Gothamist: Cranes Off, Strike On

dg

Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:54:55 -0500

Just like everything else in life, the more important you are the more you get paid, regardless of the work you do. Without an operating engineer on a job site, nothing moves. No bricks, no elevators, no engines, no cranes, no bulldozers, NOTHING. They (I) get paid because it is a necessary job, and what we get paid is alot less than what these companies would lose if a job site is shut down. Also, in the hourly wages you see here, it does not mention how much is taken out of checks for benefits, training, and alot of other things. Also, training is very strict and the machines are very complicated to learn

everyday people

Sun, 02 Jul 2006 19:17:11 -0500

Are the guys in the no show job department on strike too? They gotta eat, too.

RBABBC

Sun, 02 Jul 2006 18:41:15 -0500

You know, I've always said that unions are for lazy people...the proof is in the pudding right here.

jmchez

Sun, 02 Jul 2006 15:02:32 -0500

$72-$82 an hour and some just turn off lights?!! Sweet! sarc off. Of course, we all get to pay for these cushy jobs by the extra amount we pay for buying or renting condos or office space. Sort of like the Mob tax on concrete and garbage disposal. Not that the teamsters give a damm. Also, unless these people can design the crane they operate, they are operators not "engineers".

Toby

Sun, 02 Jul 2006 14:59:18 -0500

OK, how can I become an operating engineer?