What can go wrong in seafood processing jobs (Anchorage, Metlakatla: to buy, construction)

[Metlakatla]

^ I don't think that's the point, Pitts. Even a crew fresh from prison deserved better than this. ETA I'm not saying these guys were as you describe.

And "these jobs" are often filled by college students and others looking for a seasonal income. My dad used to do this in the summer when he was a teacher.

I think what you "heard" was BS.

[pittsflyer]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

^ I don't think that's the point, Pitts. Even a crew fresh from prison deserved better than this. ETA I'm not saying these guys were as you describe.

And "these jobs" are often filled by college students and others looking for a seasonal income. My dad used to do this in the summer when he was a teacher.

I think what you "heard" was BS.

This was from my step dad who was doing construction either at or near one of these facilities and had to be police escorted because the people who were working there were dangerous. Maybe this was the case for this one particular local, I dont know, but why take the chance? I mean are you going to walk away with a 100 grand in a summer ... 50 grand? I mean how leveraging is the pay to deal with potentially sketchy people.


I think some college students are just dumb and the owners of the facilities need fresh meat thus they are not going to volunteer information about the other crazies they have on staff. Everything is great .... until it isent and now you have a serious injury from either an assult or shabby working conditions they swept under the rug and hid from OSHA because its too expensive to deal with.


Alot of these facilities are also in remote locations, I have heard (at least for some of them) that once you get out there if things start going south your responsible for your own trip out if you quit ... there goes your profit as a college student if you make it a week and have to buy a 1200 ticket back.

[Frostnip]

Seems unnecessary to me to dick down people who are doing honest work.

[Metlakatla]

Pitts, I don't give a damn what your stepdaddy told you. He must have been quite a crybaby wussy to need a police escort because he was afwaid of a nearby processing crew.

It's obvious that you're unemployed yet AGAIN (how many jobs have you blown through in the past few years, anyway?) and are trolling the forum with your ignorance. You should be trying to make something of your sorry self instead.

[Metlakatla]

BTW, does anyone have any reputable sources of assaults and other violent behavior taking place at processing facilities? Something other than a personal anecdote presented as "proof" of an industry norm?

SMH. So many know-it-alls, so little actual truth. The average Alaska home is likely more dangerous than the average modern processing environment. The seafood industry also pays a significant part of Alaska's bills; can't say the same of the residents. Too bad you provide such a poor ROI. I don't mind paying taxes for actual services, but supporting a bunch of "fiercely independent" Alaska deadbeats is a waste of money.

[Metlakatla]

Even Sarah Palin managed to work fish during college, Pitts; too bad about your stepdaddy being so weak that he was afraid to go to a construction site without a police escort.

Sounds to me like stepdaddy was working near or at a place that was engaged in a labor dispute if what you're saying is true.

[AK76]

Originally Posted by pittsflyer

Crazy people coming at you with a knife, or at the very least saying or doing crazy things that make you uneasy because they have a knife. I have heard that these sorts of jobs are for the mentally ill and if you are working here and you are not mentally ill you will have a VERY rough time and may be assulted.


I have heard these sorts of jobs are like pseudo chain gang jobs where most of them are ex cons etc.


If you are a reasonably intellegent upstanding member of society you would never consider these jobs as it would make no sense.

That is an utterly asinine and irresponsible statement! I worked in the commercial fishing industry for a decade, both as a deckhand and a foreman at a processing plant. I would love to compare any criteria you consider relevant to "upstanding member of society" you deem suitable.

[Metlakatla]

^Consider the source. Beer and pizza funds must be low. He's also on his 10th or 11th name here because he keeps getting banned for posting ignorance.

Most of the old-school corporate processing has moved over to China, and those of us who are left aren't dumb enough to risk everything we've worked for to have employees running around with knives and maintaining non-OSHA compliant working environments.

As far as getting fired with no plane ticket home, that's why it's best to have a round trip ticket in your pocket no matter where you're going to be working. The same thing happens at resorts and other remote seasonal job sites.

Personally, I've paid the way home for the very few people I've fired, but I understand that most don't.

[tommy64]

If you cut your finger and fish guts gets in the wound and decomposes you could lose your whole arm.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by tommy64

If you cut your finger and fish guts gets in the wound and decomposes you could lose your whole arm.

Fish poisoning is a real risk, but this only occurs when proper first aid measures aren't taken. Can't recall ever hearing of this happening to anyone to the extent they lost an arm, but I'm sure it has in rare occasions.

You're probably more likely to get food poisoning from eating at the average Alaska restaurant than to lose an arm from working fish.