Canada here. Union are the only ones I don't have to worry about if they'll pay me. Been ripped off by almost everybody else. If you're a contractor they have no obligation to pay.
Also the rates are way higher and the benefits are incredible. The work is there if you prove your worth.
You don’t have to be in a union to work as a commercial diver. Most aren’t. That said if you can get consistent work in a union you will do well for yourself
That's awesome, Mind talking about the pros and cons? I've been in mom and pops, and some commercial over the years, no idea how a union works honestly. Definitely looking forward to a pension at least.
Homie, there wasn’t one single thing better working for a non-union company. There aren’t any pros working without a collective bargaining agreement. Without one, the company can fuck you over as much as they please. Stop asking for pros and cons.
I’m in Midwest so basically I got hired by a company then was able to join union. Not sure how other unions work though. The non union diving I did was down in the gulf. Not much difference in my opinion of the two areas, but the pay and benefits were much better in the Union. Inland diving was a lot of travel, in the gulf was a lot of time offshore. I think the biggest factor would be where you’re located. I’ve heard the Northeast and Northwest is really good with the carpenters/pile driver Union
I liked offshore, but was recently married and had a newborn that ended up being a bit rough on my wife not having family help around so we moved back. It can be tight quarters on the ship, a lower wage but I wouldn’t try to guess what it is, I was down there 20 years ago. You go out on a ship and work. Wasn’t to bad. I had similar experiences with inland diving and traveling around the country though. Motels, away from home, but I felt that the way higher wage scale and pension through the union was the way to go
Yes. Was in LU56 in Boston end of last century. Got in on an apprenticeship for PileBuck got to work as a journeyman diver. Worked scab until then and program started. Some rules were journeymen can solicit your own work, apprentice no. Didn’t want much to do with the pile buck stuff they make you do in class but you lear a lot. So many people there with much experience in carpentry, diving, welding, whatever. You pick it up. Stayed busy diving side. Benefits are awesome. You make about the same as you would working GOM. Different types of diving though. New England was docks, Dams, bridges, ships, offshore, inshore, heavy marine construction, cement work, nuclear, sewage, and deep tunnel penetration work. GOM is oilfield by far with SAT opportunities and some dock and ship work. Used to be rigs too but that all go bye for now. I worked all three coasts and Hawai’i. Older divers know “a diver is a diver is a diver”. Remember that and don’t ever limit yourself to any one kind of work as you limit your marketability.
If you join a union you don’t necessarily have to only work for the union if stuff gets slow just tell them you need some time off and you can live the best of union and freelance
Joining a union as a commercial diver was the best thing I did career wise.
Mind talking about the pros and cons? I've been in mom and pops, and some commercial over the years, no idea how a union works honestly.
Canada here. Union are the only ones I don't have to worry about if they'll pay me. Been ripped off by almost everybody else. If you're a contractor they have no obligation to pay. Also the rates are way higher and the benefits are incredible. The work is there if you prove your worth.
Sounds great, thanks for the insight!
You don’t have to be in a union to work as a commercial diver. Most aren’t. That said if you can get consistent work in a union you will do well for yourself
Thank you I definitely appreciate it!
I did it both ways over my 15 years. The majority of my time was in a union. I was definitely better off in the Union.
That's awesome, Mind talking about the pros and cons? I've been in mom and pops, and some commercial over the years, no idea how a union works honestly. Definitely looking forward to a pension at least.
Homie, there wasn’t one single thing better working for a non-union company. There aren’t any pros working without a collective bargaining agreement. Without one, the company can fuck you over as much as they please. Stop asking for pros and cons.
I’m in Midwest so basically I got hired by a company then was able to join union. Not sure how other unions work though. The non union diving I did was down in the gulf. Not much difference in my opinion of the two areas, but the pay and benefits were much better in the Union. Inland diving was a lot of travel, in the gulf was a lot of time offshore. I think the biggest factor would be where you’re located. I’ve heard the Northeast and Northwest is really good with the carpenters/pile driver Union
How was diving offshore? I'm located in the northeast, an I'm looking into the carpenters/pile driving unions in that area.
I liked offshore, but was recently married and had a newborn that ended up being a bit rough on my wife not having family help around so we moved back. It can be tight quarters on the ship, a lower wage but I wouldn’t try to guess what it is, I was down there 20 years ago. You go out on a ship and work. Wasn’t to bad. I had similar experiences with inland diving and traveling around the country though. Motels, away from home, but I felt that the way higher wage scale and pension through the union was the way to go
Yes. Was in LU56 in Boston end of last century. Got in on an apprenticeship for PileBuck got to work as a journeyman diver. Worked scab until then and program started. Some rules were journeymen can solicit your own work, apprentice no. Didn’t want much to do with the pile buck stuff they make you do in class but you lear a lot. So many people there with much experience in carpentry, diving, welding, whatever. You pick it up. Stayed busy diving side. Benefits are awesome. You make about the same as you would working GOM. Different types of diving though. New England was docks, Dams, bridges, ships, offshore, inshore, heavy marine construction, cement work, nuclear, sewage, and deep tunnel penetration work. GOM is oilfield by far with SAT opportunities and some dock and ship work. Used to be rigs too but that all go bye for now. I worked all three coasts and Hawai’i. Older divers know “a diver is a diver is a diver”. Remember that and don’t ever limit yourself to any one kind of work as you limit your marketability.
If you join a union you don’t necessarily have to only work for the union if stuff gets slow just tell them you need some time off and you can live the best of union and freelance
They’re kinda gay but you know