Labor Unions (Boise, Mountain Home, Mountain Home AFB: lease, condo, hotel)

[California Carl]

Hi ChitOwner, Work out here is still pretty good. The housing sector is slow of course, but Commercial, T.I.s @ Industrial are still doing OK. (In the Bay Area at least)
San Francisco is also a strong union town. Probably the strongest on the West coast.
PS go Bears!
Bears and San Diego Superbowl XXXVIII?

[CafeDelSol]

Originally Posted by California Carl

Thanks for your input Del Sol. It is too bad more people don't see what is happening to our country. What will they do with all these people when they are too old to work and have little or no money to retire on? Are they counting on Social Security?
I still want to move up there, but it sounds like I'd be better off opening my own company.
I am in construction, an Electrician, and a Union member.
I concider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to go through the apprenticeship program a be in the union as long as I have.

The journeyman electrician jobs I know of around here pay somewhere around $26-$32 on average depending on location and employer. That's only for major employers though. A small family can live reasonably on $50k per year here. It's hard to find jobs that pay that well though. And IF you can find affordable housing. But coming from California's real estate market that shouldn't be a problem.

If you're considering opening a contracting business here, now is the time to do it. Idaho is still the wild west. We have essentially no statewide regulation of the industry. If you have a pulse and can fill out the resgistration form - VOILA! you're an instant contractor. (This is major pet peeve of mine that I will take up with my legislators shortly) If you have actual skills you can make great money. GOOD contractors are pretty scarce with the current building boom.

[mark6052]

people forget that unions help employee safety. osha laws in idaho are a joke.when you dont have them its work or quit, what a choice.

[RodFarlee]

Average wages of Electricians (of all experience levels)
US $21.94/hour, $45,690/year
ID $20.54, $42,720
Boise $19.66, $40,890
Idaho Falls $23.17, $48,180

Averages wages for All Occupations
US $18.21, $37,870
ID $15.89, $33,050
Boise $16.99, $35,330
Idaho Falls $15.85, $32,970

From the US Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2005
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ID.htm

Cost of Living Index (American Chamber of Commerce 2006)
US 100%
ID 94.5%
Boise 95.9%
Idaho Falls 90.9%

A few decades ago, Idaho was well below the US average standard of living. It is projected to exceed it in a few years.
Job creation and income growth in Idaho have been running near twice the national average for the last twenty years.

I see this glass as half full, not half empty... and it's rising!

[California Carl]

Thanks for the stats Rod! Your input as well as Cafe the Sun and Mark. I think I would do well up there even though wages are a lot lower than they are here. Its all relative though.
Here, many of us commute 50 miles or more in horrible traffic. (that drive could take 90+ minutes each way, then we get to pay $5 to cross the bridge and then $10-$20 to park every day. Of course we ride share as much as possible but, it is still brutal. Furthermore our housing costs and taxes really hammer you.
Boise seemed like such a peacefull place and everyone I met was really nice. People around here are getting to me. This place is too crowded. We have a lot of immigrants (many of them illegal) and tons of rude ill mannered jerks.
I have lived in CA my whole life and unfortunatley our state has gone down the tubes.
I would love to move up there, open a union shop and hire a couple of local guys. I have a contractors licence here and it was'nt all that hard to get. I think they give them out too easily around (lot's of shops out there that don't know what they are doing) After checking into ID, it sounded like getting a license was even easier.One thing for sure, I believe training and saftey go hand in hand and you're only as good as the guys working for you. Do it once, do it right.
I think ID is going to keep growing and as it does, hopefully wages will increase as well. Some of the locals probably don't like that idea but it will happen. Just try to be smart about it. (We were'nt)

[CafeDelSol]

Originally Posted by California Carl

Thanks for the stats Rod! Your input as well as Cafe the Sun and Mark. I think I would do well up there even though wages are a lot lower than they are here. Its all relative though.
Here, many of us commute 50 miles or more in horrible traffic. (that drive could take 90+ minutes each way, then we get to pay $5 to cross the bridge and then $10-$20 to park every day. Of course we ride share as much as possible but, it is still brutal. Furthermore our housing costs and taxes really hammer you.
Boise seemed like such a peacefull place and everyone I met was really nice. People around here are getting to me. This place is too crowded. We have a lot of immigrants (many of them illegal) and tons of rude ill mannered jerks.
I have lived in CA my whole life and unfortunatley our state has gone down the tubes.
I would love to move up there, open a union shop and hire a couple of local guys. I have a contractors licence here and it was'nt all that hard to get. I think they give them out too easily around (lot's of shops out there that don't know what they are doing) After checking into ID, it sounded like getting a license was even easier.One thing for sure, I believe training and saftey go hand in hand and you're only as good as the guys working for you. Do it once, do it right.
I think ID is going to keep growing and as it does, hopefully wages will increase as well. Some of the locals probably don't like that idea but it will happen. Just try to be smart about it. (We were'nt)

Yeah I'd say go for it in Boise. The cost of living is still nothing like Cali and the people are the best you'll find in a large city. If you have a plan of attack for starting a business take it and run. There's lots of growth left in the Valley.

[RodFarlee]

California Carl, I agree. Hundreds of thousands of Californians reach that conclusion every year.
There are several wage vs cost-of-living calculators on the web, and from the best I can tell, the average person can expect to improve their standard of living by making the move. People who live and work in the Bay area are willing to pay that premium for the privilege, but it's a decision each person has to weigh for themselves.
Best wishes in reaching yours!

[California Carl]

Thanks for all the input. It sounds like I would do O.k. up there. I'd like to land a union job in the Boise area, but if not, I'll open my own shop.
My house is for sale, things are slow out here but might pick up a little now that we're past the holidays.
I've done some research and it sounds like I can get my Idaho Journeyman's license and a Contractors license from a facility in Sacramento. I will try to have them both before I get there.
Do you guys have public works jobs? If so are they "prevailing wage" projects? Seems like that might not be possible in a "right to work state".
Once again, thanks for all the information.

[chitowner]

Californiacarl,are you familiar with any of the union trades in the Sacramento area?Is there still union work there? I'm a union painter in Chicago ,and I"ll be in Sac thursday and will be going to the local there to check out the contractors .Good luck with you move...there's work in Chicago and I think electricians scale is the same as in S.F.You"ll have to bear the cold and gray winters though.

[California Carl]

Good morning ChitOwner. Yes there is still work out here. I live in the North Bay and we are doing OK. Housing has slowed way down. The unions don't get much of that work anymore around this area.
San Francisco would definately be your best bet. It is more likely you would find a union job there. Most of their work is still done by union shops and the pay is great. You just have to deal with the commute.
Sac has work, but the scale is lower along with the percentage of work done by union trades. Good luck and GO BEARS!
San Diego & Chicago Superbowl XXXVIII