Take this job or stay w/ union?

If you're able, I would move someplace with a construction boom and finish your apprenticeship while making good money. Nobody wants to live in California, but where I live in Northern California, the fires destroyed thousands of homes that are being rebuilt. People are complaining that they can't find contractors or anybody in the trades because they're all busy. I know a couple plumbers making over $200k a year out here.

 

A union job is a marathon not a sprint, any job can go away at any time, and do not do rental properties unless you can be hands on, depending on somebody else with no vested interest to look after them almost nrver works out.

 

I would go for a week or two directly with the guy and see if you like or would want to do the work in heavy haul . Those 2 jobs completely different with cons and pros . You can definitely make good money in trucking , if you get more experience probably finding union heavy haul company is possible ...

 

Per JonJon

Once you get your journey man certificate you could always start your own plumbing company, work the hours you want ....


Owning your company is 24/7 work and i think having your own truck same thing - i doubt you can choose your own hours or loads especially in this market .
I have several licensed friends owning plumbing companies and its not as you described . When there is a flooded basement or clogged toilet you have to show up asap ...of course you gonna charge for that double or triple[/QUOTE]

 

I think he has to stay with same co who signed him for apprenticeship to finish training before obtaining a license ...maybe i am wrong .. have construction background myself

 

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You can certainly choose the jobs you want to do or dont want to do with a plumbing business. Not all of it is just fixing clogged toliets... Lots of that 24 hour plumbers stuff is done by companies that promote themselves as just that.

Learning a skilled trade such as the plumbers union would be a useful skill to learn and know. Something that will stick with him the rest of his life. Something that will come in very handy throughout his life especially if he owns a home or homes...

On the other hand we have trucking......

What part of knowing how to drive a truck will be useful to him through his life? Chances are it never will unless he is at work... That's about it.

 

Here’s what I would do... Free health care is nice but any union job has that or close to it.

get your foot in the door at this place now, and ask around for an operator union job doing the same thing but you’ll be making a lot more money with free health care still and a pension.

Plan b, find a cash job and keep going with your apprenticeship.

Operator pays by the size of the equipment you run here but I know they pay 36 to run a skid steer so I’d guess you’d make 38 or so here to drive a low boy.

You would start as a journeyman in the operators union if you were pulling a lowboy and moving equipment prior.