Goodbye Twinkies

[linguica]

I won't miss the Twinkies but it's such a shame for the employees to be out of work. I don't believe a blanket statement against all unions is fair though. My BF and a son are both Union Sheet Metal Workers and if it were not for them being in a union and following SMACNA standards I shudder to think how long some of these buildings would hold up. Futhermore both would have very slim pickings for work not to mention the cut in pay. You would not believe the number of "undocumented workers" and non union trades on job sites that don't care what kind of job they do as long as they meet the contract deadline. 

WELL SAID.     My coworker bought a home in a tract that was built with non union, semi skilled labor. I went over his house to hang an accordion door on an open closet. In the 40 inches the doorway was wide, it was 2" out of square. With union carpenters this wouldn't have happened. Also the home is built on large screw jacks. At least once a year he has to crawl under the house to level the floors.

 

[linguica]

Twinkies Made in Mexico. Say it ain't so Joe.   El Twinkos. One of my co-workers was an El Twinko. 

 

[daveomak]

Don't worry....  There is a petition for the Gummint to Nationalize Twinkies.... Gummint made twinkies may be on the shelf...

 

[shmoker]

WELL SAID.     My coworker bought a home in a tract that was built with non union, semi skilled labor. I went over his house to hang an accordion door on an open closet. In the 40 inches the doorway was wide, it was 2" out of square. With union carpenters this wouldn't have happened. Also the home is built on large screw jacks. At least once a year he has to crawl under the house to level the floors.

Not to be controversial, but when I worked as a framer, I was not part of a union and did not work with anyone (framers, concrete guys, drywallers, finishers, etc.) who were union members.  We built quality homes that are standing perfectly square and sound today and that sold  for $500-750 thousand.  Also, in my new career, I've seen union members who are absolutely awful at their jobs but don't care because they don't have to worry about getting canned.  There are two sides to every coin (well, three really, but no one ever calls "sides").

 

[linguica]

Not to be controversial, but when I worked as a framer, I was not part of a union and did not work with anyone (framers, concrete guys, drywallers, finishers, etc.) who were union members.  We built quality homes that are standing perfectly square and sound today and that sold  for $500-750 thousand.  Also, in my new career, I've seen union members who are absolutely awful at their jobs but don't care because they don't have to worry about getting canned.  There are two sides to every coin (well, three really, but no one ever calls "sides").

Not to be controversial, but when I worked as a framer, I was not part of a union and did not work with anyone (framers, concrete guys, drywallers, finishers, etc.) who were union members.  We built quality homes that are standing perfectly square and sound today and that sold  for $500-750 thousand.  Also, in my new career, I've seen union members who are absolutely awful at their jobs but don't care because they don't have to worry about getting canned.  There are two sides to every coin (well, three really, but no one ever calls "sides").

That's probably the most important thing to remember on this forum. I have worked on remodel projects with unskilled homeowners (includes me) and they hold me to such a high standard of work that it takes forever to finish a job.

 

[custom99]

I manage large shopping centers. We have actually had such poor quality out of some of the union contractors that it is unbelievable. We have even had such big problems with the carpenters union behaving like animals that even family and friends of members of that union have said they were totally embarrassed by them. The unions just are not what they used to be. The greed is just wrong. I was an electrician by trade and I am very glad I left the unions a very long time ago.