Craftsmen Who Work With Their Hands

[300UGUY]

Most of the construction/trade related unions in the DC metro area have apprenticeship "schools" for folks that are interested. They have a hard time getting people to enter the program. Granted, the pay isn't great for the first year and often involves some classroom time evenings/weekends; however, once you make it through the program you are only limited by your desire and ability.

Q

On a national scale, unions are pretty rare. I think they are under 10% of the workforce. In some areas, it's close to zero.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I took metal shop 4 years is hs both welding and machining and 2 years of machine shop in college. I had a great teacher back then that pushed us hard. My last year the my it to where you could only take vo tech 3 years and no class over 2 years. After I graduated they closed most of Votech no more ag shop, building trades, Heating AC and Refer. Its just welding and body and fender and auto trade. I didnt like working inside so I fell back on heavy equipment and trucks. Didnt have a student loan I think my whole college tuition was 5k. I didnt have a degree but never stopped me from work.

I one thing I notice thats going away with kids and young adults is the pride in their workmanship. I was taught at an early age what ever you do whether its flipping burgers or building something do the best you can and be happy about it. I manage a rubbish landfill now and have alot going on I do most of the mechanic work and most of the site work. We even do the home office's paving. I get workers in now that are out of HS or college and they are amazed at some of the things we do in the shop at work. I usually dont think anything about it or I ll tell them you should see so and so they re a lot better.

Pride in workmanship is a great experience. When I plowed a field, painted a house or stocked a grocery shelf, I could sit back and admire (or lament, as the case may be) my work. When I went into the administrative/regulatory field, I had to find other ways to assure myself that I had made an accomplishment. I had to reconcile myself that it was like turning a valve and not see anything come out the other end for a year.

 

[jaotguy]

Pride in workmanship is a great experience. , I had to reconcile myself that it was like turning a valve and not see anything come out the other end for a year.

Pride in workmanship is great, everyone should strive for it ...

but when the next person in the chain doesn't care, then passes it on to the next , the end result is always garbage out the door .... ( one of the many reasons I left the last place )

It drives you nuts when things have to be precise to work , and some fool in the front office makes assumptions ( and plan adjustments ) ... then you get blamed for things not working out as they should .... all the screaming and finger pointing till you point out the "mods" after it left your hands .... (photo copies of original plans and drawings for backup, helped ) ....

then they toss it off " oh, I didn't think it would matter " .... and drop the subject ( no pride in workmanship there )
it just takes one person somewhere in the line to "just do my job and nothing else " to $%^&* things up for the rest on down the line ( who do care ).