living & working in sevier county (Knoxville, Maryville: rental, insurance, employment)

[djjaz]

I have to admit this website forum scared me and I had to stop reading for several months. We recently moved from Palm Beach County to Sevier County. We have been back in forth on this decision for a few years. After reading things (which have also been helpful, not just scary) we made the move.
The original plan was to go to Maryville because of the schools and it didn't seem so "small town". We came w/o jobs because we were told my many, many that my husband would have no problem finding work as an electrican. We knew he would have to start at the bottom but we are willing to do this for our children.
The overcrowding in the schools and prices in FL are what pushed us out. My husband and I are adjusting to the cultrual shock. We have friends here and I stayed w/them until my husband joined us recently and found a rental. Couldn't find a rental in the city of Maryville so we stayed in Seymour/Sevierville area. The school is okay.
So this is the thing, we are still not sure if we will stay here or continue on to Maryville or the surrounding areas. The electrical trade is alot more different than I researched. So, running out of money and time, we need to do more research.
Please, let me know about the pros and cons of joining a UNION. That seems to be where the wages go up. My father always said, never join a union, he never explained why. Any info, would be much appreciated. Thanks....

[Whataride]

What type electician? there is a pretty big difference between residential and commercial. Most of the electricians that I know in commercial are union. I have a friend that does residential that may be hiring, but I am not going to advertise the position in fear that I may be mb slapped. (no advertising on the forum)

[Pres]

Originally Posted by djjaz

I have to admit this website forum scared me and I had to stop reading for several months. We recently moved from Palm Beach County to Sevier County. We have been back in forth on this decision for a few years. After reading things (which have also been helpful, not just scary) we made the move.
The original plan was to go to Maryville because of the schools and it didn't seem so "small town". We came w/o jobs because we were told my many, many that my husband would have no problem finding work as an electrican. We knew he would have to start at the bottom but we are willing to do this for our children.
The overcrowding in the schools and prices in FL are what pushed us out. My husband and I are adjusting to the cultrual shock. We have friends here and I stayed w/them until my husband joined us recently and found a rental. Couldn't find a rental in the city of Maryville so we stayed in Seymour/Sevierville area. The school is okay.
So this is the thing, we are still not sure if we will stay here or continue on to Maryville or the surrounding areas. The electrical trade is alot more different than I researched. So, running out of money and time, we need to do more research.
Please, let me know about the pros and cons of joining a UNION. That seems to be where the wages go up. My father always said, never join a union, he never explained why. Any info, would be much appreciated. Thanks....

Boy this is sure to start some discussion, at least it would here in Illinois. I would never tell anyone to join a Union, it is something you need to determine on your own, I will tell you though it is probably the one most defining moment of my life. There are several reasons to join, and I'm certain several reasons not to, but here are some reason to join. For some union members it is the amount of money they are paid, some the fact you never have to look for work again, when you get laid off you go to the hall and sign the books and when work comes up you determine if you want the job, if it is available to you, you can take it, you no longer have to go door to door filling out applications. Benifits, most unions have greast insurance benifits due ti the amount of employees that make up the entire Union. For example, the Union I belong to has over 1500 members, when insurance companys come calling they bring all that they can offer so services provided are much better. You can't get away from the pay either, Union workers make a great wage typically and in my case over a twenty seven year period I have been lucky to only be laid off a couple times, but that is here, not there. I would say you need to asses the area you are in, are Unions strong and have a lot of work, or are they looked down on and have little work. In the end you are going to need to do what feels right to you, for me, I wouldn't do it any other way, but thats here, not there.

[hiknapster]

I've been told it depends on the union. I worked for a union here and it was a nightmare. It was for two months. It was CWA and I don't think they were very strong, yet I was told some unions are great. My dad retired from one after 35 years, but that was the machinist's union.

Anyway, where I worked it was a constant game. Management was constantly trying to push over the line. For instance, the union said you must have a light on if you are monitoring calls, so that the workers know. Management just kept the light on all the time. I found the atmosphere to be hostile and unprofessional. I have never seen anything like it, and never want to, again.

Just a comment djjaz: I've written plenty about the difference in culture and warned about having a job before moving here.

Please don't take it the wrong way, because it is not intended that way. I was just curious about the advice that you took away from the forum. For all I know, you've never read any of my posts!

[mbmouse]

Has your husband talked with any employment recruiters? There are a bunch in Knoxville and that is not far. He may get something. Just a thought. My personally opinion (you can take it for what it is worth) is that unions were great back in the industrial era when working conditions were very poor and before OSHA. Now unions only seem to charge more dues and offer less work stability. I know my brother who is in a union in FL feels like it is more like a Mafia now than a help. It took him 8 months to be allowed time off for a needed surgery during a time with not much work but he had to remain "available" and only got a few hours a day work but no time off for medical. But that is in FL, not here, so again, might not relate at all.

[hiknapster]

MBMouse: This is a wonderful point!

When I worked for that union I watched management ride two people because they had to have surgery. They made their lives' miserable.

As you know, the company that I work for now approved nine weeks of disability, which they paid for, and the insurance was wonderful. All that from a non-union company.

I think unions were needed back in the day.

A funny little aside...

I work with someone that use to be union at his previous job. He came to work ready to fight management at every turn. I guess he was just use to having to do it. Now that he has been here for several months, he has finally calmed down, and he is a very easy-going guy by nature.

I just don't want to have to go to work having to fight everyday.

[Pres]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I've been told it depends on the union. I worked for a union here and it was a nightmare. It was for two months. It was CWA and I don't think they were very strong, yet I was told some unions are great. My dad retired from one after 35 years, but that was the machinist's union.

Anyway, where I worked it was a constant game. Management was constantly trying to push over the line. For instance, the union said you must have a light on if you are monitoring calls, so that the workers know. Management just kept the light on all the time. I found the atmosphere to be hostile and unprofessional. I have never seen anything like it, and never want to, again.

Just a comment djjaz: I've written plenty about the difference in culture and warned about having a job before moving here.

Please don't take it the wrong way, because it is not intended that way. I was just curious about the advice that you took away from the forum. For all I know, you've never read any of my posts!

Yes, I agree with that statement 100% "It depends on the Union". As I said I am a 27 year IBEW member (or at least I thought I did, lol) and it has been wonderful. On the other hand I am currently in managment for a Park District that has Union laborers, and I have to tell you it is a completly different type of Union. Where I come from being Union meant a good days work for a good days pay, with the PD Union it's a good days pay for what ever I decide to give you tody, a completly different world.