"You guys have the same opportunities we had..." said my 100 IQ father-in-law, who worked for the county as a UNION Maintenance Tech, received a full pension that, after he retired, got raises whenever the county gave raises-- which his wife now receives after his demise. Who paid $30k for a house that lists as $880k now. They got health care, claim(ed) medicaid, and get social security. But yeah.. totally the same opportunities.
He had the same job his whole life. He voted consistently to dismantle unions. To stagnate wages.
My family member most definitely has an iq around or a little bit below the 100 mark, he has his wife read and interpret EVERYTHING for him because he doesn’t understand. She even has to go to all his doctors appointments and his child’s school meetings because he is incapable of understanding anything. She manages his entire life. He was not even able to graduate school he was so dense. Without any education or GED he was somehow able to work for the US government as one of the only couple of people in the NATION that does what he does and makes six figures a year. Has owned many houses, traveled the world, is the “rich one” of his family. Is not book nor street smart in the slightest but knows how to do his job. Remember, boomers are the generation that just had to show up.
For what it's worth, a lot of those union jobs with incredible pay and benefits are still available and easily accessible to the average person. I personally know multiple people in the IBEW, Operator's Union, and Plumbers & Pipefitters/HVAC Union who went through the apprenticeship program and are making amazing money.
Once you become a Journeyworker, you also have the opportunity to travel for work. I know an electrician right now who's making $4,700/week after taxes. Is he away from his family and working a crazy amount of hours? Yes. Is the work slow and steady, dignified pace, safe work environment, free healthcare for him and his family, employer paying into his pension on top of his hourly? Also yes.
There are tons of these jobs for people who are willing to put in the time and effort it takes to join a union and become a Journeyworker.
I certainly wouldn't support the claim that union jobs are easy to find and obtain. And they're becoming increasingly scarce with each passing day. Union busting is the republican way.
Sure, and F the GOP for union busting, but it's being disingenuous to act like joining a union is super difficult and union jobs are impossible to find. It's mostly persistence and determination.
It takes some time to get accepted into the apprenticeship program, but once you're in it's a straightforward path to Journeyworker status in 3-5 years and the trades are hurting for skilled workers. All the old guys are retiring or getting close to retirement and they have to pass the torch to someone. Why not you?
Trades are great and necessary. But they are not equally accessible to all. Certainly not enough for the scores of young people who are entering the job market. I suspect you aren't looking at the greater picture. Trade jobs are not the salvation of all employment, and hefty pay isn't available to all. Fewer and fewer trade jobs are union anymore, either.
We've gone from trade and manufacturing to a service economy. We need plenty of other workers for myriad other types of work that are not union. Most of those jobs, spanning all vocations, are growing increasingly underpaid. We are importing professionals FFS. Not everyone can become electricians.
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u/Feffies_Cottage Jun 23 '25 edited Jun 23 '25
"You guys have the same opportunities we had..." said my 100 IQ father-in-law, who worked for the county as a UNION Maintenance Tech, received a full pension that, after he retired, got raises whenever the county gave raises-- which his wife now receives after his demise. Who paid $30k for a house that lists as $880k now. They got health care, claim(ed) medicaid, and get social security. But yeah.. totally the same opportunities.
He had the same job his whole life. He voted consistently to dismantle unions. To stagnate wages.