If I were to join the union, where do I start?

It all starts by talkin to a guy named "Vinnie"...can't miss him, he's the one wearing the diamond encrusted horseshoe pinky ring.

 

I've been in a couple different unions. Normally the way you join is by getting hired from a company that's apart of that particular union and they deduct your dues out of your check.

If you want to be a Electrician, plumber, carpenter, painter, heavy equipment operator go to the union hall or one of these particular trades office and get your name on the apprentiship list.

 

WTF?!.. It's not like there's this mythical thing called a "Union" that you pay and are set for life. If the company that you work for is a union company you join the union (or not). If it's not a union shop, you don't. You gotta figure out the company you'll be working for 1st.

Hey, maybe I'm misunderstanding the question, if so, I apologize, please elaborate. The question, as it's worded, is kind of cryptic and misleading.

 

Unions suck. Was on grocery union for a while. Made more at non union stores.

 

First thing i noticed when joining some unions is you notice your self getting severly lazy because with all grievances you get if you actually do work.

 

Nick strimbu inc. based out of OH is union. @Chinatown and @Pintlehook can probably name more companies and give you more info on the whole deal. I personally don't really care for unions.

 

Also PI&I Motor Express
I was in a union for a while; hated it. Other drivers berate you for working too hard. They also will pull seniority and take work away from you, then laugh about it. Horrible work environment.
If they want to shaft another driver or someone in management, then you're their BFF because they want your help to cause problems for someone else.

 

You can look in your local phone book for Teamsters Union. Go to there place of business and ask them for help. Some jobs will have you start on the dock loading and unloading freight. YRC is like that here in Kansas City.

I was a Railroader (carman). The Burlington Northern had an ad in the paper and I went down and interviewed.

I have a friend in the Sheet Metal Union. He went to the Union hiring hall and was sign as an apprentice. They taught him the craft there. He went out on job sites as a helper at times but was paid while going to training at the Union Hall.

All Unions have one thing in common. You start at the bottom. Truckers at some Companies, R & L for one), start off on an extra board. There you may only get one day a week of work until you work your way up in Seniority.

One of the big drawls is pension plans. You cannot count on Pensions as they have been wiped out by bankruptcies in the past. All drivers should be saving 15% of their income in self directed retirement accounts.

And now for some stock advise. Amazon's business model is taking over the shopping industry. They ship with Fed Ex and UPS. If you think that will continue, buy. Also, if you pull out of a company who seems to be shipping less freight now then they have in years past, you might want to short that company.