I want to re-wire my house

[macfan]

Ah, so would you let a union electrician do any wiring in your house?

Certainly, my dad was one before he passed away. But only if I had a need to hire him. I don't hire anybody for things I can do myself.

Clarification: I am a pretty private person. I really don't like people in my home. My dad was skilled trades maintenance for Chrysler. In short, jack of all trades. He taught those skills to me and to be independent. I don't think he ever had a repair man or tradesman in our home growing up. He did everything, taught me the same skills, and to do the same. He taught me to have pride in your work and tools. I am not trying to pick a fight. I just grew up being taught a different set of values than most people are today. I know I am considered a senior citizen and out of date but those values work for me and I am not about to change now.

BTW, I remember when my dad kept a length of steel pipe under the front seat of his car to protect himself from the company goons. You people who are anti union really do not know the reason or history behind them. Also when my dad had a heart attack it was the union who made sure our family was fed and had a Christmas.

 

[raoul5788]

Certainly, my dad was one before he passed away. But only if I had a need to hire him. I don't hire anybody for things I can do myself.

Well that is in direct conflict with your earlier post about not letting any subcontractor work on your house.

 

[macfan]

Well that is in direct conflict with your earlier post about not letting any subcontractor work on your house.

Bangs head. You would need to explain that. The Directv subcontractor for the entire state of Michigan is not unionized nor does he hire union employees. I don't think you and I are on the same page here. I have had a heart attack and have cancer so I have hired people to help me from time to time. I do try to hire union people when they are available.

I have had a couple of conversations with higher ups in the Directv company recently. They have told me they are well aware of the subcontractor problem but really have no way to police them. They have not announced this publicly but they are slowly working on eliminating them and bringing all Directv employees in house. The problem is that some subcontractors have Directv stock and will have to be bought out over time.

 

[Joe Diamond]

Bangs head. You would need to explain that. The Directv subcontractor for the entire state of Michigan is not unionized nor does he hire union employees. I don't think you and I are on the same page here. I have had a heart attack and have cancer so I have hired people to help me from time to time. I do try to hire union people when they are available.

I have had a couple of conversations with higher ups in the Directv company recently. They have told me they are well aware of the subcontractor problem but really have no way to police them. They have not announced this publicly but they are slowly working on eliminating them and bringing all Directv employees in house. The problem is that some subcontractors have Directv stock and will have to be bought out over time.

Directv could have the guy who did the installation sign off that he was paid for the work. In the world of auto deposits this could happen as the activation takes place....IF they wanted to do it.

Joe

 

[raoul5788]

I have never and will never let a Directv installer and or subcontractor do any inside wiring in my home

For instance I would never, ever, buy a car or truck not made by union employees.

Ah, so would you let a union electrician do any wiring in your house?

Certainly, my dad was one before he passed away. But only if I had a need to hire him. I don't hire anybody for things I can do myself.

Well that is in direct conflict with your earlier post about not letting any subcontractor work on your house.

Bangs head. You would need to explain that

Clearly you have a problem with non union workers. That's fine, but you said you would never let a subcontractor do any wiring in your house. Then you said you would if he was union. That's the conflict. It's pretty easy to see if you look. BTW, I was a shop steward and assistant steward for 20+ years, so I am not anti union.

 

[macfan]

Well that is in direct conflict with your earlier post about not letting any subcontractor work on your house.

I think I finally figured out where you and I are not communicating. I consider a union electrician an independent contractor, not a subcontractor.

The purpose of a union is to represent a group of "independent" people, not a group of "sub" people.

 

[raoul5788]

I think I finally figured out where you and I are not communicating. I consider a union electrician an independent contractor, not a subcontractor.

The purpose of a union is to represent a group of "independent" people, not "sub" people.

Semantics. You got caught in saying two different things and you won't admit it. Having conflicting posts isn't all that unusual, we all do it from time to time. If you go back over all of my 10k posts I'm sure you will find some.

 

[macfan]

Semantics. You got caught in saying two different things and you won't admit it. Having conflicting posts isn't all that unusual, we all do it from time to time. If you go back over all of my 10k posts I'm sure you will find some.

You need to read the Jabberwocky Speech again in Alice in Wonderland. "When I use a word I mean for it to mean exactly what I say it means."

One of my degrees is in English Language and Literature. I will admit I use words and think differently than a lot of people. I was a union public school teacher. I never considered myself a subcontractor to the school district but an independent contractor represented by the union. I received two contracts each year. One an individual contract and one a union contract with the school district.

 

[raoul5788]

I'll bet you were good at dodgeball when you were a kid.

 

[macfan]

I'll bet you were good at dodgeball when you were a kid.

I have no problem with you as a person. We see things differently and that is OK. In fact we share a love of classic cars in common. My brother used to have a large classic car dealership near Flint but had to close it when his line of credit dried up during the financial crisis. It got to the point where the only things he had in stock were consignments and you can't make any money that way. Chip Fuse (sp) and Jay Leno used to help him with donations for a large classic car charity auction he put on each year.

 

[dishcomm]

Sorry but you and I are going to have to agree to disagree on your 3 posts. That is why they still make chocolate and vanilla. I can tell you if a Directv installer ever came to my home with your philosophies I would never even open the door. Last of all, when I make purchases, especially major ones, I look for companies who hire union employees. For instance I would never, ever, buy a car or truck not made by union employees. I think my union support has a lot to do with the area I grew up in (Detroit - Flint) and my family and friends.

Please spare me the "union work is the only work" horse crap.
In case you have not noticed, unions claim a paltry 6.6% of all private sector workers.
If you want to know the difference between me and a union guy regarding work..Mine is ALWAYS better. Why? Because I don;t have some pinky ring wearing thug named Tony protecting me even if I do sh*t work. This is part of the reasons why unions are being kicked out. They drive up the cost of doing business and offer nothing in return. I would not join a union if it were the last job in town. I'd move.
My philosophy? Since when is taking pride in what one does and doing a perfect job every time a poor philosophy? Forget it. You obviously kneel at the Union Altar.
I find it amusing that anyone bothers with this "buy union only" crap...I suppose you shop only at union grocery stores...LOL....Yeah that works. The unionized grocery stores like the ones in New Jersey are getting killed because of high labor costs..
Anyway. Back to live action.
Look, you don't get a better tech to install your satellite than one like me. There are tons of us out there that take pride in our work.
We don't need some dopey labor collective to tell us what and how to do our work. We certainly don't need them so they can take money from us so they can tell others we are good at what we do.
Like I said earlier. You should forget about having anyone come to your home to do anything. Just buy the equipment and install it yourself at your own peril.
Good luck!
Unions....PUKE...
Just remember....SIX POINT SIX PERCENT.......That will be all.

 

[dishcomm]

Ah, so would you let a union electrician do any wiring in your house?

I would let them do the work, but I will be damned if I pay them that inflated scale. It's a buyer's market. If they want the work, they will negotiate a reasonable rate both parties can live with. Not some arbitrary number a union thug says is the amount.

 

[dishcomm]

Bangs head. You would need to explain that. The Directv subcontractor for the entire state of Michigan is not unionized nor does he hire union employees. I don't think you and I are on the same page here. I have had a heart attack and have cancer so I have hired people to help me from time to time. I do try to hire union people when they are available.

I have had a couple of conversations with higher ups in the Directv company recently. They have told me they are well aware of the subcontractor problem but really have no way to police them. They have not announced this publicly but they are slowly working on eliminating them and bringing all Directv employees in house. The problem is that some subcontractors have Directv stock and will have to be bought out over time.

Oh please, The contractor does not hire union employees because there are none to be had. Why would a satellite company hire a IBEW guy anyway? There is no non low voltage work with satellite, home theater or communications.
There are no union satellite companies. This has been tried before. The union guys eventually were let go and that was that. The unions are the cause of that. Unions destroyed themselves.

 

[acostapimps]

Can we get back on-topic, this is not about union vs non union or subcontractor vs DIY'ers, everybody has a right to do their own install as they please.

 

[macfan]

Please spare me the "union work is the only work" horse crap.
In case you have not noticed, unions claim a paltry 6.6% of all private sector workers.
If you want to know the difference between me and a union guy regarding work..Mine is ALWAYS better. Why? Because I don;t have some pinky ring wearing thug named Tony protecting me even if I do sh*t work. This is part of the reasons why unions are being kicked out. They drive up the cost of doing business and offer nothing in return. I would not join a union if it were the last job in town. I'd move.
My philosophy? Since when is taking pride in what one does and doing a perfect job every time a poor philosophy? Forget it. You obviously kneel at the Union Altar.
I find it amusing that anyone bothers with this "buy union only" crap...I suppose you shop only at union grocery stores...LOL....Yeah that works. The unionized grocery stores like the ones in New Jersey are getting killed because of high labor costs..
Anyway. Back to live action.
Look, you don't get a better tech to install your satellite than one like me. There are tons of us out there that take pride in our work.
We don't need some dopey labor collective to tell us what and how to do our work. We certainly don't need them so they can take money from us so they can tell others we are good at what we do.
Like I said earlier. You should forget about having anyone come to your home to do anything. Just buy the equipment and install it yourself at your own peril.
Good luck!
Unions....PUKE...
Just remember....SIX POINT SIX PERCENT.......That will be all.

LOL, hands you a rope, proceed.

 

[BobStokesbary]

I keep thinking a moderator will delete this thread. The OP has long ago abandoned this discussion.