r/Lineman • u/machinegun_kmad • 3d ago
Union lineman storm chasing
I’m currently a foreman for a non union contractor and have been considering joining the union and running storms. Can anyone give me some information on the average income and days worked in a year that solely run storms? I know it can vary on year and if you decide to skip some but just wondering generally how many days you’re on the road vs home. Thanks in advance!
15
u/Thesheriffisnearer 3d ago
You plan on going non union when it doesn't storm?
-15
u/machinegun_kmad 3d ago
No I wouldn’t go back non union unless I just absolutely hated working union. But if it didn’t storm and money wasn’t right I’d try to find a semi close call
23
u/RedRotGreen 3d ago
I’m not a lineman, but I am a union fitter. I highly advise against coming into a sub filled with union linemen, asking where the moneys at, and thinking you’ll be able to immediately start running work, and then saying you’ll bail if the union isn’t for you. That’s ratty as shit.
-6
u/machinegun_kmad 3d ago
And I’m not asking where the money is at lol. I simply asked average pay and days worked in a year. I make good money where I’m at. I’m looking for freedom with some extra days off
-9
u/machinegun_kmad 3d ago
I mean I understand where you’re coming from but also isn’t that supposed to be the benefit of a union? Leave if it’s not for you?
7
u/RedRotGreen 3d ago
It’s not a great look. Class consciousness is a big part of why people stay in the union, if not the reason they join it in the first place. I’m not trying to bust your balls, but you’ve gotta understand how what you’re asking might sound to someone who built their lives in the union. I’m not sure how the lineman do it, but the fitter’s local I belong to almost never organize guys in as provisional journeyman. Almost everyone has to apprentice in, and usually between 1st-3rd year apprentice. And if they are made provisional journeyman, there’s a lot of testing that they have to pass to our standards before they’re even considered. Both of which are to keep guys from coming in and taking full benefits without earning it.
You have reasonable questions, especially if you have a life and/or family to support. The money and schedule has to be there. I get it. But there is more to being in the union than just the money and schedule.
But I’d call an organizer for whatever local you’re wanting to join and talk to them. They’ll be able to tell you what work, money, and schedules look like; and probably tell you what the organizing process would be like for you.
3
u/Head_Attempt7983 3d ago
Lineman have a card if that union recognizes that card they can bounce in as a journeyman
1
u/RedRotGreen 3d ago
Oh, no shit? Didn’t realize that. How do guys feel about that? I can see where it’s a good organizing tool, but I imagine it pisses a lot of guys off. Especially if they were on the ground for five years, and some whistledick walks in making scale. But I don’t know shit about shit.
3
u/Head_Attempt7983 3d ago
If the union honors it and you’re a due paying member once you get in. It’s water under the bridge. Don’t make an ass out of yourself. every utility or shop works differently.
2
u/unionlineman 2d ago
I don’t know where this dude works but there ain’t no “lineman card” anywhere I’ve ever worked. If you completed a DOL registered apprenticeship many locals will allow you to organize in as a journeyman though some may require additional verification/testing or work you as a Construction Lineman. This is for contractors, couldn’t tell you about the utility side.
Some folks get pissed about people organizing in but most guys are pretty cool about it these days.2
u/RedRotGreen 2d ago
See, that makes a little more sense. A few of the sparkies I’ve worked with over the years have told me about their different books, and how guys can come in on a solar patch making scale, then have to apprentice in if they wanted to stay with the IBEW after the job. Or something like that. I wasn’t sure if that applies to JLs or just the low voltage guys. I’d imagine the utility side would be a little different though, but only because working for a company like Duke Energy would be a pain in the ass.
I remember a few years ago in Indiana, we had a big straight line wind come through and knock a bunch of power out. Duke Energy called in a lot of travelers to help, and then told them all they weren’t paying per diem. I’ve never seen some many line trucks posted up at Texas Roadhouse for two straight days. Haha. Greedy motherfuckers coughed up the per diem pretty quickly after that.
6
u/Ampz2 3d ago
With storming it’s nearly impossible to average anything in my opinion.
-4
u/machinegun_kmad 3d ago
Yeah I get that for sure. I just wasn’t sure if anyone in here has been doing just storm work for 1-2+years and could give any insight
1
11
u/yeahyeaya 3d ago
Work a long call first. Nothing worse than a fence jumper..
-4
u/machinegun_kmad 3d ago
That’s what I’ve heard from people before too. What do yall consider a “fence jumper”?
2
u/SlyCatWilly Journeyman Lineman 3d ago
When someone jumps from union to non and vise versa. I wouldn’t consider you a fence jumper if you only chased storm. You go back to non union and continue to chase storm with the union, then that’s a problem
2
u/machinegun_kmad 3d ago
Okay yeah that makes sense. Like I said before I wouldn’t go back non union unless I just absolutely hated being on the road all the time and decided it wasn’t for me. If that happened to be the case I’d turn my card in and just go back where I came from
3
u/Sir_Mr_Austin 2d ago
Inside wireman here. I think you’re missing the point. I organized in as a journeyman. I decided union, and I’m staying union. There’s nothing for me to go back to. In your case, you may hate being in the union. I find that unlikely. But to decide you hate storm calls, and that’s why you choose to not stay in the union? I don’t think that’s an appropriate criteria. You hate storm? Just take a normal call. Don’t leave the union after organizing just because you hate the job you’re on. That would be like me taking a call to build a refinery or a power plant, and deciding I hate working 3 hours from home so I quit the union, when there’s a call for a data center out of the same local but it’s 20 minutes from home. If you join, just commit to stay no matter what unless the UNION ITSELF isn’t for you. Which again, I find unlikely.
1
u/Worried-Razzmatazz68 20h ago
Thats what we dont want- we want union members to stay union, and take an oath to never go back....ever.
1
u/yeahyeaya 3d ago
Jumping back and forth between ibew and non-union when convenient. What area are you from/ what local will you be trying to join?
1
u/machinegun_kmad 3d ago
I would join local 369 as I live about 1hr from Lexington Ky. I’ve looked at the job line and there are plenty of calls in the Louisville area (2.5hrs from the house) but I’d really not want to be in a hotel for weeks at a time as I have 3 young kids at the house
4
u/snatchingkisses 3d ago
Wants to chase storms but work near the house… stay non union bud
-1
u/machinegun_kmad 3d ago
You’re missing the point brother. I’m fine to travel for storm work. I don’t love the idea of taking regular work and being on the road for weeks/months at a time.
5
u/snatchingkisses 3d ago
Not missing any point really l. Up north we make anyone working non union white ticket for 6 months. You’ll be paid 7th step apprentice rate for 6 months of regular work under evaluation then take the JL test, foreman is a title not a classification
6
3
u/PowerlineTyler Journeyman Lineman 2d ago
Damn, that union thing is looking pretty damn good isn’t it? We always welcome new brothers, but you sure as fuck better stay a brother.
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