off, and all the boards and parts would have cost be about the same as what the repair guys charged. I can see why some people might just dump their old appliances in favor of new ones. Nothing as expensive as these devices should fail after only 6 years.

I started repairing my own TVs and monitors. They are not as complicated or dangerous to work on as the old tube TVs. In most cases it's a capacitor or two that goes bad, or the backlight LEDs get old and brittle. They are easy enough to replace. Or if modules go bad, you can find replacements online for less than what it would cost to get a TV repair guy to do it.

I honestly think prices for these repair parts are set at a number where it is just cheaper than the point where you would go buy a new appliance. But I do think a good repair guy could make a good living, and repairing appliances for the most part is not as dirty as plumber in crawlspaces and dingy basements or bathrooms.

I have a Sub Zero refrigerator, couple of months ago the power went out on it. Did some research and found that the on off switch tended to be the problem. Sub Zero no longer makes the on off switch by they sell a bypass wire, I order that and meanwhile go shopping for new Sub Zero’s just in case. $19k would have gotten me into a new replacement model! Thankfully the bypass wire fix worked out to be the perfect solution.

 

[gtb1943]

I have a Sub Zero refrigerator, couple of months ago the power went out on it. Did some research and found that the on off switch tended to be the problem. Sub Zero no longer makes the on off switch by they sell a bypass wire, I order that and meanwhile go shopping for new Sub Zero’s just in case. $19k would have gotten me into a new replacement model! Thankfully the bypass wire fix worked out to be the perfect solution.

the companies do not make money off of selling parts. They want you to buy a new one.
They design things now so that you cannot repair them.

 

[CyberB0b]

My # was strictly mortgage, no taxes imcluded. I have never had taxes included in any mortgage that I have ever had, but then I always came in heavy with the down payment.

Down payment has nothing to do with escrow.

 

[jwitten82]

My # was strictly mortgage, no taxes imcluded. I have never had taxes included in any mortgage that I have ever had, but then I always came in heavy with the down payment.

With the majority of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, a huge down payment is not realistic for majority of people

 

[gtb1943]

With the majority of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, a huge down payment is not realistic for majority of people

there are loans without large downpayments; I got one. Backed by the USDA for loans not near large cities. Actually no real downpayment at all
Many things are possible if you work at it and try

 

[jwitten82]

there are loans without large downpayments; I got one. Backed by the USDA for loans not near large cities. Actually no real downpayment at all
Many things are possible if you work at it and try

Not near large cities? So you could be talking an hour plus commute to and from work. In case you haven't noticed, gas is still above $3

 

[rags747]

Down payment has nothing to do with escrow.

Oh it most certainly does. Again, I have never ever had money held in escrow for taxes and insurance. I have always paid those 100% myself without any outside entity handling that for me.

 

[rags747]

With the majority of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, a huge down payment is not realistic for majority of people

I never claimed that it was. Maybe u can point out where I said that. If I did then I was wrong.

 

[gtb1943]

Not near large cities? So you could be talking an hour plus commute to and from work. In case you haven't noticed, gas is still above $3

do you work at this?
About 150 million americans live away from the larger cities
I guess you think we are all hillbillies and hicks?
And guess what? Vast majority of people do not have to commute to work for anything like that
average commute to work is 26.7 minutes
once again I am not surprised you did not know this
I guess Dallas is like an alien world

 

[jwitten82]

I never claimed that it was. Maybe u can point out where I said that. If I did then I was wrong.

No, but you didn't take that into consideration when I pointed out that mortgage rates will still above 2k

 

[jwitten82]

do you work at this?
About 150 million americans live away from the larger cities
I guess you think we are all hillbillies and hicks?
And guess what? Vast majority of people do not have to commute to work for anything like that
average commute to work is 26.7 minutes
once again I am not surprised you did not know this
I guess Dallas is like an alien world

Obviously you're not picking up what im putting down. Im making the case for people who do live in cities

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

The trades are still a good move if you’re looking for a career without college.

And what are we talking about here? At what point in someone’s career are we talking? A journeyman electrician can start his own business and make good money in the Bay Area.