Layoffs

So, we got to talking about layoffs at work the other day. Pipefitters tend to have a very casual attitude about losing a job. Basically it’s-- I was looking for a job when I found this one. There is always work somewhere, so pack your bags! Sometimes layoffs are voluntary with the company announcing they need to let 10 or 50% of the fitters go. It gives those with other work lined up or who just want off the job to gracefully (with layoff slip for unemployment) terminate a job. Other times it is a way to cull the workforce of workers who are missing work, have low productivity, or are travelers and local workers are on the bench. On big jobs you will see this happen almost monthly; layoff workers on Friday and hire that amount the next Monday. If you have really managed to piss off your employer, but not to the point of being fired, there is the dreaded one man layoff. I was on one of those at Sullivan Park in 2000. I was laid off with 4 travelers which is essentially a one man layoff. I had made the mistake of questioning a policy of lead testing by drawing blood. These results were to be given to the contractor, not the individual worker. I was glad they were implementing this program due to the lead paint with which we had been dealing. I disagreed with the reporting process. While I was shocked, as was my general foreman, my BA said there was nothing he could do, but had me working 10 minutes from home the following Monday. The other thing that happens is that to avoid the one man layoff, they lay off your partner as well. Been there, done that, didn’t get the tee shirt. There is also a very well known saying, “Get my money and my partner’s too. In fact, here’s a quarter, mail it. We’re outta here!” You can tell it’s been around awhile by the cost of a stamp. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Too date, I have been laid off 74 times since 1986. Some layoffs really stand out in my mind. The first time was after a three month job building a Wegmans in Corning NY. Being from Pittsford where the grocery chain started meant I felt especially connected to the store. Plus it was my first job. Looking back I realize how lucky I was to have worked with such a great crew and foreman on my first job. When they laid me off, I almost cried, despite the fact that it was Saturday and they were opening the store on Monday! As for voluntary layoffs/quits, I’ve had a few. Once was at a horrible job where I was working on fiberglass at a plant over an hour from home. I had a full body rash for three weeks straight. I was told they were putting on travelers on a job close to home. So I asked for a layoff. When I walked into the BA’s office, he said he couldn’t send me to that job because he already had two guys coming in from out of town. I stood my ground and said you better call one of them back. This is my territory and I am taking that call. I was on that job for over six months and loved every minute of it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When it comes right down to it, 99% of the jobs I do have a definite end date. We work to put ourselves out of a job. Hopefully by the end the contractor has made money, our bank accounts are fuller, and we have a building that a little while before was only a dream in some architect’s mind. Nothing is more satisfying than walking away from a job as one of the last to go. You have seen it from the underground piping to polishing the last sink or turning on the final system. Being laid off before that can be very disappointing and sometimes can really hurt the ego and self-esteem. But hey…I was looking for a job when I found this one. Where we going next?

Spring 2007

Following my usual pattern, by mid February I was suffering from cabin fever and ready to go to work. Nuclear power plants are regulated to do maintenance every 18-24 months. Since many plants have two or more reactors that means every Spring or Fall there is a shutdown that provides work for trades people especially pipefitters, and in my case, valve repair technicians. In 2007, I was sent to Indian Point Nuclear which is located right on the Hudson River about 50 miles north of NYC. I was staying in Highland Falls which is at the south gate of West Point. I found a room with refrigerator and microwave above a deli right on the main street across from the West Point museum. I was working nights, so every morning when I returned home I would see all the cadets out for their morning run. In the afternoon, I would get up around 3 and wander over to the museum and explore. There were 4 floors of military history with dioramas depicting famous battles from Roman to modern times. I don’t think I was ever able to see all of it! The funniest thing that happened on the job was the very first day of meeting my GF, Mark H. He looked at me and said, “I haven’t worked with many females, so if I say something wrong, just know I ‘m not good at being politically correct.” I said, “Well, as long as you don’t mind me telling you to fuck yourself, we’ll be fine.” He laughed and said, “I like you we’re going to be fine.” And we were! As the job was winding down, they asked for volunteers for a Thursday layoff; the rest would be laid off Saturday. I volunteered, explaining that my daughter’s opening night was Friday, so I was going to have to take time off. Mark asked me to stay on anyway. So I drove home Friday morning( 4 hours), slept for 4 hours, saw Pirates of Penzance with the cutest daughter of a modern Major-General ever, slept another 4 hours, then drove back to work Saturday night. As I was showing the pictures of the play to Mark, he laughed and said, “Gee, I totally forgot you were off and paid you anyway.” That is how pipefitters show appreciation, they pay you! He told me he really appreciated my honesty. Some people wouldn’t have volunteered for the layoff, just so they could get in one more Saturday at OT pay.On Saturday night I volunteered to replace an older guy on an exceptionally hot (radiologically speaking) job that they had been unable to do Friday night. He had a hard time using the headset due to his hearing aids. Luckily the job was able to be done by the first team, so I was off the hook. From there, I went to Pilgrim Nuclear in Plymouth, MA. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As always, I miss my kids. I try very hard to call them daily and send letters and care packages. This year I was able to arrange for them to spend their Spring Break with me in Plymouth. I was living with a wonderful woman, Ingrid, in a century old Victorian Mansion right on the ocean. My room had a private bath, a huge walk in closet, skylight and a king size bed. Definitely one of the best housing arrangements I had ever made. Matt S. (a local brother whose first nuke had been Indian Point) also became a housemate, but he worked nights, so I barely saw him. Ingrid and I became friends while I helped her with two parties she threw to thank all her friends for their support during her recent widowhood. I love to cook and meet new people, so it was a perfect combination! The week my girls were there, I took off early one day. We drove down to Provincetown/Cape Cod, had a fabulous seafood dinner, and walked on the beach. It was a little cold, but you’re supposed to be on a beach for Spring Break! We also explored the Plimouth Plantation which was fascinating. The area is full of all kinds of historic and cultural things to do. I still visit whenever I can.