General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA update to my post on Tuesday morning. About the young father needing a decent job.
Last edited Fri May 23, 2025, 08:19 AM - Edit history (1)
A few of you asked if kiddo got the job.
Last Monday i ran into young couple that 20 went to school with. They were on their way to local W.I.C. office for a checkup for their six month old baby.
He works in warehouse and the young lady is hairdresser. So i mentioned i do know a certain union freight outfit is hiring dock men.
And i gave kiddo the name of this guy who works at this freight company in management to the young man and to use me as reference.
This manager was a man planner for us road drivers at my old union outfit that went under in 2023 and i worked with him for close to a decade. Decent manager old school union manager as in he did not try and micromanage any road drivers.
Example of his management style I had one of those nights. Came out of bed in Babylon Long Island dispatched to grab set of pups to Akron Ohio.
Slept for shit in hotel on rest i took two naps over steering wheel on way to Ohio on I -80. Dispatch in Akron tried to hit me delay of freight.
I was probably 2.5 hours late no argument I told dispatch in ohio D.O.T. Regulation 392.3 driver fatigue so lets grievance it you can argue with Fed D.O.T.
They sent delay freight to my home terminal i got in my home terminal next morning and this manger who has hired the young man.
He said as i was doing my log book in dispatch to close out the last two days i heard you were tired other night on your way out Long Island to the buckeye and he smiled and winked at me. He knew that Id grieve any company B.S. using Fed D.O.T. 392.3 my attitude lets do it yet he never pursued the letter.
So I read text this morning that i received yesterday from this young man he completed his physical and took drug test for job Wednesday drug test is clean Thursday .
This youngster has start date Tuesday 16:00 start training was his text message and a THANK YOU.
So kiddo in 30 days will have great health insurance for his family for only two hours union dues a month.
And mister just got around $16.25 cent raise in starting wages from his former non union warehouse job. And be rolling in decent coin anytime after 8 hours is time and half as all time after 40 hours is time and half.
I would not wish union freight to anybody its a dying industry as when i started in 87 there was thirty plus union carriers in freight today three left. So here is hoping he can at least work steady in the years to come because blue collar jobs are always taking it in the neck.
I had reservations about my son 20 dropping out of university and going to union apprenticeship as carpenter last year yet he is much happier now than in attending local university.
And now hes switched to straight millwright apprenticeship as his union also represents millwrights. The job hes now on is removing and replacing huge turbines he came home other night he had to put potatoes on his eyes because of welding flash.
And now Im more relaxed in that he will be able to get his thirty years and out with union pension and annuity.
Because millwrights Im finding out always seem to have work instead of swinging a union hammer. Yet a part of me wishes he would have stayed in university.
Yet who am i to talk about retirement in this dyslexic bad punctuation ramble. Im 59 and could retire on my pension plan was too go at 62.
Yet with my wife passing two half years ago and being off recovering from surgery. I hope to push out my retirement till at least 65 my reasons health insurance and the cash you can still make no brag Im not built that way.
Yet the cash is around what a congressman makes in union freight as a truck driver and the healthcare is awesome.
This time off recovering has been preview of retirement and being alone at house when 20 is working and my wife gone Ive realized i need to be going somewhere turning a key.
And no future in freight as a driver self driving trucks gonna be the norm soon. Ive been offered a job if i pensioned off at local truck driving school the students are just tossing their Fed loan dollars away.

UpInArms
(52,773 posts)Am glad the young man has a better future.
Unions are the best.
malaise
(284,326 posts)So glad for this young man
barbtries
(30,426 posts)I hope he's good at it and loves it too.
Sun-Moon
(175 posts)I believe in Karma and you were at the right place at the right time to help that family.
I hope your recovery goes smoothly and tell the pups they need to be extra gentle to you.
I wanted to be a big rig driver after seeing Smokey and the bandit and Convoy when I was 10 year old girl.. had a CB name picked out - sweet peach.. then I realized at 16 I can hardly park my nova, how am I going to park a Semi?? lol..
I do better with parking now with back up cameras- 😀
Karadeniz
(24,447 posts)PJMcK
(23,632 posts)You've helped this young family and I hope the young man takes every advantage of the opportunity you steered him towards.
Enjoy your weekend!
Chicagogrl1
(538 posts)Such great news that you were able to help this young couple!!! This really makes me think about the power of this group and our ability to help each other and others. I wish there was a way that we could organize to continue to help others that deserve our help. I have 30 years of HR experience and will help anyone with their resume & career coaching.
Delmette2.0
(4,360 posts)Would you consider asking your local library if you could put up a small sign and offer your guidance for free. Or set up in a park, any where with foot traffic.
TexLaProgressive
(12,500 posts)Ive been reading your posts for years. I admit it took me a bit of adjustment to fully understand your posts, but that is not a problem anymore.
Things I love about Duncposts: Union stories, your wife before she died (sorry for your loss) and after, your son(s), your dogs, guitar school, your interaction with the enemy and like today with those in need of a helping hand up. There is more, but I have some chores to do.
Things I dont like
Keep it up, brother, If it wasnt for unions we would not be in as good shape as we are.
Bettie
(18,297 posts)that is the best thing any of us can do.
joanbarnes
(2,007 posts)Our union jobs helped myself and Mr. Barnes cling to middle class until retirement.
SheltieLover
(68,255 posts)


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