We are the Unemployed-- checking in

[eilen]

We are a family that is currently unemployed. My husband is a union journeyman electrician. There have been no calls for a job on the recorder at the IBEW Hall for 3 weeks. He has gone West in search of work. Soon after he was laid off, he took a trip out that way and signed a bunch of books. He's hoping for at least a 4 week job before Christmas.

About a mile from us is new construction going up. They are building a Hobby Lobby next to the new Lowe's. They are using out of state non-union labor. The guys from the Hall put up a giant rat and protested.

I've put in some applications/resumes but have not heard anything. I have a son who I have to take to lessons etc. thus have a less than flexible schedule and I don't want to work evening shift and physically can't handle night shifts. Most are not hiring until after the holidays.

Anyway, I thought I'd check in and see how everyone else in my position are doing.

[ogneopasno]

1. I've been in your position, sister -- with a spouse in the union trades who refuses (rightly)

to scab on himself and has traveled for good work.

I don't know where you're at...has your husband looked into maintenance positions? Or thought about cross-training in another trade? I know starting back at apprentice level sometimes isn't feasible.

It's hard when you're doing the right thing and people right in front of you are wrecking it. I understand the frustration.

I'll hold your family in my thoughts.

[eilen]

2. Our nation needs well trained professional

electricians to assist in the renovation and restoration of our energy infrastructure. It is just a matter of time. He spent about 6 months wiring a new hospital. During the summer, he campaigned for fans in the windowless 10 story building as the HVAC contractor did not have the air conditioning up and running. His fellow IBEW electricians reported the Non-union plumbers who were urinating down the shower drains rather than walk down to the port-a-potties. At first the GC did nothing till one of the guys called the hospital administration. Then they were provided some facilities on the upper floors. He speaks up when the contract is being breached or safety and health measures are not being followed at the risk of being laid off in the first wave because he feels that is the strength of the union, ensuring worker standards as well as dignity of workers. The work of a journeyman is punctuated by layoffs and new jobs, it is the nature of the job itself. Here in our neck of the woods, we didn't really seen any boom that boosted the economy of other parts of the country-- of course they are now freaking out at declining home values.

He really loves what he does.

[ogneopasno]

3. Oh, I hear you, I hear you.

I hope new energy provisions come through soon for you. And I know what you mean about speaking up for safety or contract breaches -- my man is the same way. He was a UBC carpenter for almost 20 years until this spring, when he got fed up with the boom and bust and joined the railroad (which he now loves and probably will never go back). Construction is such a hard industry to be in, especially with a family. I hope things turn out OK for you.

[crim son]

4. I'm in your position,

although despite having three kids I have long since given up the idea that I might be able to choose my hours. I was turned down for a per diem/pool job recently. I was willing to do overnights! The husband I'm divorcing is still supporting me but I have, or the first time in my life, been going without: without fruit, without meat, without certain medications. My kids are shopping at GoodWill as am I. Appliances are breaking and will not be repaired; we are heating only one room of the house when it's cold. I am worried, almost in panic mode, but I know that others are worse off. It's scary.

[eilen]

9. I thank God and the Universe

that we have a roof over our heads, can afford to eat and heat our home. We have some savings for these times and just received our "stimulus check" because we had filed an extension. Are you a nurse? I am an RN but after caring for my father until he died and working in oncology for 10+ years I just really burnt out and went through anxiety attacks, depression etc. so needed to quit-- I was not helping anyone there. I took a break and am looking at going back to work but in a different specialty. I am considering applying for Operating Room, or a satellite urgent care or long term care. I'd really like to go back to school and get my Bachelor's degree but that doesn't seem like it is in the cards. Currently I work out of the home making "garb" for local re-enactors and RenFaire enthusiasts. I really love doing this but I don't know if I could actually ramp things up with that in this economy.

I shop at the thrift store all the time--I stopped buying at chain stores unless American made- except for shoes, but mostly make my clothes. I am dreading the job search (resumes, applications, med tests etc.). I will have to recertify for CPR too. I hope you find some work soon if not some relief. I am relying on the new administration to provide some relief for families who are basically refugees of this economic collapse. My brother is a subcontractor and my bil works for him down South and they are out of work too.

I think about the last big recession I lived in --I was a kid. In the 1970's recession my family was broke the whole time I was growing up. Our ancient wall heat caused a fire so we heated only in one room with a electric heater that looked like a plastic fireplace and the upstairs was not heated at all. We were in deep to the power company. My mother would be so stressed her hair was falling out. We would go all out for hunting because that meant lots of meat in the freezer. My parents were real estate agents and the industry fell through the floor. My Mom got a job as a secretary and did astrology readings at night and my stepfather took a job managing a slaughterhouse (that brought meat home too). He would describe how they pigs were slaughtered at the dinner table which seriously put me off my pork chop. Not one of us had health insurance nor saw a dentist and all us kids had reduced lunch at school. I was a voracious reader and used the library constantly. I used to read books like The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew and felt lucky about not needing to reuse thread and not having to fix our stove with putty! I never knew we were poor, just that we could not afford stuff, so we stopped asking.

Please make some calls and see if you can get some relief -- at lease emergency food and a heat grant. In my area Catholic Charities does outreach for stuff like that. My Mom had to get welfare for us kids when my Dad disappeared for a year and we hardly even noticed. Of course she paid it all back when our house sold (they had a lien). We should start a "surviving the recession" thread with tips and information.

Here's a link: http://www.bettertimesinfo.org/|Better Times> Its a website with advice and stuff for when you are really getting squeezed.

[guitar man]

5. god bless you

My best friend is the assistant BM for the IBEW local in Tulsa. I can call him if you like and see if he has anything if your husband doesn't mind traveling down here for a while.

:hug:

[eilen]

6. Thanks, he is in Indiana right now and

he and his buddy have rented a spot in the RV park for the month. They have signed books across Tennessee and up in Virgina. I don't think he has ever been in OK but he has worked in Illinois (great conditions), Michigan, Idaho, and, I think Nebraska. If they don't get working by the end of the month I think they will come home, do the holidays and then go out Las Vegas way.

[DarkTirade]

7. Thankfully I'm not in that position now...

but I've been there none too long ago. Had it not been for seasonal hiring a few years ago, I would be on the street right now.

[FarLeftRage]

8. I am unemployed as of 2 weeks ago...

got my first severance paycheck and have yet to recieve unemployment...

I don't think it will last long though... I have a gut feeling I'll be working again soon.