15 years as a USW Local 1938 here, Equipment Operator for a USSteel mine. Before that I was a Operating Engineers Local 49 for 4 years as a Diesel Mechanic. The last few years the quality of new workers has really gone down hill because we basically higher anyone that applies now due to worker shortage. I've been trying to get my nephews interested as trades jobs can be quite rewarding if you don't mind a little dirty work and some overtime! It provides well enough for my needs and allowed my wife to stay at home and raise our daughter. I'm happy to see our school district combining with another school district and they are going to be building a Trades building to bring back all the old classes I enjoyed in high school. I can believe they had cut out woodshop, autoshop, and welding in the first place!
